1970 Map of Willard

About this map

The Little Sandy River and its intricate drainage system anchor this portion of the Cumberland Plateau, where the landscape is marked by the development of the Grayson Lake reservoir. This 1970s revision captures the area's transition into a recreational and conservation hub, notably with the Grayson Lake State Park and Grayson Wildlife Management Area surrounding the impounded waters. Despite these modern shifts, the map remains a vital record of deep-rooted Kentucky settlements and family names. Narrow ridges like Hilton Ridge and Greasy Ridge separate the many hollows where rural life centered on small churches and family burial grounds. The presence of numerous mines and oil wells scattered across the topography points to a persistent extractive economy that existed alongside the region's rugged creek-bottom farming.