1954 Map of Tilford

About this map

The Louisville and Nashville railroad winds through the narrow valleys of this Kentucky coal country, following the path of Little Leatherwood Creek and its many tributaries. In the mid-1950s, this landscape is defined by small, dispersed settlements like Slemp, Daisy, and Tilford, which are tethered together by the rail line and a network of hollows. The social fabric of these remote communities is visible in the numerous neighborhood institutions, including Mt Olivet Ch and schools like Holcomb Sch and Beehive Sch. The map reveals the intricate drainage patterns of the Cumberland Plateau, where every branch and fork—such as Beech Rock Br and Stony Fork—serves as a primary corridor for settlement and transit. The boundary between Perry and Letcher counties follows the high ridges, separating the many homesteads and schoolhouses that populate nearly every accessible creek bottom.