1952 Map of Vox

About this map

The winding Laurel River carves a deep path through this portion of the Cumberland National Forest in Whitley and Laurel counties. In the early 1950s, the landscape was a mosaic of rural settlements and agricultural clearings tucked between heavily wooded ridges. This map reveals a community-centered topography where life revolved around local landmarks like the Gatliff Childrens Home and numerous rural schools including Barton Sch No 1 and Bobtown Sch. The industrial presence of the era is evident in the southeast at the Bacon Strip Mine, indicating the regional reliance on resource extraction. Small clusters like Vox, Keavy, and Tye Town are connected by a network of unimproved dirt roads and the primary routes of KY 312 and KY 727, while the L & N RR provides a critical rail link through the eastern valleys.