1955 Map of Martinsville

South of the river, the terrain shifts into the ridgelines of Pear Ridge and Tarkington Ridge, much of which is protected within the Morgan Monroe State Forest. Local history is preserved in the numerous family cemeteries dotting the countryside, such as Foster and Williams, while rural life centers on institutions like Maple Grove Ch and Mt Olive Ch. The abundance of a Fish Hatchery and several gravel pits indicates the local reliance on the river's natural resources during the 1950s.