1951 Map of Pleasantville

About this map

The Perry Co Hickman Co border runs through this mid-century landscape of deep hollows and creek valleys, where small farming communities are connected by the winding Jim Mc Gord Highway. Along the banks of Upper Sinking Creek, the settlement of Pleasantville serves as a local anchor with the Pleasantville School and nearby Beech Grove Cem. The map reveals a highly localized social geography defined by numerous hollows, such as Thompson Hollow and Negro Hollow, which sheltered family homes and small churches. To the southeast, Farmers Exchange and Bethel Ch stand at the intersection of several valleys, reflecting the decentralized settlement pattern typical of the Highland Rim. This 1951 field examination captures the area just as modern infrastructure began to overlay the older network of family cemeteries like Ayers Cem and Elkins Cem and one-room schools like Upper Sinking School.