1954 Map of Vicco

About this map

Louisville and Nashville rail lines follow the winding river valleys of this Eastern Kentucky landscape, serving a series of tight-knit coal and rail communities in the mid-1950s. The settlement of Vicco sits at a critical junction where Carr Fork meets local tributaries, surrounded by neighboring towns like Sassafras, Anco, and Happy. The geography is defined by a dense network of named hollows and branches, such as Red Oak Branch and Lick Fork, where local life centered around small institutions like Indian Bottom Ch and numerous rural schoolhouses including Georges Branch Sch and Fort Branch Sch. Industrial activity is evident through numerous Conveyor lines and a Substation near Kodak, while the ridge at Dixon Knob is marked by a Lookout Tower. This survey captures the region just before significant modernization, documenting the exact placement of the Open Door Childrens Home and the many family cemeteries that dot the hillsides.