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2019 Map of Frakes

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

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

Pine Mountain and the Log Mountains dominate the topography of this southeastern Kentucky landscape, where the borders of Whitley, Knox, and Bell counties converge. The rugged terrain is etched by a dense network of watercourses, including Poplar Cr, Harpes Cr, and Laurel Fork. Small settlements such as Siler, Frakes, and Pearl serve as focal points for the surrounding rural communities.

Genealogists will find a wealth of family history preserved in numerous burial grounds, including Bennett Cem, Goins Cem, and Wells Cem. Transportation through the steep ridges is facilitated by gaps such as Buffalo Gap and Henry Bowlin Gap, which have historically dictated the movement of goods and people between these isolated hollows. The map illustrates a landscape where traditional Appalachian settlement patterns persist into the 21st century.