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2019 Map of Big Creek

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Big Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

Red Bird River meanders through this deeply dissected portion of the Cumberland Plateau, where Clay, Leslie, and Perry counties meet. The landscape is defined by its complex drainage network, where the river meets Big Creek and Jacks Creek, creating a hub of small settlements along the valley floors. High ridges such as Trace Ridge and Newberry Hill separate the narrow hollows, illustrating the classic Appalachian settlement pattern where roads and homes follow the winding paths of Bullskin Creek and its many tributaries.

Modern infrastructure, represented by the Hal Rogers Pky, bisects the terrain, connecting the community of Bear Branch to the surrounding coal-country mountain gaps. Local genealogy is anchored by features such as the Roberts Cem and scattered outposts like Brutus, Panco, and Peabody. The map provides a clear look at the area's transition from early timbering and small-scale agriculture to its role as a corridor between southeastern Kentucky's larger towns.