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1903 Map of Tell City

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Tell City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

The Ohio River forms a wide, sweeping bend that defines this riverine landscape at the start of the twentieth century, serving as the border between Indiana and Kentucky. On the northern bank, the industrial character of Tell City and Grandview stands in contrast to the rural stretches of Hammond and Troy townships. South of the river, the Louisville and Henderson railroad cuts across the lowlands, connecting river towns like Lewisport and Waitman to the interior.

Further inland in Kentucky, the terrain transitions into a dense network of ridges and drainage basins, punctuated by small agricultural settlements such as Knottsville, Yelvington, and Pellville. Prominent natural landmarks like Spice Knob overlook the winding paths of Blackford Creek and its many tributaries, including Butchens Creek and Caney Creek. This survey captures a specific era of transportation before modern highway development, where the river and rail lines like the Southern R. R. Cannelton Branch were the primary arteries of commerce.