Fulton County is a narrow, mountainous county in south-central Pennsylvania where long Appalachian ridges and valleys run roughly north to south. McConnellsburg, the county seat, sits near the central-east side where U.S. 30 and U.S. 522 provide the strongest road references. Hustontown and Wells Tannery lie farther north, while Needmore and Warfordsburg anchor the southern half. The four original A3 high-resolution JPG maps can be downloaded from the map file box below.
The county is easiest to understand as a sequence of parallel ridges separated by stream valleys. Sideling Hill rises along the western side, additional ridges divide the interior, and another high belt follows the eastern boundary. Sideling Hill Creek, Licking Creek, Big Cove Creek, and Tonoloway Creek occupy lower corridors between those ridges. The supplied elevation map ranges from about 129 to 746 meters, with a mean near 340 meters.
Table of Contents
McConnellsburg is the central road reference for Fulton County
McConnellsburg is the most useful starting point on the general reference map. U.S. 30 crosses the county east to west, while U.S. 522 runs north to south through the county-seat area. Together they provide the clearest framework for locating the smaller valley communities.
Southbound U.S. 522 reaches Needmore and continues toward Warfordsburg near the Maryland line. PA 655 and PA 643 connect additional southern valleys, and I-70 becomes an important regional route near the county’s southern edge. The winding local road pattern reflects the narrow passages between long ridges.
North of McConnellsburg, Hustontown and Wells Tannery provide important local references. PA 913 serves the northern side, while PA 915 follows the western foothill corridor. I-76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, passes close to the northeastern part of the county and provides a separate long-distance route.
The ranked-city graphic highlights McConnellsburg and Valley-Hi
The supplied ranked-city map identifies two places: McConnellsburg and Valley-Hi. A value of 1,009 is printed for McConnellsburg, while Valley-Hi is labeled as a borough. Those labels reflect the ranking information used by the supplied graphic and should not be treated as a complete current population table.
McConnellsburg lies in the central-eastern part of the county, while Valley-Hi is farther northwest near the U.S. 30 side. There is no continuous urban strip between them. Hustontown, forested ridges, farms, and smaller road corridors occupy the intervening landscape.
Needmore, Warfordsburg, and Wells Tannery are visible on the general map but do not appear as ranked points on this city graphic. For that reason, the general reference map is better for settlement geography, while current Census Bureau data should be used for official population comparisons.
Sideling Hill Creek and Big Cove Creek follow long valleys between ridges
Sideling Hill Creek is one of the strongest northern water references. It follows a low corridor through the mountain terrain, with Laurel Fork and Little Brush Creek appearing farther west. Wooden Bridge Creek and Little Aughwick Creek mark additional valleys in the northeastern section.
Patterson Run and Licking Creek occupy the central interior, and Meadow Grounds Lake provides a small but useful water landmark. Big Cove Creek follows a long north-south valley on the eastern side, helping define the lower terrain south of McConnellsburg.
The southern half contains Tonoloway Creek and Little Tonoloway Creek, which wind through separate valleys toward the Maryland side. Barnett Creek and Bear Pond appear farther west. The repeated stream corridors make the county’s ridge-and-valley structure especially clear on the terrain-and-water map.
This map is intended for geographic reference. It does not establish flood zones, water depth, water quality, navigation conditions, or parcel drainage, so those questions require current information from the appropriate agencies.
Elevation ranges from about 129 to 746 meters
The supplied elevation map reports an actual range of roughly 129 to 746 meters and a mean near 340 meters. Green lowlands extend along the main stream valleys, while long yellow and brown ridges rise sharply beside them. The alternating bands of low and high terrain are one of the strongest visual features of Fulton County.
The western side includes the Sideling Hill area, where high terrain becomes especially prominent toward the north and northwest. Wells Tannery and Valley-Hi sit near lower corridors between ridges, and PA 915 and U.S. 30 use those passages rather than crossing the highest terrain directly.
Another long ridge follows the eastern boundary and separates the McConnellsburg–Big Cove corridor from Franklin County. Additional interior ridges divide Licking Creek from Big Cove Creek. The southern Needmore and Warfordsburg area is generally lower, but the same ridge-and-valley pattern continues to the state line.
The elevation surface is intended for county-wide comparison rather than survey-grade measurement. Parcel, construction, drainage, bridge, or engineering work requires authoritative elevation data or professional surveying.
Fulton County was created in 1850 and McConnellsburg became its county seat
Fulton County’s official website states that the county was founded in 1850 after separating from Bedford County. The name honored Pennsylvania-born inventor Robert Fulton; the county explains that Liberty had been considered before a state senator proposed the Fulton name. McConnellsburg serves as the county seat.
The county-seat location also makes sense geographically. U.S. 30 and U.S. 522 meet in the McConnellsburg area, creating the strongest road junction in a county where mountain ridges restrict east-west movement. The town therefore provides a practical reference for both administration and travel.
The official county page emphasizes Fulton County’s rural character and surrounding natural beauty. That description fits the map set: only a small number of settlements are emphasized, while ridges, forests, streams, and long valley roads occupy most of the county.
Cowans Gap provides a clear example of the northern mountain-valley landscape
Pennsylvania DCNR describes Cowans Gap State Park as a 1,085-acre park in Allens Valley in Fulton County. The park includes a 42-acre lake and is surrounded by state forest land, making it a useful real-world example of the county’s enclosed mountain valleys.
DCNR places Cowans Gap north of U.S. 30 between Chambersburg and McConnellsburg, with access from the Fort Loudon and PA 75 side. The setting combines a narrow valley, steep surrounding ridges, forest, and a small lake—features that match the general relief visible across northern Fulton County.
Cowans Gap Lake is not separately emphasized by name on the supplied terrain-and-water map, but the park’s location helps explain the mountain corridor around the Sideling Hill and northern valley systems. Comparing the official park location with the general and elevation maps makes the role of U.S. 30 as a mountain crossing easier to understand.
Buchanan State Forest covers extensive ridge country in and around Fulton County
Pennsylvania DCNR states that Buchanan State Forest covers about 71,683 acres across Franklin, Fulton, and Bedford counties. The forest occupies upper slopes within the Ridge and Valley region and is dominated by mixed-oak communities with pine, hemlock, and red maple in suitable settings.
In Fulton County, this forest landscape is associated with long mountain ridges, high slopes, and relatively sparse settlement. The general map contains large areas with few named places, while the elevation map shows extensive brown highlands running parallel to lower stream corridors.
DCNR’s history of Buchanan State Forest also notes traces of the old Forbes Road through Allens Valley and over Sideling Hill in Fulton County. The historic route illustrates a long-standing geographic challenge: travel across the county depends on finding usable valleys and passes through a series of mountain barriers.
Needmore and Warfordsburg organize the southern Big Cove and Tonoloway valleys
South of McConnellsburg, U.S. 522 reaches Needmore and continues toward Warfordsburg near the Maryland border. PA 655 and PA 643 connect neighboring valleys, while I-70 becomes the major regional route at the southern edge.
Big Cove Creek and Tonoloway Creek provide the main natural references for this part of the county. The two streams occupy separate low corridors, and Little Tonoloway Creek plus many short tributaries divide the surrounding hills. The elevation map shows those valleys as long green bands between higher ridges.
Neither Needmore nor Warfordsburg is a large urban center, but both are important for understanding southern Fulton County. Their road and drainage corridors link the county-seat area with Maryland and provide a different travel pattern from the more isolated northern valleys.
Choose the map according to whether you need roads, water, or relief
The general reference map is the best starting point for communities and highways. It places McConnellsburg, Hustontown, Wells Tannery, Needmore, Warfordsburg, U.S. 30, U.S. 522, PA 655, PA 643, PA 915, and PA 913 in one view. Because the ranked-city graphic highlights only McConnellsburg and Valley-Hi, the general map is better for the full settlement pattern.
The terrain-and-water map is more useful for Sideling Hill Creek, Little Aughwick Creek, Licking Creek, Big Cove Creek, Tonoloway Creek, and Meadow Grounds Lake. The elevation map removes many labels and makes the repeated ridge-and-valley pattern especially easy to compare.
For printed handouts, classroom use, regional reference notes, or presentation slides, the A3 high-resolution JPG files in the download archive will remain sharper than enlarged web previews. Pairing the general and elevation maps works well for road corridors and mountain relief, while the water map explains why so many local routes follow long stream valleys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest place to start when locating areas in Fulton County?
McConnellsburg is the best starting point because U.S. 30 and U.S. 522 meet near the county seat. From there, Hustontown lies to the north, Needmore and Warfordsburg are south, and Valley-Hi is northwest.
Why does Fulton County have so many long parallel ridges?
The county lies within Pennsylvania’s Ridge and Valley region. Long mountain ridges alternate with lower stream valleys, and waterways such as Sideling Hill Creek, Big Cove Creek, and Tonoloway Creek follow those lower corridors.
Is the McConnellsburg value of 1,009 on the city map a current official population estimate?
Not necessarily. It is the ranking value printed on the supplied city graphic. Readers who need current official population figures for McConnellsburg, Valley-Hi, or other communities should consult the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.
Map File Information
The download ZIP contains four A3 high-resolution JPG files: the Fulton County general reference map, ranked-city map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map. The 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
- Fulton County official overview: county formation in 1850, the Robert Fulton name, and McConnellsburg county-seat information.
- Pennsylvania DCNR – Cowans Gap State Park: official information on Allens Valley, the park lake, and the surrounding mountain setting.
- Pennsylvania DCNR – Buchanan State Forest: official information on the Ridge and Valley forest lands covering Fulton County and neighboring counties.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles: county boundaries and transportation geography.
- USGS National Hydrography: stream and waterbody 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.
