1952 Map of Portersburg

About this map

The South Fork Rockcastle River and Little Laurel River carve through this section of the Kentucky coalfields, where the Laurel and Clay county line divides the landscape. In the early 1950s, this area was characterized by a dense network of small rural institutions, including numerous community schools such as Old Way Sch, Hammons Hill Sch, and Dan Jones Sch. Settlement is concentrated in small pockets like Portersburg and McWhorter, connected by a web of unimproved dirt roads and light-duty paths that follow the winding creek beds. The emergence of industrial activity is visible at the Strip Mine located south of Crawford, marking a shift in the local economy alongside traditional landmarks like Pleasant Grove Ch and the high point at Cutoff Knob Mtn.