1954 Map of Helton

About this map

Middle Fork Kentucky River and Beech Fork carve through this section of the Cumberland Plateau, where settlement follows the narrow creek beds. The map reveals a landscape defined by an extensive network of rural schools, including Marion Branch Sch, Beech Fork Sch, and Saylor Sch, many of which were likely centers of their respective hollows. Toward the southern edge of the sheet, the steep rise of Pine Mountain creates a natural barrier at the borders of Leslie, Harlan, and Bell Counties.