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1956 Map of Owensboro West

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Owensboro West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Owensboro dominates the southeastern riverbank in the mid-1950s, serving as a hub for both the Ohio River trade and the Louisville and Nashville railroad. The landscape is defined by the prominent Bon Harbor Hills, which rise above a network of sloughs and ditches such as Crane Pond Slough and Fulkerson Ditch. This drainage system illustrates the historic management of the flood-prone bottomlands surrounding Little Hurricane Island and French Island No 1.

Beyond the city, smaller communities like Stanley, Griffith, and Sorgho are connected by rural roads and rail lines. Local landmarks such as the Drive-in Theater and the Municipal Sport Center reflect the mid-century social life of the county. For those researching family history, the map identifies specific locations like the Lancaster Cem and Sorgho Sch, alongside numerous oil wells that signify the region's mineral industry.