1953 Map of Bethlehem

About this map

The Ohio River carves a deep, winding channel through this mid-century landscape, separating the wooded bluffs of Trimble and Oldham counties in Kentucky from the agricultural uplands of Clark and Jefferson counties in Indiana. Along the Indiana bank, the settlement of Bethlehem sits at a prominent river bend, supported by a network of rural churches and cemeteries that speak to the area’s deep-rooted community ties. Elizabeth Ch and Bethel Ch anchor the northern reaches near Otto and Marble Hill, while the rugged drainage systems of Camp Creek and Little Camp Creek define the western topography. Across the water, the Kentucky side is characterized by narrow hollows like Doolittle Hollow and Abbott Hollow, with small landings such as Wises Landing providing historical points of river access. This period captures the region's transition into the 1950s, preserving the location of family-named landmarks like the Mahoney Cem and Turner Cem before significant modern development.