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1942 Map of Smithland

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Smithland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The confluence of the Cumberland River and Ohio River centers this 1942 survey, highlighting Smithland as a vital river junction in western Kentucky. The map documents an intricate network of river landings and crossings, such as Haddox Ferry, Lemmon Landing, and Upper Hodge Landing, reflecting a landscape deeply tied to waterborne commerce and transit. To the south, the Tennessee River flows toward Gilbertsville, where Mile Island sits in the channel near the border of Livingston and Marshall Counties.

Mineral extraction is evident across the hills, with operations like the Klondike Mine, Royal Mine, and Split Nickel Mine scattered north of the rivers. For those researching local history, the map preserves the exact locations of dozens of rural institutions, including the Kincaid Mounds archaeological site and numerous country schools such as Panhandle Sch and Salty Point Sch. These labels reveal a densely settled rural society before mid-century changes reshaped the region's interior.