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1916 Map of Wind Gap

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Wind Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1916
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

Blue Mountain serves as a massive natural divide across this 1916 landscape, punctuated by the dramatic geomorphic notch at Wind Gap. This gateway provides a vital passage for the Lehigh and New England railroad, linking the concentrated industry of Pen Argyl with the rural valleys to the north. The map documents a dense network of local education and commerce, from the Mexico School in the north to Sours Mills in the south, reflecting a period when small agrarian hubs like Brodheadsville and Saylorsburg were the centers of community life.

Water management and local industry are visible through features like the Ross Common Reservoir and numerous named springs, including Weir Spring and Horn Springs. The transition from the steep ridges of Chestnut Hill to the rolling southern farmland is marked by a high concentration of family-named landmarks and schools, such as St. Joseph School and Bushkirk School, offering a detailed view of the social geography before mid-century modernization.