1953 Map of Bethlehem

About this map

The Ohio River carves a deep valley through the borderlands of Indiana and Kentucky, anchoring the small riverfront community of Bethlehem. On the Indiana side, the landscape is defined by the winding paths of Big Saluda Creek and Camp Creek, which cut through the limestone terrain toward the river. This mid-century survey captures a rural environment in transition, noting infrastructure projects "under construction" near Marble Hill. Further inland, family names and community foundations are preserved through several landmarks, including Elizabeth Ch and the Turner Cem. Across the water in Kentucky, the terrain becomes increasingly complex around Rodgers Ridge and the deep cuts of Barebone Creek. The map documents a network of rural schoolhouse branches and hilltop settlements like Wises Landing and Mt Pleasant, providing a clear view of the dispersed residential and agricultural patterns that shaped the river valley before more modern development reached these ridges.