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1953 Map of Bethlehem

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Bethlehem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Ohio River cuts a sweeping bend through this mid-century survey, dividing the riverside town of Bethlehem in Indiana from the steep bluffs of Kentucky. The Indiana shore is characterized by a mix of agricultural flats and dissected uplands, where small communities like Otto and Paynesville are connected by a network of rural roads. A significant industrial footprint is visible at Marble Hill, where a large Substation and a facility marked as under construction signal post-war infrastructural development along the river corridor.

On the Kentucky side, the topography rises sharply into Rodgers Ridge and Covington Ridge, deeply incised by drainages such as Corn Creek and Pattons Creek. Genealogists will find numerous local landmarks, including Elizabeth Church, Bethel Church, and several family burial grounds like Turner Cemetery and Mahoney Cemetery. Across the water, Wises Landing serves as a notable riverside point in Kentucky, illustrating the era's reliance on the river for both orientation and industry.