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1997 Map of Drakesboro

Name: 1997 Topographic Map of Drakesboro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2001
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2001

About this map

Strip mines and industrial activity define the landscape of Muhlenberg County during this era, concentrated heavily around the railroad corridor and the town of Drakesboro. The map documents a complex network of resource extraction, from the extensive strip mine operations near Bevier and Nonnell to the Tipple and scattered Oil Wells found further south near Beech Creek. This industrial footprint exists alongside established rural communities and historic centers of worship, such as Hazel Creek Ch and Leigh Chapel.

Drainage patterns like Pond Creek and Plum Creek are interspersed with family and community landmarks, including the Ennis Cem and Browder Cem. The presence of a Lookout Tower and terrain features like Stony Point offer a sense of the local topography, while the transition from heavy mining to more settled areas like Beechmont and Union Ridge illustrates the diverse land use of the Kentucky coal fields at the close of the twentieth century.