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1951 Map of Tiptop

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Tiptop
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Tiptop and Evanston anchor this mid-century survey of the Cumberland Plateau's deeply dissected terrain along the border of Breathitt, Magoffin, and Knott Counties. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of narrow hollows and ridges, where life centered on the coal and timber resources accessible via the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. Numerous strip mines and conveyors are scattered throughout the valleys, particularly around Quicksand Creek, illustrating the industrial intensity of the era.

Genealogists will find significant value in the documentation of numerous family-named landmarks and cemeteries, such as the John Bailey Cemetery and Benton Mann Cemetery. The map also preserves the locations of vital community centers including the Decoy Post Office and several rural schools like Big Caney School and Spring Fork School. This record captures a moment when small churches like George Mullins Branch Church served isolated mountain communities before modern infrastructure altered the region's accessibility.