1952 Map of Bernstadt

About this map

Bernstadt and the surrounding Laurel County landscape appear in the early 1950s as a complex mix of agricultural settlements and emerging industrial extraction. This portion of the Cumberland National Forest is defined by the winding course of the Rockcastle River and the historical path of the Wilderness Road, which cuts through the ridge-and-hollow terrain. The map documents the presence of several established communities with European heritage, notably Swiss Colony and Upper Colony, alongside Hazel Patch near the Louisville and Nashville railroad tracks. Evidence of the region's shifting economy is visible in the numerous Strip Mines and individual Strip Mine operations concentrated in the eastern half of the quadrangle. For genealogists, the map preserves the locations of local landmarks such as Warrens Grove Ch, the Snuffer Cem, and several rural schools including Arthur Ridge Sch and Helvetia Sch.