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1892 Map of Whitesburg

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Whitesburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1910
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1910

About this map

Whitesburgh and Pikeville anchor this late 19th-century reconnaissance of the steep Cumberland Plateau, where the headwaters of the North Fork of Kentucky River and the Poor Fork of Cumberland River nearly meet. The landscape is defined by the massive ridge of Pine Mountain, a natural barrier traversed only at strategic points like Pound Gap and Shelby Gap along the state boundary.

Settlement patterns in this era follow the winding hollows, with isolated mountain communities such as Indian Bottom, Mandrake, and Razor Blade tucked between the branching creeks. The map documents the intricate network of family-named watercourses, including Kingdom Come Creek and Polly Creek, which served as the primary conduits for travel and local commerce before the widespread development of modern mountain roads.