1914 Map of Troublesome

About this map

Troublesome Creek and its many winding forks dominate this terrain in the heart of eastern Kentucky, where the boundaries of Breathitt, Knott, and Perry counties meet. Surveyed in 1911, the map reveals a landscape defined by an incredibly dense network of rural schools, such as Fugate Fork School, Canny School, and Balls Fork School, which served the isolated communities found at nearly every hollow and creek junction. Small settlements like Emmalena, Dwarf, and Noble are connected by narrow trails following the waterways. Notable landmarks including Potato Knob and Lost Mtn rise above the intricate drainage patterns of Buckhorn Creek and Quicksand Creek. The abundance of numbered institutions like School No 11 and School No 12 highlights the localized nature of life in the Cumberland Plateau before modern road networks reached these deep Appalachian valleys.