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1944 Map of Windber

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Windber
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

The industrial and agricultural landscape of Somerset County during the 1940s is defined by its extensive rail networks and water resources. The Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio railroads cut through the terrain, connecting coal and mining hubs like Windber and Central City to the broader regional economy. The massive Quemahoning Reservoir dominates the western portion of the map, serving as a critical water source for the surrounding communities.

Rural life is meticulously documented through numerous small institutions, including the Kaufman Ch and Shade Ch, alongside a dense network of local schools such as California Sch and Breastwork Sch. The transition from the high ridges of Allegheny Mountain down into the valleys reveals a pattern of scattered settlements like Hooversville and Jerome, while the presence of the Lincoln Highway and the early Pennsylvania Turnpike illustrates the evolving transportation infrastructure of the mid-century era.