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1954 Map of Varney

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Varney
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Deeply incised valleys and narrow ridges define this section of the Kentucky coalfields in the early 1950s, where small settlements and a dense network of country schools follow the winding path of numerous forks and branches. At the intersection of Rockhouse Fork and Mud Lick Fork, the landscape is dotted with family-named landmarks and institutions like the Dunkard Ch and Pauley Sch. The mapping recorded during this 1954 field check shows a rural society heavily reliant on the topography, with roads like Martin Pike hugging the valley floors and creek beds.

Industrial activity is evidenced by the numerous gas wells noted in the margin, while local community life centered around places such as Heenon and the Apple Orchard Ch. The transition between Martin Co and Pike Co is clearly marked by a jagged ridge-line boundary, separating watersheds like Wolf Cr and Big Creek. This document serves as a vital record for genealogists tracing ancestors associated with specific mountain schools, including the Mouth of Caney Fork Sch and Threeforks Sch.