1952 Map of Pioneer

About this map

The mountain terrain of the Cumberland Mountain and Chimney Mountain range defines this 1952 field revision of Campbell and Scott counties. The Southern railroad winds through the central valley, connecting the settlements of Pioneer and Stanfill along the course of the Elk Fork. This drainage system, which includes Little Elk Creek and Stinking Creek, historically dictated the placement of small rural communities and local institutions. Scattered throughout the hollows and along the ridges are numerous community landmarks, including the Lick Fork School, Emmanuel Church, and family-named burial grounds like the Baird Cemetery and Lay Cemetery. The landscape is a complex network of gaps and knobs, such as Braden Gap, Blockade Gap, and Potato Knob, which shaped the early wagon roads and paths through these highland passes. Farther south, the map details the area around Royal Blue and the Royal Blue School, illustrating the localized social centers of the mid-century Cumberland Plateau.