1954 Map of Coiltown

About this map

Stoney Point Mine and numerous active strip mines define this mid-century landscape in the Western Kentucky coalfield. The presence of the Louisville and Nashville and Illinois Central railroads facilitated the heavy extraction industrial economy, meeting at the Coiltown Junction. Settlement patterns are tied closely to the topography, with small communities like Coiltown and Rabbit Ridge appearing alongside historic landmarks such as Old Beulah Ch and Silent Run Ch. Along the bottomlands of Clear Creek and Pond Creek, the map details a transition from rural agriculture to intensive mining. Genealogists will find value in the specific locations of family-named features like Johnson Island Cem, Coffman Cem, and Hodge Cem, which dot the ridges and valleys between the industrial operations.