Cameron County occupies a rugged part of north-central Pennsylvania where deep stream valleys matter more than large urban centers. Emporium, the county seat, sits where several valleys and road routes come together, while Driftwood lies much farther south along PA 120. The maps on this page show the county road network, the two ranked communities, the Sinnemahoning drainage system, reservoirs, and elevation, and the four original A3 high-resolution JPG files are available in the download box below.
The county is easiest to understand by following its valleys rather than trying to connect towns with straight lines. Roads and streams wind through narrow low ground between closely spaced ridges, and many slopes rise quickly only a short distance from the main routes. Emporium forms the northern road anchor, Driftwood marks the southern junction, and the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek corridor provides a separate eastern reference.
Table of Contents
Emporium is the main junction for roads and valleys
Emporium is the clearest reference point on the general county map. PA 46 approaches from the west, PA 155 reaches the borough from the north, and PA 120 continues south through the mountain interior. The routes do not spread across a flat grid; instead, they follow the few valleys wide enough to carry roads through the uplands.
South of Emporium, PA 120 bends through a long narrow corridor toward Driftwood. At Driftwood, PA 555 leaves toward the west while PA 120 continues east toward Sinnemahoning. PA 872 forms another important route on the eastern side and connects with the same broader mountain-valley system. Treating Emporium, Driftwood, and the PA 872 corridor as three geographic anchors makes the county much easier to navigate on the map.
The surrounding ridges explain why the road network looks sparse. Even places that appear close in plan view can be separated by steep terrain, so practical travel often remains in a creek valley before crossing at a lower gap. The general map is therefore most useful when read together with the elevation map rather than as a flat road diagram alone.
Only Emporium and Driftwood appear in the ranked community view
The supplied ranked community map is unusually simple. It highlights only Emporium and Driftwood, with index values of 1,975 for Emporium and 45 for Driftwood. Those numbers are the values printed on the map and are useful for explaining the ranking used in the graphic; readers who need the newest official population figure should consult current Census Bureau releases.
Emporium occupies the northern half of the county near the meeting point of several creek valleys and state routes. Driftwood is much farther south in a narrow valley where PA 120 and PA 555 meet. The large amount of mountain land between the two settlements is visually more important than the size of either borough, which makes this map quite different from ranked city maps for more urban counties.
Because there are so few major communities, roads and waterways become the better tools for orientation. Emporium can be used as the northern anchor and Driftwood as the southern anchor, with PA 120 and the Sinnemahoning drainage connecting the two. The settlement map is especially useful for showing how much of Cameron County lies outside any sizeable population center.
The Sinnemahoning drainage follows the county’s deepest mountain corridors
The terrain-and-water map shows a dense network of small streams feeding larger valley channels. Sinnemahoning Portage Creek descends toward the Emporium area, while Clear Creek and West Creek approach through western valleys. Their positions help explain why Emporium developed where it did: both roads and watercourses converge on the same low ground.
South of Emporium, the main valley bends toward Driftwood. Driftwood Branch Sinnemahoning Creek follows the southern corridor eastward, while First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek occupies the eastern side of the county in a separate long valley. These named channels create the clearest lowland routes through otherwise steep and heavily dissected terrain.
Several small reservoirs provide additional landmarks. Emporium Reservoir sits west of the borough, while Lake Bucktail, Upper Reservoir, and Salt Run Reservoir appear in the uplands to the north and northeast. George B. Stevenson Reservoir is the strongest water landmark in the east, lying along the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek corridor.
Pennsylvania DCNR describes Sinnemahoning State Park as a long, narrow park in Cameron and Potter counties, extending along both sides of First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek. At the southern end, the George B. Stevenson dam creates a 145-acre reservoir. That official description matches the map well: the park and reservoir occupy a narrow valley enclosed by high ridges rather than a broad lowland basin.
The terrain-and-water map is intended for regional reference. It should not be used to determine flood zones, current reservoir operations, water depth, navigation conditions, or water quality; those questions require the latest information from the appropriate agency.
Elevation ranges from about 226 to 720 meters
The elevation map displays an actual range of roughly 226 to 720 meters and a mean near 515 meters. Green tones trace the lowest creek valleys around Emporium, along the route toward Driftwood, and through the First Fork Sinnemahoning corridor. Yellow and brown cover most of the land between those valleys, showing how thoroughly the county is divided by ridges.
In the northwest, many short tributary valleys descend toward the Emporium area from surrounding high ground. South of Emporium, the main low corridor becomes narrow and sinuous as it approaches Driftwood. The eastern valley around First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek also appears as a long green ribbon enclosed by steep uplands.
The southern and eastern portions contain broad areas of higher terrain cut by repeated tributary hollows. Around Driftwood, low ground branches into several directions, but each branch is narrow and quickly bordered by higher slopes. This terrain helps explain why PA 120, PA 555, and PA 872 follow winding routes rather than straight lines.
The elevation colors are designed for county-wide comparison and are not survey-grade measurements for a particular property, building, bridge, or construction site. Property-specific work should use authoritative source elevation data or professional surveying.
Several short valleys converge on Emporium
Emporium matters geographically for more than its role as the county seat. Clear Creek and West Creek approach from the west, Sinnemahoning Portage Creek descends from the north, and the main road corridor continues south toward Driftwood. This concentration of low ground makes Emporium the most natural place for roads, public services, and settlement to gather.
The general map also marks the Pennsylvania State Police Troop F location near the Emporium area, another sign that public facilities are concentrated in the same valley. Cameron County’s official government site lists the county courthouse at 20 East Fifth Street in Emporium, confirming the borough’s administrative role.
Elevation changes quickly beyond the developed valley. On the terrain map, the green floor around Emporium is bordered almost immediately by yellow and brown ridges. That means short straight-line distances can hide substantial relief, and local travel is usually easier along the same creek corridors that shaped the original settlement pattern.
Driftwood is a tiny settlement at an important southern junction
Driftwood is extremely small in the ranked community map, yet its location gives it unusual importance for orientation. PA 120 arrives from Emporium, PA 555 heads west, and the broader Sinnemahoning valley continues east. The road junction and the creek corridor therefore make Driftwood a much more useful map landmark than its population alone would suggest.
The surrounding valley is tighter than the one around Emporium. Driftwood Branch Sinnemahoning Creek occupies the low ground, while ridges rise sharply on both sides and smaller tributaries descend from the south. The elevation map shows the settlement sitting in a narrow green corridor enclosed by much higher terrain.
The county boundary also becomes more irregular in the southern half, but actual travel remains focused on the valleys rather than the shape of the administrative line. Following PA 120 and PA 555 together with the creek network gives a clearer sense of how Driftwood connects with the rest of Cameron County.
George B. Stevenson Reservoir anchors the eastern First Fork valley
The eastern side has few large place names, so First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek and George B. Stevenson Reservoir are better reference points. PA 872 follows the same general mountain corridor, and the terrain-and-water map shows the creek and reservoir running through a long valley between high ridges.
Pennsylvania DCNR places Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron and Potter counties and describes it as part of the steep-valley landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The park extends along First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, and the George B. Stevenson reservoir occupies its southern end. The elongated water body on the map is therefore a direct expression of the narrow valley topography.
For orientation, it helps to first locate PA 872 and the reservoir on the general and water maps, then compare the same area on the elevation map. The sharp climb from the valley floor to the surrounding ridges is one of the clearest examples of Cameron County’s mountain relief.
Use the road, water, and elevation maps together for the clearest picture
For basic navigation, start with the general reference map. Emporium and Driftwood provide the two strongest settlement anchors, and PA 46, PA 120, PA 155, PA 555, and PA 872 establish the main travel directions. The ranked community map is much simpler than those of most counties, but it clearly shows how little of Cameron County is occupied by sizeable settlements.
The terrain-and-water map is the best choice for understanding why roads take their present routes. Sinnemahoning Portage Creek, Driftwood Branch, First Fork, George B. Stevenson Reservoir, and Emporium Reservoir all occupy low corridors cut between steep uplands. The elevation map strips away most place labels and makes those same valleys stand out as green bands surrounded by higher terrain.
For classroom handouts, printed reference material, or presentation slides, the original A3 JPG files in the download archive will remain sharper than enlarged web previews. Pairing the road and elevation maps works well for explaining transportation through the mountains, while the community and water maps show why the county’s small settlements are concentrated in specific valleys.
A small county government center within the Pennsylvania Wilds
Cameron County was formed in 1860 from portions of surrounding counties, and Emporium became its county seat. The current county government website continues to list the Cameron County Courthouse in Emporium, reflecting the borough’s long-standing administrative importance despite the county’s very small population.
The eastern side of the county also illustrates its broader Pennsylvania Wilds setting. Pennsylvania DCNR describes Sinnemahoning State Park as lying within a scenic steep-valley region between the ridges of Elk State Forest and Susquehannock State Forest. First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek and George B. Stevenson Reservoir occupy the center of that landscape.
Modern Cameron County is therefore best understood as a mountain-and-valley county with a small number of settlement centers rather than as a network of towns. Emporium and Driftwood provide the human reference points, while roads, creeks, reservoirs, and elevation explain most of the county’s shape and accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best place to start when locating places in Cameron County?
Start with Emporium. PA 46 and PA 155 reach the borough, PA 120 continues south toward Driftwood, and several creek valleys converge nearby. From there, Driftwood and the PA 872–First Fork corridor provide the next two useful reference areas.
Why are Cameron County roads so closely tied to creek valleys?
Most of the county consists of high ridges cut by narrow stream valleys. Roads such as PA 120, PA 555, and PA 872 use the lower terrain because direct ridge crossings are limited. The water and elevation maps show these low corridors especially clearly.
Where is George B. Stevenson Reservoir on the Cameron County map?
It is on the eastern side along the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek valley. Pennsylvania DCNR identifies the reservoir as the water body created by George B. Stevenson Dam at the southern end of Sinnemahoning State Park, and it appears close to the PA 872 corridor on the supplied maps.
Map File Information
The download ZIP contains four A3 high-resolution JPG files: the Cameron County general reference map, ranked community map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map. These original files are larger than the web previews and are better suited to printing, classroom handouts, regional reference work, 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
- Cameron County official website: county government and Emporium courthouse information.
- Pennsylvania DCNR – Sinnemahoning State Park: First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, George B. Stevenson Reservoir, and park geography.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles: county boundaries and transportation geography.
- USGS National Hydrography: rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoir 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.
