2016 Map of Kite

About this map

Alice Lloyd Coll and the community of Pippa Passes occupy a narrow valley along Caney Fork in this modern survey of eastern Kentucky. The landscape is defined by its deep, branching drainage systems and ridge-running boundaries where Knott, Floyd, and Letcher counties meet. Small settlements like Kite, Hollybush, and Omaha follow the winding hollows, connected by a network of local roads such as Hemp Patch Branch Rd and Bates Branch Rd. This topographic study reveals a traditional Appalachian settlement pattern where habitation is concentrated in the lowlands, and cemeteries like Bald Hill Cem and Hall Cem are situated on elevated ground overlooking the forks. The intricate web of named branches, including Cottonpatch Br and Wolfpen Br, underscores the isolation and distinct geography of these mountain communities in the mid-2010s.