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1953 Map of Magnolia

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Magnolia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The South Fork Nolin River cuts through the northern landscape of this Larue County region, anchoring a rural territory of ridge-top farms and deep-cut creek valleys. The village of Magnolia serves as a primary hub along the Jackson Highway, while smaller communities such as Mt Sherman and Gatton dot the upland plateaus. Local genealogy is well-represented through numerous rural congregations and burial grounds, including Benningfield Chapel, Mt Moriah Ch, and the Holly Grove Cem.

Southward, the terrain becomes increasingly dissected by watercourses like Camp Creek and Pulsifer Creek, leading toward the historic industrial site of Aetna Furnace. This area reveals the mid-century intersection of agriculture and community, where small educational outposts like Terrell Sch and Cave Hill Sch were still mapped alongside landmarks like the Davis Memorial Chapel. The intricate network of secondary roads and drainage branches provides a clear view of how topography dictated Kentucky settlement patterns before major highway expansions.