1954 Map of Evansville

About this map

The Ohio River and Green River valleys dominate this mid-century landscape, illustrating the critical water-and-rail network connecting Indiana and Kentucky. Navigational infrastructure is highly visible along the river bends, specifically through US Lock and Dam No 47 and its counterparts, which managed the river's flow for heavy barge traffic. Industrial hubs like Evansville and Owensboro are shown at a time of significant postwar development, while the extensive rail lines of the Louisville and Nashville and Illinois Central systems highlight the region's role as a transit corridor for coal and agriculture. To the south and east, the terrain shifts into the broken uplands of the Coal Knobs and leads toward the subterranean karst geography of Mammoth Cave National Park. Significant military footprints are also evident at Camp Breckinridge Military Reservation and the edge of Fort Knox Military Reservation.