1936 Map of Elva

About this map

Clarks River and its winding East Fork dominate this 1936 survey of western Kentucky, where the landscape is defined by the complex watercourses of the Jackson Purchase. The Nashville and Chattanooga St Louis Railway cuts north-south through the terrain, serving small rural hubs like Elva and Wiley. This era captures the transition of rural travel, showing the Jefferson Davis Highway alongside older river crossings such as Harris Hill Ford and the Bryan Ford Bridge. Local genealogy is well-preserved through numerous community landmarks, including the Mt Moriah Ch and its associated cemetery, alongside rural schoolhouses like Sharp Sch and Gregg Sch. The presence of features like Steam Mill Bend points to the early industrial reliance on the river system before modern infrastructure reshaped the valley.