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1891 Map of Hazard

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Hazard
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

The Middle Fork Kentucky River and its labyrinthine tributaries dominate this late 19th-century reconnaissance of the Cumberland Plateau. Centered on Hazard, the survey captures a mountain landscape defined by deep-cut drainage patterns long before the arrival of extensive modern infrastructure. Small settlements like Hyden, Crockettsville, and Viper are tucked into the narrow hollows, illustrating the extreme isolation and river-dependent geography of the era.

Topographic landmarks such as Nailors Rock and Grey Horse Ridge provide orientation among the countless unnamed peaks and ridges. The map meticulously tracks the winding courses of colorfully named waterways like Hell for Certain Creek and Troublesome Creek, which served as the primary transit corridors for the region's inhabitants. This survey reflects the early industrial era when the extraction of natural resources began to transform these secluded Appalachian communities.