1971 Map of Rush

About this map

Industrial activity and small valley settlements define this portion of the Kentucky coalfields along the Boyd and Carter County line. The landscape is heavily marked by numerous strip mines and quarries that follow the ridgelines above narrow creek bottoms. The Chesapeake and Ohio railroad corridor serves as the primary artery for the region, connecting the communities of Coalton, Kilgore, and Rush. Local social geography is preserved through several family and community landmarks, such as Cooksey Cem, Ross Chapel, and the Star Sch located near the headwaters of Star Creek. Further south, the map details the rural clusters of Denton and Music along the winding course of Williams Creek. The interplay between the industrial extractive economy and these established hamlets provides a clear view of Appalachian life during the 1970s.