2016 Map of Hyden East

About this map

The mountain town of Hyden serves as the focal point for this survey of the Eastern Kentucky coalfields, where steep topography dictates the pattern of settlement along narrow valley floors. Much of the western portion of the sheet is protected as part of the Daniel Boone National Forest, a landscape defined by deeply etched drainage systems including Persimmon Hollow and Winding Star Hollow. Transport through this challenging terrain is facilitated by major routes such as the Hal Rogers Pky and Daniel Boone Pkwy, which cut across the high ridges. Smaller communities like Wooton, Smilax, and Wendover are situated near water gaps and fertile stretches like Dixon Bottom, illustrating the historical reliance on creek-side flats for agriculture and infrastructure in Leslie County.