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2022 Map of Wheelwright

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Wheelwright
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

Wheelwright and the neighboring coal camps of the Cumberland Plateau are the focus of this recent survey, capturing the intricate settlement patterns along the narrow hollows of eastern Kentucky. The landscape is defined by the Left Fork Beaver Cr and its numerous tributaries, where communities like Weeksbury, Melvin, and Ligon follow the winding valley floors. These settlements reflect a long history of industrial reliance, with names like Johnson Coal Hollow and Mill Hollow hinting at the economic engines of the region.

Genealogists will find a wealth of family history preserved in the numerous upland burial grounds, including Tackett Cem, Burke Cem, and Newsom Cem. The map also traces the convergence of four counties—Floyd, Knott, Pike, and Letcher—near High Knob and Potatoe Knob, where the complex topography creates a natural boundary system. The layout of streets like Shop Fork St and Hall St in Wheelwright reveals the purposeful design of a town built to support the nearby mining operations.