1954 Map of Kite

About this map

Beaver Creek and its many narrow tributaries define the landscape of this eastern Kentucky coal region, captured in detail during the mid-1950s. The settlement pattern follows the hollows, with numerous small schools like Mouth of Hollybush Sch and Bill Dees Branch Sch serving isolated communities. Evidence of the region's industrial base is present through the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad line and operations such as the Strap Mine. The map reveals a high density of rural institutions, including Providence Ch and the Kite Sch, reflecting the self-contained nature of mountain life before modern consolidation. Grounded in data from local coal company maps and aerial photography, this survey provides a precise look at the overlapping boundaries of Knott, Floyd, and Letcher counties near settlements like Kite and Pippa Passes.