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1939 Map of Bethlehem

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Bethlehem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The Ohio River forms a dramatic eastern boundary for this portion of southern Indiana, as documented by topographic engineer Albert Pike and surveyor G. F. Westinghouse. The settlement of Bethlehem sits prominently on the riverbank, marking a transition between the fertile bottomlands and the dissected uplands of the interior. These interior plateaus are defined by a network of drainage systems like Fourteenmile Creek and Big Creek, where small rural communities like Otto, Marble Hill, and Paynesville are situated.

Local family history is preserved in the location of the Turner Cem and Ross Cem, while the spiritual and educational life of the 1930s is represented by Elizabeth Ch, Bethel Ch, and the Fairview Sch. The landscape is characterized by prominent river features such as Miles Point and numerous steep hollows, including Hurricane Hol, which underscore the geographic isolation of these riverfront townships before the widespread expansion of the modern highway system.