Loading map...

1953 Map of Parrot

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

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Rockcastle River snakes through the dense topography of the Cumberland National Forest, defining the boundary between Jackson and Laurel counties. This mid-century landscape is defined by its deep dissection, where narrow ridges and hollows dictate the location of small settlements and educational outposts. At Parrot (Letter Box), the community hub is situated on a high ridge, while other small hamlets like Dabolt and Cornelius occupy similar upland clearings.

The distribution of local schools, such as River Hill Sch and Mershons Sch, alongside family burial grounds like Carpenter Cem, reflects a decentralized rural life typical of the Kentucky hill country before significant modernization. Transport is limited to winding secondary roads that follow the contours, connecting remote landmarks like Asa Flats and Flat Top. This survey offers a clear view of the region's human geography just as the local rural school system was beginning to consolidate.