1954 Map of Roxana

About this map

Pine Mountain dominates the southern landscape of this mid-century survey, creating a formidable natural boundary along the Letcher Co Harlan Co line. The steep, narrow hollows and winding ridgelines are dotted with numerous small country schools such as Kingdom Come Sch, Barking Sch, and Davy Sch, reflecting the decentralized community structure of the Appalachian hills. Along the North Fork Kentucky River, the Louisville and Nashville railroad winds through Roxana and past Hot Spot Premium PO, serving the region's coal and timber interests. The intricate network of family-named drainages, including Tolson Branch and Bill Harris Branch, shows how local geography was deeply tied to the families who settled these valleys. Researchers will find a rural landscape transition as small operations like the Oil Well and Gas Well appear alongside traditional mountain settlements like Oscaloosa and Skyline.