2013 Map of Middlesboro South

About this map

Cumberland Gap and the prominent Tri-State Peak anchor this transition between the Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia borders. The landscape is defined by the steep ridges of Powell Mountain, where deep cuts like Baptist Gap and Bennett Gap have guided travel for generations. Settlement patterns follow the valley floors, with community hubs such as Harrogate, Shawanee, and Arthur clustered near the foothills. Below these heights, the Powell River meanders through agricultural bottomlands, its course marked by historical sites like Minton Mill and Vancel Mill. The map reveals a high density of family-named landmarks and cemeteries, including the Cottrell Johnson Cem and Woodson Cem, which offer significant value for genealogical research. Large water features like Fern Lake and the Arthur Lake provide contrast to the narrow hollows such as Dead Horse Holw that score the mountainside.