1968 Map of Tower City

About this map

Tower City and the neighboring boroughs of Williamstown and Reinerton sit at the center of this 1968 topographic study, illustrating the dense settlement patterns typical of Pennsylvania's coal regions. The landscape is defined by the massive parallel ridges of Bear Mountain and Big Lick Mountain, which constrain development to the narrow valley of Wiconisco Creek. Industrial legacies are clearly visible through features such as the Abandoned Coal Breaker and an Abandoned Mine Tunnel, marking the extraction history that built these communities. Local life is documented through the presence of the Porter Township High School, several rural schools like Orwin School, and religious centers including Union Church and Luth Church. The southern portion of the map transitions into the steep, wooded slopes of Stony Mountain and Second Mountain, where recreation is noted at Twin Grove Park near the banks of Swatara Creek.