1919 Map of Nolansburg

About this map

Pine Mountain and Black Mountain dominate this Central Appalachian landscape, where the headwaters of the Poor Fork Cumberland River and Clover Fork Cumberland River carve through narrow valleys. The early twentieth-century coal economy is evident in the string of small company towns and post offices like Leona Mines PO, Kellioka, and Bondurant that cling to the riverbanks and rail lines. The Louisville and Nashville RR provides the primary industrial artery for the region, weaving through the rugged topography to connect isolated settlements. A notable cultural anchor in the northern reaches is the Pine Mountain Settlement School, reflecting the era's focus on rural education and community development. The map also delineates the high ridges of Little Black Mountain and Stone Mountain, which form natural barriers and political boundaries between Kentucky and Virginia.