1962 Map of Tygarts Valley

About this map

The industrial and extractive history of northeastern Kentucky is recorded across this landscape, where the legacy of early iron production and later clay mining is clearly marked. Locations like Boone Furnace and Charlotte Furnace anchor the map, serving as reminders of the 19th-century charcoal furnace industry that once thrived in these hollows. The winding course of Tygarts Creek dictates the geography of the area, creating the broad Robertson Flat and numerous narrow valleys where small settlements like Kehoe and Iron Hill took root. Numerous Claypits are scattered throughout the hills, particularly near Three Prong and Thomas Branch, indicating the area's later economic shift toward fireclay extraction. Genealogists will find many family burial grounds preserved here, including the Zornes Cem and Bentley Cem, while the southwestern corner highlights the recreational boundaries of Carter Caves State Park.