1963 Map of Central City West

About this map

Industrial expansion and traditional settlements converge in this 1963 study of Muhlenberg County. Large-scale earthmoving by the Peabody Coal Company and extensive Strip Mines dominate the southern landscape, contrasted by the enduring communities of Bremen, Gishton, and South Carrollton. This era reflects a landscape in transition, where broken contours indicate areas strip-mined after the original aerial surveys. The Green River forms a significant boundary to the east, while the Louisville and Nashville and Illinois Central railroads provide the critical infrastructure for the coal economy. Genealogists will find numerous rural landmarks preserved here, from family-named burial grounds like Scott Cem and Coleman Cem to local spiritual hubs such as Shavers Chapel and Bethlehem Ch. The newly developed Western Kentucky Toll Parkway cuts across the center, signaling a shift toward modern highway transport.