Bedford County occupies a strongly folded part of south-central Pennsylvania where long Appalachian ridges alternate with narrow valleys. Bedford, the county seat, sits near the middle of a comparatively broad valley, while Everett lies farther east near the Raystown Branch Juniata River. The map set lets readers compare major roads, settlements, waterways, and elevation, and high-resolution JPG copies of all four supplied maps are available from the download box below.
The easiest way to understand the county is to notice the direction of the terrain first. Ridges generally extend from southwest to northeast, and many roads, streams, and towns occupy the lower ground between them. Blair County is to the north, Somerset County to the west, Fulton County to the east, and the southern edge approaches Maryland, placing Bedford County directly in a mountain-crossing corridor of south-central Pennsylvania.
Table of Contents
Bedford anchors the crossing of U.S. 30 and the U.S. 220 corridor
On the general reference map, Bedford is the most useful starting point. U.S. 30 runs east-west from the Schellsburg and Manns Choice side through Bedford toward Everett, while U.S. 220 provides the main north-south orientation through the central county. The route continues toward I-99 to the north, and PA 26 and PA 96 reach into separate southern valleys.
New Paris and Schellsburg provide western reference points along or near U.S. 30, with Manns Choice closer to Bedford. Everett becomes the next major landmark to the east. Woodbury and Saxton occupy different valleys farther north and northeast, while Hyndman lies deep in the southwest close to the Maryland border.
Because the ridges are long, two places that look close in a straight line may require a much longer road route. Highways often remain within valleys and cross the mountains only where terrain permits. The general map is useful for orientation, but it is not a parcel survey or a legal boundary product.
The larger communities sit in separate valleys rather than one continuous urban strip
The ranked community map highlights Bedford, Everett, Hyndman, Saxton, Woodbury, and Schellsburg. The map index lists Bedford at 2,851, Everett at 2,052, Hyndman at 850, Saxton at 791, Woodbury at 346, and Schellsburg at 342. These are the values printed on the supplied map; users needing the newest official population estimate should consult current Census Bureau releases.
Bedford and Everett are the largest places shown, yet their settings are different. Bedford is located at the central road junction, whereas Everett is farther east near the Raystown Branch Juniata River. Schellsburg lies west along the U.S. 30 corridor, Hyndman is in a narrow southwestern valley, and Woodbury and Saxton occupy separate northern valleys.
This arrangement illustrates why settlement in Bedford County is closely tied to topography. Towns generally occupy lower or wider ground between ridges, and roads use many of the same corridors. Comparing the community map with the elevation map is a useful way to see why nearby places do not always have direct road connections.
Raystown Branch Juniata River and its tributaries trace the low ground
The water map makes the ridge-and-valley landscape easy to recognize. Raystown Branch Juniata River is a major feature through the central and eastern county, while smaller streams occupy adjoining valleys. Roads and communities frequently share these lower corridors, so the drainage network helps explain much of the settlement pattern.
Dunning Creek runs through the northwest, while Little Wills Creek and Evitts Creek occupy southwestern valleys. Cove Creek and Piney Creek appear farther southeast. Smaller named water bodies include Smith Reservoir, Sportsmans Lake, Lake Francis, Lake Koon, Lake Gordon, Mill Pond, and Lake Groundhog, providing additional reference points within the mountain landscape.
This map is intended to show the relative location of rivers, creeks, lakes, and surrounding terrain. It should not be used to determine flood-zone status, water depth, water quality, or dam operations. Those questions require current information from FEMA, USGS, Pennsylvania agencies, or the relevant local authority.
Elevation ranges from roughly 219 to 959 meters
The elevation map displays a range of about 219 to 959 meters, with a mean near 444 meters. Green marks the lower valleys, while yellow and brown indicate the higher ridges. The repeated southwest-to-northeast bands are the defining feature: Bedford County is not dominated by one mountain mass but by several long, parallel uplands separated by narrow lowlands.
Higher terrain is prominent in the northwest and along central ridges north and south of Bedford. In the east, the Raystown Branch valley creates a lower corridor next to another line of uplands. The same alternation continues through the southern county, helping explain why local roads bend through valleys instead of following straight lines across the landscape.
The elevation map is appropriate for regional comparison, not property-level measurement. It can show that Bedford, Everett, and other valley communities are lower than surrounding ridges, but it cannot provide a survey-grade elevation for a building, parcel, bridge, or construction site.
The western U.S. 30 corridor and eastern Raystown valley feel very different
Western Bedford County approaches the Somerset County line through rugged terrain before U.S. 30 reaches New Paris, Schellsburg, Manns Choice, and Bedford. The highway uses lower passages between the ridges, while terrain north of the route becomes more dissected by Dunning Creek and smaller tributaries.
Central Bedford County is organized around Bedford itself. U.S. 30 and U.S. 220 pass close to town, the north-south route continues toward I-99, and PA 26 follows a separate valley to the south. Bedford occupies a wider piece of low ground than many surrounding communities, which helps explain why several major roads converge there.
Farther east, Everett and the Raystown Branch Juniata River become the main reference points. Hopewell, Riddlesburg, and Saxton follow northeastern valleys, while Woodbury lies in another corridor farther north. Near the Fulton County side, ridges and streams become tightly spaced again.
Choose the map according to the question
For basic orientation, start with the general map. Bedford provides the central landmark and U.S. 30 and U.S. 220 establish the main travel directions. If the goal is simply to compare the six larger settlements without the full road network, the ranked community map is cleaner.
For terrain questions, pair the water map with the elevation map. Raystown Branch Juniata River, Evitts Creek, Cove Creek, and other streams follow lower valleys that also appear as green corridors on the elevation view. The two maps together help explain why roads curve and why communities are concentrated in particular valleys.
For printed handouts or presentation slides, use the original JPG files in the download archive rather than enlarging the web previews. The general and elevation maps work well together for transportation and terrain, while the community and water maps are useful for explaining the relationship between settlements and valleys.
Bedford County remains an important route through south-central Pennsylvania
County planning materials describe Bedford County as a south-central Pennsylvania county of about 1,017 square miles and identify I-70/76, I-99, U.S. 30, and U.S. 220 among its major transportation routes. Modern highways still make use of the same broad valleys and lower mountain crossings that have long made this region a practical passage through the Appalachians.
The county combines wooded ridges, farmland, small boroughs, and narrow river valleys rather than one broad plain. The land opens somewhat around Bedford, but long uplands return quickly in almost every direction. Looking at the ridge pattern first makes the locations of Everett, Schellsburg, Hyndman, Saxton, and other communities much easier to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best place to start when locating places in Bedford County?
Start with Bedford near the center of the county. U.S. 30 gives an east-west reference and U.S. 220 provides a north-south reference, making Everett, Schellsburg, Hyndman, and other communities easier to place.
Why do so many roads and towns appear in long narrow corridors?
Long Appalachian ridges run from southwest to northeast, leaving narrow valleys between them. Roads, streams, and settlements often use those lower corridors, so they tend to follow the same elongated pattern on the map.
Can the 219–959 meter elevation range be used for a specific property?
No. It summarizes the county-wide elevation surface for regional comparison and does not provide a survey-grade height for an individual parcel or structure. Property-specific work requires authoritative source data or professional surveying.
Map File Information
The download ZIP contains four A3 high-resolution JPG files: the Bedford County general map, ranked community map, water map, and elevation map. The original files are larger than the page previews and are better suited to printing, classroom handouts, and presentation slides.
- Included Files: Use only the versions confirmed in the article and supplied images
- File Type: Use the confirmed download contents
- Intended Use: Printing, education, presentations, and map-based projects
Related Maps
Sources and References
- Bedford County official website: county government and local information.
- Bedford County regional planning material: county size, setting, and major transportation routes.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles: county boundary and transportation geography.
- USGS National Hydrography: rivers, streams, lakes, and other hydrographic data.
- USGS 3D Elevation Program: elevation data and 3DEP documentation.
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
