1954 Map of Kite

About this map

Deep hollows and narrow ridgelines define the landscape around the junction of Knott and Letcher counties during the mid-1950s. The local economy and social structure are clearly etched into the terrain, where numerous small mountain schools like Mouth of Hollybush Sch, Left Dry Creek Sch, and Bill Dees Branch Sch serve isolated communities tucked along the forks of Beaver Creek. The Chesapeake and Ohio railroad corridor follows the winding path of the Right Fork, connecting settlements like Topmost and Hall to the wider region. Industrial activity is evident in the Strip Mine near Puncheon Creek and scattered oil wells. This survey, compiled from coal company maps and aerial photography, provides a precise look at the rural Appalachian infrastructure of the era, from the Pumping Sta at Topmost to the high pass at Beaver Gap.