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1955 Map of Strausstown

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Strausstown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Strausstown and the surrounding townships of Berks County are defined by a complex network of waterways that once powered the early industries of central Pennsylvania. The Union Canal trace follows the course of Tulpehocken Creek in the south, passing near the industrial site at Charming Forge. This waterway served as a critical nineteenth-century transport link between the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers, shaping the development of settlements like Stouchsburg along the Benjamin Franklin Highway.

Agricultural life is documented through numerous local landmarks, including Millers Sch and the Little Tulpehocken Ch. The map captures the transition from older transport routes to mid-century infrastructure, with the William Penn Highway bypassing established centers like Rehrersburg and Schubert. From the milling site at Kricks Mill to the rural schoolhouses like Wagners Sch, the sheet preserves the layout of a landscape rooted in German sectarian history and early water-driven commerce.