1953 Map of Custer

About this map

Marks Ridge and the winding course of the Rough River dominate this interior Kentucky landscape in the early 1950s. The settlement pattern is defined by small, ridge-top communities and valley outposts, connected by a network of unimproved roads and light-duty paths. Local life centers on rural institutions like Alexander Chapel, Leslie Chapel, and the New Salem Ch, which served as anchors for the surrounding farms. The mapping reveals a distinct educational footprint through the locations of the Shrewsbury Sch and Salem Sch. Notable water features like the North Fork Rough River and Fiddlers Creek carve deep valleys between the prominent heights of Locust Hill and Woodrow. This survey provides a clear view of the Breckinridge County and Hardin County border region before major modern infrastructure altered the rural character of communities such as Custer and Hudson.