2016 Map of Guage

About this map

Rousseau and Guage sit within the high ridges of the Cumberland Plateau, where human settlement follows the narrow corridors of creek forks and hollows. This 2016 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey shows a landscape defined by traditional Appalachian geography, where family-named routes like Press Howard Fork and Jones Branch provide access through the complex topography. The boundary between Magoffin and Breathitt counties cuts across the northeastern corner, highlighting the isolation of these small communities. Settlements such as Lunah and Lambric are connected by winding roads like Quicksand Creek Rd, which traces the valley floors. For genealogists and local historians, the map identifies specific locales like Wells Fork and secluded terrain features including Eaf Hollow and Maple Hollow, offering a modern record of the region's enduring settlement patterns.