1954 Map of Blacks Ferry

About this map

The Cumberland River carves a dramatic series of oxbows through this landscape, including the sharp loops of Salt Lick Bend and Elbow Bend. This 1954 survey captures the agrarian character of Cumberland and Monroe Counties, where small rural hubs like Blacks Ferry, Martinsburg, and Peytonsburg serve as anchors for the surrounding ridge-and-hollow terrain. The map records a dense network of local schools and churches, such as Hickory Grove Ch and Coe Sch, which speak to the decentralized social structure of mid-century Kentucky. Along the southern border, the waters of the Dale Hollow Reservoir begin to submerge the valley floors at the state line. Notable for genealogists are the numerous family-named landmarks like Stalcup and Philpot Cem, alongside topographical features like The Narrows, where the river nearly loops back upon itself.