Lawrence County lies along Pennsylvania’s western border, where New Castle occupies the county’s strongest river and road junction. Shenango River approaches from the north, Mahoning River enters from the west, and their combined flow continues south as Beaver River. U.S. 422 and PA 18 provide the clearest central road references, while New Wilmington, Bessemer, New Beaver, Wampum, Ellwood City, and Ellport occupy separate rural and river corridors. The four original A3 high-resolution JPG maps are available in the download box below.
The terrain is easiest to understand by separating the major central river valleys from the higher eastern and northeastern uplands. Large rivers create broad green lowlands around New Castle and south toward Wampum, while small tributaries cut more sharply into the eastern hills. The supplied elevation map ranges from about 224 to 442 meters, with a mean near 335 meters.
Table of Contents
New Castle sits at the county’s most important road and river junction
New Castle is the best starting point on the general reference map. U.S. 422 runs east to west through the city, PA 18 provides a north-south connection, and PA 168 reaches nearby rural areas. Several additional routes split away toward the eastern uplands and the Beaver River corridor to the south.
New Wilmington lies north of New Castle near PA 208 and local roads leading toward Mercer County. Bessemer sits west near the Ohio line, while New Bedford and Frizzleburg provide smaller northwestern references. Settlement becomes much more dispersed outside the New Castle area.
To the east and northeast, PA 388, PA 956, and PA 108 cross rolling terrain toward Butler County. The road network bends around small valleys and higher hills, a pattern that becomes much clearer on the elevation map.
New Castle ranks first, with Ellwood City anchoring the southern county
The supplied ranked community map highlights New Castle, Ellwood City, New Wilmington, New Beaver, Ellport, and Bessemer. The printed values are New Castle 21,579, Ellwood City 7,532, and New Wilmington 2,395. New Beaver follows at 1,343, Ellport at 1,127, and Bessemer at 881. These are the ranking values printed on the supplied map and should not be treated as the newest official population estimates.
New Castle is by far the largest ranked center and occupies the central river junction. Ellwood City forms the main southern population center near the Beaver River side, with Ellport immediately to the east. New Beaver and Wampum occupy additional positions along the same broader north-south corridor.
New Wilmington provides the strongest northern settlement reference, while Bessemer marks the western side. Reading the community and general maps together shows that Lawrence County contains several small centers connected by river valleys rather than one continuous urban area.
Shenango and Mahoning rivers meet before the water continues south as Beaver River
The strongest feature on the terrain-and-water map is the river junction near New Castle. Shenango River descends from the north and Mahoning River approaches from the west. Their combined flow continues south as Beaver River, creating the county’s broadest continuous lowland.
Little Neshannock Creek and several short tributaries reach the Shenango side north of New Castle. Neshannock Run and other smaller channels enter from the western side, while Henderson Run and Big Run cut through the rolling eastern interior.
Hickory Creek and Hickory Run drain the southwestern hills. Sugar Creek, Little Beaver Creek, and Little Beaver River provide additional references close to the Ohio border and southern edge. Duck Run occupies another narrow valley in the southeastern hills.
This terrain-and-water map is intended for geographic reference. It does not establish flood zones, navigation conditions, water depth, water quality, or parcel drainage, so those questions require current information from the appropriate agencies.
Elevation ranges from about 224 to 442 meters
The supplied elevation map reports an actual range of roughly 224 to 442 meters and a mean near 335 meters. The lowest green terrain follows Shenango River, Mahoning River, and Beaver River through the center and south. These valleys create the broadest low corridors in the county.
Western and northwestern Lawrence County contains rolling hills broken by smaller stream valleys, while the eastern and northeastern side is generally higher. The Butler County edge shows broader brown uplands cut by short tributaries.
The southeastern county is especially dissected, with many small ravines separating the higher terrain. Ellwood City and Ellport sit in lower river-related terrain, but elevations rise quickly east of the Beaver River corridor toward the Slippery Rock Creek side.
This elevation surface is intended for county-wide comparison rather than survey-grade measurement. Parcel, construction, drainage, bridge, or engineering work requires authoritative source elevation data or professional surveying.
Lawrence County was created in 1849 and New Castle became its county seat
Pennsylvania State Archives and the Pennsylvania Manual record Lawrence County as having been created on March 20, 1849 from parts of Beaver and Mercer counties. The county was named for Perry’s flagship Lawrence, which honored naval officer James Lawrence. New Castle serves as the county seat.
Visit Lawrence County’s historical account connects New Castle’s early development with survey work near the Shenango River and Neshannock Creek area. Canal transportation later encouraged manufacturing, followed by railroads that expanded freight capacity and helped the city grow.
The modern map still reflects that geographic advantage. New Castle occupies a major river junction and a central highway position, so its historical transportation role and present-day county-seat function both make sense in the same landscape.
McConnells Mill shows the steep gorge terrain on the eastern side
Pennsylvania DCNR describes McConnells Mill State Park as a 2,546-acre park in Lawrence County centered on the spectacular Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. The gorge is recognized as a National Natural Landmark and was shaped by drainage from glacial lakes.
The park lies near U.S. 422 and PA 19 on the eastern side of the county. Slippery Rock Creek is not a large labeled feature on the supplied water preview, but the elevation map clearly shows the deeply cut, higher terrain that characterizes the eastern boundary.
DCNR warns that the gorge contains steep slopes, large boulders, and powerful whitewater. That rugged setting is very different from the broader river valley around New Castle and gives the eastern county a distinctive physical character.
New Wilmington represents the quieter northern hill country
New Wilmington is the strongest northern settlement reference and ranks third on the supplied community map with a printed value of 2,395. PA 208 and local roads connect it with Mercer County and the rural northern interior.
Little Neshannock Creek and many short tributaries drain this part of the county. The elevation map shows broad rolling hills rather than the very deeply cut terrain seen near the southeastern border.
Comparing New Wilmington with New Castle makes the county’s settlement contrast easy to see. New Castle is a river-and-highway center, while the north contains smaller towns, rural roads, and more widely distributed development.
Wampum, New Beaver, and Ellwood City follow the southern Beaver River corridor
South of New Castle, Beaver River provides the main natural corridor toward Wampum and the Beaver County line. New Beaver lies farther west and southwest, while Ellwood City and Ellport form the strongest southern settlement cluster.
PA 18, PA 376, PA 65, and PA 351 provide useful road references in this part of the county. The river lowland gives transportation and settlement a natural north-south passage, although higher dissected hills begin immediately east of the corridor.
Ellwood City ranks second on the supplied community map at 7,532. Together with New Beaver, Wampum, and Ellport, it shows that southern Lawrence County is organized around several connected river-valley communities rather than a single city.
Choose the map according to whether you need roads, water, or relief
The general reference map is the quickest choice for communities and highways. It places New Castle, New Wilmington, Bessemer, New Beaver, Wampum, Ellwood City, U.S. 422, PA 18, PA 168, PA 208, PA 388, PA 551, and PA 956 in one view. The ranked community map is cleaner when the goal is simply to compare the larger settlements.
The terrain-and-water map is more useful for the Shenango River, Mahoning River, Beaver River, Little Neshannock Creek, Henderson Run, Big Run, Hickory Creek, and Little Beaver River. The elevation map removes many labels and makes the central river lowlands and higher eastern terrain 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 roads and relief, while the water map explains how the two river systems join at New Castle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best place to start when locating areas in Lawrence County?
New Castle is the easiest central reference because U.S. 422 and PA 18 pass nearby and the city sits at the junction of the Shenango and Mahoning rivers. New Wilmington is north, Bessemer is west, and Wampum and Ellwood City lie to the south.
What makes the New Castle water system unusual on the county map?
Shenango River approaches from the north and Mahoning River enters from the west before the combined flow continues south as Beaver River. The water and elevation maps together show that this junction creates one of the county’s broadest low corridors.
Are the New Castle 21,579 and Ellwood City 7,532 values current official population estimates?
Not necessarily. They are the ranking values printed on the supplied community map. New Wilmington, New Beaver, Ellport, and Bessemer should be treated the same way; current official population figures should come from the latest U.S. Census Bureau releases.
Map File Information
The download ZIP contains four A3 high-resolution JPG files: the Lawrence County general reference map, ranked community 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
- Pennsylvania State Archives – County Courthouses: Lawrence County creation date and New Castle county-seat reference.
- Visit Lawrence County – History of Lawrence County: county naming, New Castle development, and canal and railroad history.
- Pennsylvania DCNR – McConnells Mill State Park: official information on the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge and eastern Lawrence County terrain.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles: county boundaries and transportation geography.
- USGS National Hydrography: rivers and stream 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.
