1954 Map of Wheelwright

About this map

The industrial and community layout of the Kentucky coalfields is well-defined here, specifically highlighting the operations and residential hubs of the Wheelwright and Weeksbury districts. Data from coal company maps and mid-century field checks reveal a landscape deeply integrated with the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, which follows the winding valley of Beaver Creek and its many forks. This era shows a dense network of local education and social infrastructure, including the Dunbar High School and several family-named schoolhouses like the Riley Branch School and Marshall Br School. Beyond the mining settlements of Ligon and Melvin, the terrain rises sharply to named summits like Potatoe Knob and geologic features such as Collier Rocks. The proximity of county lines—including the intersection of Floyd, Knott, and Pike—underscores the complex administrative geography of this central Appalachian region.