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1891 Map of Wilkesbarre

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Wilkesbarre
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

The Susquehanna River corridor anchors this late 19th-century study, showcasing the dense industrial and rail infrastructure of the Wyoming Valley. Major hubs like Wilkesbarre, Plymouth, and Nanticoke are linked by a complex web of railroads, including the Bloomsburg Division and Lehigh Valley R. R.. The map reveals the region's coal-driven development through smaller mining settlements and company patches such as Moffatt Patch and Sugar Notch.

South of the urban centers, the landscape shifts toward the steep ridges of Wyoming Mountain and Penobscot Mountain. Transportation was clearly a challenge in this terrain, evidenced by the numerous railroad junctions like Bear Creek Junction and Pond Creek Junction required to navigate the high plateaus. Water features such as Crystal Lake and the descent of Wapwallopen Creek highlight the natural drainages that influenced the placement of early industry and the town of White Haven on the Lehigh.