1891 Map of Hazard

About this map

Hazard serves as the focal point of this late 19th-century reconnaissance, situated at the confluence of several critical waterways within the Cumberland Plateau. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of narrow hollows and high ridges, where settlements like Hyden and Crockettsville developed along the winding paths of the Middle Fork and Troublesome Creek. This survey, conducted by E.C. Barnard and overseen by J.W. Powell, illustrates the primary reliance on natural water gaps for movement between isolated mountain communities. Notable landmarks like Nailors Rock and Lost Mt. rise above a labyrinth of forks and branches, including Buckhorn Creek and Quicksand Creek. The distribution of small settlements such as Viper, Dwarf, and Chavies reflects the early habitation patterns of Perry and Leslie counties before the arrival of large-scale industrial infrastructure.