1947 Map of Wilkes-Barre East

About this map

Wilkes Barre Mountain and Penobscot Mountain dominate the central landscape of this 1947 Luzerne County survey, separating the urban edge of Wilkes-Barre from the high plateaus and wetlands to the south. The transition from industrial city to wilderness is immediate, with a Strip Mine and the Conrail rail lines giving way to vast conservation areas like State Game Lands No 91. The map reveals a high-elevation landscape defined by significant water bodies and peatlands, including Crystal Lake, Bear Creek Lake, and the curiously named Jimmy Kane Swamp. Pockets of early 20th-century settlement such as Glen Summit, Mountain Top, and Laurel Run are connected by the historic Sullivan Trail. Along the southern reaches, rural remnants like the Ochre Mill and Oliver Sch point to the area's older agricultural and timbering roots before the expansion of suburban enclaves like Boulevard Manor.