1955 Map of Birmingham Point

About this map

Kentucky Lake and the Cumberland River dominate this mid-century landscape in the area known as Between the Rivers. The terrain is defined by the high-water elevation of the reservoir, which has reshaped the valley's geography and inundated earlier lowlands. At the northern edge, the community of Grand Rivers serves as a gateway near the Badgett Coal Terminal, highlighting the region's industrial connection to river transport. Moving south into the Kentucky Woodlands Wildlife Refuge, the map reveals a deeply etched network of inlets including Pisgah Bay and Smith Bay. This 1955 field revision captures a transition in local history, preserving the locations of numerous family burial grounds like the Nickell and Holland cemeteries, alongside rural institutions such as the Oakland School and Star Lime Works Church. The presence of Birmingham Point and its associated Birmingham Cemetery serves as a marker for the community that once existed before the formation of the lake.