1979 Map of Blackwater

About this map

Wilderness Road winds through this rugged portion of the Kentucky mountains, tracing a historic passage through Laurel and Clay counties toward the Knox County line. The landscape is defined by the tight valley of the Laurel River and its numerous tributaries, including Blackwater Creek and Robinson Creek. Small rural communities like Marydell, Lida, and Robinson anchor the terrain, often centered around local congregations such as Robinson Creek Ch and Merrimac Ch. Extensive strip mines are visible throughout the central and southern sections of the quadrangle, reflecting the significant impact of the coal industry on the geography by the late 1970s. For the family historian, the map preserves the locations of numerous family-named burial grounds, including Gregory Cem, McFadden Cem, and Blanton Cem, which sit alongside historic school sites like Bush Sch.