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1894 Map of Wilkes-Barre

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Wilkes-Barre
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1919
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1919

About this map

Wilkes-Barre anchors the northern end of this survey, a dense urban grid at the heart of the anthracite region before the turn of the century. The Susquehanna River defines the valley floor, serviced by the Plymouth Ferry and a network of competing rail lines including the Bloomsburg Division and P. & E. R. R. The landscape transitions sharply from the river flats into the high ridges of Wilkes Barre Mountain and Wyoming Mountain.

Industrial and mining activity is evident in settlements like Sugar Notch, Moffat Patch, and Warrior Run, while the southern reaches of the map show the transition to the Lehigh River corridor. The presence of Lehigh Tannery and White Haven along the river highlights the timber and processing industries that flourished alongside the coal trade. Extensive rail infrastructure, including the Mountain Division and various branches, reveals how critical transportation was to the local economy during this era of peak industrial expansion.