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1917 Map of Paintsville

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Paintsville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

Paintsville serves as the focal point of this Eastern Kentucky landscape during the first World War, situated where Paint Creek meets the meandering river. The map documents a dense network of mountain communities and industrial connections, notably the Kentucky River and Northland RR serving the coal-rich valleys. Small settlements like Van Lear and West Van Lear are clearly established, while the rural interior is dotted with a systematic numbered school system, from School No 1 to School No 19.

Genealogists will find particular value in the named hollows and branches that defined local life, such as Barnetts Creek and Litteral Fork. The map also captures several distinct post office and station combinations, including Thelma P O Buffalo Sta and Hager Hill P O Johnson Sta, illustrating how the mail and rail systems integrated these tight-knit communities. Landmarks like Rocky Knob and Fletcher Gap provide topographic context for the numerous small settlements like Winifred, Flat Gap, and Staffordsville that populate the Johnson County hills.