1979 Map of Portersburg

About this map

Portersburg and Fogertown anchor this 1970s topographical study of the dissected plateau where Laurel and Clay Counties meet. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the South Fork Rockcastle River and the high ridge of Cutoff Mountain, which separate small agricultural valleys from intensive extraction zones. The map documents an economy in transition, where traditional nodes like Benge and McWhorter coexist with extensive strip mines and scattered oil and gas wells. Local genealogy and community life are well-represented through numerous rural congregations and burial sites, including Wyatt Chapel, New Bethel Church, and the Linck Cemetery. The newly established Daniel Boone Parkway cuts through the southern hills, marking a significant change in regional accessibility near the settlement of Urban.