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1950 Map of Wilkes-Barre East

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Wilkes-Barre East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

Wilkes-Barre anchors the northwestern corner of this study, revealing a landscape defined by the transition from industrial urban centers to the high ridges of the Wyoming Valley. In the years following the war, the region's coal legacy is evidenced by strip mines and mine dumps carved into the slopes of Wilkes-Barre Mountain. This rugged topography creates a natural barrier between the city and the high plateaus to the southeast, where clusters like Oliver Mills and Llewellyn Corners stand near the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

Further south, the terrain opens into a series of upland swamps and glacial lakes, including Crystal Lake and Bear Creek Lake. This area reflects a more recreational and residential character, with Mountain Park and Forest Park providing local escapes. Researchers will find significant detail in the placement of rural institutions such as the Laurel Sch, the Ochre Mill, and the Holy Trinity Cem, alongside the early infrastructure of the Turnpike.