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1963 Map of Drakesboro

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Drakesboro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Strip mines and multiple industrial tipples dominate the landscape surrounding Drakesboro during the early 1960s, reflecting the intensive coal production of Muhlenberg County. The region's economy is clearly mapped through the infrastructure of the Louisville And Nashville and Illinois Central railroads, which weave through mining settlements like Bevier, Browder, and Nonnell. These rail lines follow the natural drainages of Caney Creek, Plum Creek, and the larger Beech Creek valley, connecting remote extraction sites to the regional transport network.

Genealogists will find significant local detail in the placement of rural landmarks such as Hazel Creek Ch and Leigh Chapel, along with family-named burial grounds like Wilcox Cem and Ennis Cem. The southern portion of the map transitions into more varied terrain near Kirkwood Lake and the Twin Tunnels, showing a mix of established agriculture and heavy industry. From the Lookout Tower near the center of the quadrangle to the Oil Wells scattered in the east, this survey provides a comprehensive view of a mid-century Kentucky coal town at its industrial height.