1955 Map of Atkinson

Social life in the mid-1950s centered on crossroads communities and rural institutions like Franklin High Sch and Bland High Sch. The map reveals a high density of country churches and family-named cemeteries, including St. Marys Ch, Wells Chapel, and the Herring Cemetery. To the east, the planned agricultural community of Penderlea stands out with its distinct grid of secondary roads and the Penderlea School, contrasting with the more organic growth found at Newtons Crossroads and Harrells.