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1953 Map of Mc Kee

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Mc Kee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Cumberland National Forest dominates this Jackson County landscape, where the deeply dissected plateau creates a complex network of hollows and ridges. Centered on the community of Mc Kee, the map reveals a mid-century rural economy defined by scattered settlements and natural resource extraction. Small mining operations like Gray Hawk and a Strip Mine are nestled among the drainages of War Fork and Middle Fork. These watercourses dictate the placement of local infrastructure, with winding roads following the contours to reach remote outposts such as New Zion, Atkinstown, and Privett.

Family and community history is preserved through numerous landmarks, including the Sparks School, Smith School, and the Steele Cemetery. Religious life centers on Turkey Foot Church and Mt Bethel Church, which anchor small population clusters near the Lime Kiln Ridge. This 1950s survey documents a time when the region remained largely rural, characterized by small-scale farming in the bottoms and forestry in the highlands.