1892 Map of Prestonsburg

About this map

The Big Sandy River and its major tributary, the Levisa Fork of Big Sandy River, dictate the settlement patterns of this eastern Kentucky mountain region during the late nineteenth century. In Floyd and Johnson counties, the primary communities of Prestonsburg and Paintsville are established at vital river bends where local commerce and transit converged. The eastern edge of the map highlights the early industrial infrastructure of the era, specifically the Chattaroi Railway which follows the river to reach Peach Orchard and Richardson.