BlockBefore

Floyd County, Kentucky

83 topographic sheets and 2 fire insurance atlases across 1 place.

Research this county

From the record

15 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kentucky within the United States
Floyd County within Kentucky

What the record shows

  • 1 place in this county was surveyed for fire insurance: Prestonsburg, between 1926 and 1938.
  • 2 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
  • 1,476 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 15 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 10 buildings, 2 districts, 2 structures and 1 site.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 86 populated places in this county; 86 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

13 photographs, 1930 to 1938

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Chapter officers checking foodstuffs they had brought up in trucks to feed mountain folk around Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne], Ky
Chapter officers checking foodstuffs they had brought up in trucks to feed mountain folk around Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne], Ky
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1931. Library of Congress
Mining town, Floyd County, Kentucky
Mining town, Floyd County, Kentucky
Rothstein, Arthur, 1938. Library of Congress
To relieve the urgent food needs in an isolated mountain community, the Red Chapter took up truck loads of cornmeal, flour, beans, lard, syrup, coffee, etc. The little farms which these folks own completely failed them, due to the drought
To relieve the urgent food needs in an isolated mountain community, the Red Chapter took up truck loads of cornmeal, flour, beans, lard, syrup, coffee, etc. The little farms which these folks own completely failed them, due to the drought
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1930. Library of Congress
Coal mine, Floyd County, Kentucky
Coal mine, Floyd County, Kentucky
Rothstein, Arthur, 1938. Library of Congress
Mining town, Floyd County, Kentucky
Mining town, Floyd County, Kentucky
Rothstein, Arthur, 1938. Library of Congress
Coal mine, Floyd County, Kentucky
Coal mine, Floyd County, Kentucky
Rothstein, Arthur, 1938. Library of Congress
Down from his mountain farm near Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne], Kentucky, came this young farmer, to apply for and receive his first public charity, in the form of food from the Red Cross. Drought ruined his crops, mines had closed down last November and no work was to be had
Down from his mountain farm near Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne], Kentucky, came this young farmer, to apply for and receive his first public charity, in the form of food from the Red Cross. Drought ruined his crops, mines had closed down last November and no work was to be had
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1931. Library of Congress
Down from his mountain farm near Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne], Kentucky, came this young farmer, to apply for and receive his first public charity, in the form of food from the Red Cross. Drought ruined his crops, mines had closed down last November and no work was to be had
Down from his mountain farm near Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne], Kentucky, came this young farmer, to apply for and receive his first public charity, in the form of food from the Red Cross. Drought ruined his crops, mines had closed down last November and no work was to be had
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1931. Library of Congress
Company houses, Floyd County, Kentucky
Company houses, Floyd County, Kentucky
Rothstein, Arthur, 1938. Library of Congress
"Going to eat hearty this evenin' " grinned these small boys, as they shouldered Red Cross rations up at Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne] camp, Floyd County, in the mountains of Kentucky. The Red Cross chapter took the supplies up by truck load, as the community is very isolated, and starvation threatened its inhabitants
"Going to eat hearty this evenin' " grinned these small boys, as they shouldered Red Cross rations up at Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne] camp, Floyd County, in the mountains of Kentucky. The Red Cross chapter took the supplies up by truck load, as the community is very isolated, and starvation threatened its inhabitants
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1931. Library of Congress
To relieve the urgent food needs in an isolated mountain community, the Red Cross Chapter took up truck loads of cornmeal, flour, beans, lard, syrup, coffee, etc. The little farms which these folks own completely failed them, due to the drought
To relieve the urgent food needs in an isolated mountain community, the Red Cross Chapter took up truck loads of cornmeal, flour, beans, lard, syrup, coffee, etc. The little farms which these folks own completely failed them, due to the drought
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1930. Library of Congress
"Going to eat hearty this evenin'" grinned these small boys, as they shouldered Red Cross rations up at Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne] camp, Floyd County, in the mountains of Kentucky. The Red Cross chapter took the supplies up by truck load, as the community is very isolated, and starvation threatened its inhabitants
"Going to eat hearty this evenin'" grinned these small boys, as they shouldered Red Cross rations up at Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne] camp, Floyd County, in the mountains of Kentucky. The Red Cross chapter took the supplies up by truck load, as the community is very isolated, and starvation threatened its inhabitants
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1931. Library of Congress
Going to eat hearty this evenin' " grinned these small boys, as they shouldered Red Cross rations up to Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne] camp, Floyd County, in the mountains of Kentucky. The Red Cross chapter took the supplies up by truck load, as the community is very isolated, and starvation threatened its inhabitants
Going to eat hearty this evenin' " grinned these small boys, as they shouldered Red Cross rations up to Betsy Lane [i.e. Layne] camp, Floyd County, in the mountains of Kentucky. The Red Cross chapter took the supplies up by truck load, as the community is very isolated, and starvation threatened its inhabitants
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1930. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

15

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
G. D. Callihan Housebuilding198989000389
B. F. Combs Housebuilding198989000390
Fitzpatrick-Harmon Housebuilding198989000388
Front Street Historic Districtdistrict198989000398
Harkins Law Office Buildingbuilding198989000395
Joseph D. Harkins Housebuilding198989000394
Samuel May Housebuilding198080001526
May-Fitzpatrick Housebuilding198989000392
May-Latta Housebuilding198989000393
Methodist Episcopal Church, Southbuilding198989000391
Middle Creek Battlefieldsite199291001665
Town Branch Bridgestructure198989000396
US Post Office-Prestonsburgbuilding198989000417
West Prestonsburg Bridgestructure198989000397
Wheelwright Commercial Districtdistrict198080001527

The county from the air

32 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 651 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 32 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-20, scale 1:23600
1951-04-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-20, scale 1:23600
1951-04-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-20, scale 1:23600
1951-04-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-20, scale 1:23600
1951-04-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-10-12, scale 1:60000
1960-10-12, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-10-12, scale 1:60000
1960-10-12, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-10-12, scale 1:60000
1960-10-12, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-10-12, scale 1:60000
1960-10-12, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-12-14, scale 1:24000
1970-12-14, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-12-14, scale 1:24000
1970-12-14, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-12-14, scale 1:24000
1970-12-14, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-06, scale 1:78000
1975-04-06, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-06, scale 1:78000
1975-04-06, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-06, scale 1:78000
1975-04-06, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-06, scale 1:78000
1975-04-06, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-04, scale 1:80000
1977-03-04, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-12-04, scale 1:80000
1979-12-04, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-12-04, scale 1:80000
1979-12-04, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-12-04, scale 1:80000
1979-12-04, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-12-04, scale 1:80000
1979-12-04, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

12 stations, 4 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

54 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 36-1Magisterial District 1: Allen City town
  • 36-2Prestonsburg city: Prestonsburg city - That part northeast of U.S. Hwy. 23
  • 36-3Prestonsburg city - That part west of U.S. Hwy. 23
  • 36-4Prestonsburg city - That part south of U.S. Hwy. 23 and east of Prestonsburg - Allen City Rd.
  • 36-5Auxier, unincorporated Bounded by County line; Unnamed road; Unnamed road, Levisa River, Unnamed road extended, Unnamed road, Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, Unnamed road; U.S Hwy. 23, County line
  • 36-6Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by County line; County line; State Hwy. 304; Johns Creek
  • 36-7Magisterial District 1 - That part outside Prestonsburg city and the unincorporated place of Auxier Bounded by Unnamed road, Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, Unnamed road, Unnamed road extended, Levisa Fork, Unnamed road, County line; Johns Creek, State Hwy. 304; U.S. Hwy. 23; Prestonsburg city limits, U.S. Hwy. 23 (See separate map for boundaries of Auxier)
  • 36-8Magisterial District 1 - That part outside the unincorporated place of Auxier Bounded by County line; U.S. Hwy. 23; Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, Abbott Creek; Abbott Creek (See separate map for boundaries of Auxier)
  • 36-9Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by County line, Abbott Creek; Prestonsburg city Limits; State Hwy. 114; County line
  • 36-10Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 114; State Hwy. 404, Fredville - David Rd.; County line
  • 36-11Magisterial District 1 - That Part Bounded by Fredville - David Rd., State Hwy. 404; Alum Lick Rd.; Magisterial District line; County line
  • 36-12Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 114; Spurlock Creek, Magisterial District line; Alum Lick Rd.; State Hwy. 404
  • 36-13Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by Prestonsburg city limits, Prestonsburg - Allen City Rd.; Bull Creek, Left Fork of Bull Creek; Magisterial District line; Spurlock Creek, State Hwy. 114
  • 36-14Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by U.S. Hwy. 23; Brandy Keg Creek, Bull Creek; Prestonsburg - Allen City Rd., Prestonsburg city limits
  • 36-15Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by U.S. Hwy. 23; U.S. Hwy. 23, State Hwy. 80, Allen City town limits, State Hwy. 80; Magisterial District line, Left Fork of Bull Creek, Bull Creek, Brandy Keg Creek
  • 36-16Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 304; County line; Magisterial District line, Cow Creek; U.S. Hwy. 23, State Hwy. 304
  • 36-17Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by Cow Creek; Magisterial District line; State Hwy. 80, Allen City town limits, State Hwy. 80, U.S. Hwy. 23
  • 36-18Martin town, comprising parts of Magisterial Districts 2 and 3: Martin town - That part in Magisterial District 2
  • 36-19Martin town - That part in Magisterial District 3
  • 36-20Magisterial District 2, outside Martin town: Lackey town
  • 36-21Wayland town: Wayland town - That part Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; Stone Coal Branch, Town limits; Town limits
  • 36-22Wayland town - That part Bounded by Stone Coal Branch, Town limits; Town limits; Steele's Creek, Steele's Creek Spur; Town limits
  • 36-23Wayland town - That part Bounded by Steele's Creek Spur, Steele's Creek; Town limits; Town limits; Town limits
  • 36-24Glo, unincorporated Bounded by Right Fork of Beaver Creek, Unnamed stream; Wayland corporate limits; Wayland corporate limits; Right Fork of Beaver Creek
  • 36-25Northern - Bosco, unicorporated, Bounded by 1/10 mile offest line north of and parallel to Unamed [illegible] and State Hwy. [illegible]; Unamed [illegible] parallel to State Hwy. [illegible]; Wayland town limits 1/10 mile offset line west of and parallel to State Hwy. [illegible] 1/10 mile offset line south of and parallel to unnamed road, Unnamed road extended, unnamed road, 1/10 mile offset line parallel to Unnamed road and State Hwy. [illegible], [illegible Creek, [illegible], Unnamed road, Unnamed road
  • 36-26Magisterial District 2 - That part outside Martin town and the unicorporated place of Northern - Bosco Bounded by Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line, Martin town limits, Magisterial District line, State Hwy. 80; State Hwy. 80, Unnamed branch, 1/10 mile offset line north of and parallel to State Hwy. 80 and Unnamed road, Unnamed road, Unnamed road, Prater Fork, Brush Creek; Magisterial District line (See separate map for boundaries of Northern - Bosco)
  • 36-27Magisterial District 2 - That part outside the unincorporated place of Northern - Bosco Bounded by Magisterial District line, Brush Creek; 1/10 mile offset line west of and parallel to State Hwy. 80, 1/10 mile offset line north of and parallel to Unnamed road, Unnamed road, Unnamed road extended, Saltlick Creek; County line; County line (See separate map for boundaries of Northern - Bosco)
  • 36-28Magisterial District 2 - That part outside Lackey and Wayland towns and the unincorporated place of Northern - Bosco Bounded by Saltlick Creek, Unnamed road extended, 1/10 mile offset line south of and parallel to Unnamed road; 1/10 mile offset line south and west of and parallel to State Hwy. 80, Wayland town limits, State Hwy. 80, Lackey town limits, State Hwy. 80; County line; Saltlick Creek (See separate map for boundaries of Northern - Bosco)
  • 36-29Magisterial District 2 - That part outside Wayland town and the umincorporated place of Northern - Bosco Bounded by State Hwy. 80; Turkey Creek Rd.; Garrett Rd., Wayland town limits; Wayland town limits, 1/10 mile offset line east of and parallel to State Hwy. 80, Unnamed road north-south line from junction of Unnamed road and State Hwy. 80 to Pumping Station, Northeasterly line from Pumping Station to junction of Right Fork Beaver Creek and Unnamed branch, Unnamed branch (See separate map for boundaries of Northern - Bosco)
  • 36-30Magisterial District 2 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 80; Magisterial District line; Turkey Creek Rd.; Turkey Creek Rd.
  • 36-31Magisterial District 2 - That part outside Lackey and Wayland towns and the unincorporated place of Glo Bounded by Wayland town limits, Unnamed stream, Right Fork of Beaver Creek, Wayland town limits, Garrett Rd., Turkey Creek Rd.; Magisterial District line; County line; County line, State Hwy. 80, Lackey town limits, State Hwy. 80 (See separate map for boundaries of Glo)
  • 36-32Magisterial District 2 - That part situated entirely within the corporate limits of Wayland town (Remainder of Magisterial District 2 is in Martin town)
  • 36-33Magisterial District 3, outside Martin town: Burton town
  • 36-34Weeksbury town: Weeksbury town - That part east of Clear and Beaver Creeks
  • 36-35Weeksbury town - That part west of Clear and Beaver Creeks
  • 36-36Wheelwright town: Wheelwright town - That part east of State Hwy. 306
  • 36-37Wheelwright town - That part west of State Hwy. 306
  • 36-38Ligon, unincorporated Bounded by Unnamed road, 1/4 mile offset line northwest of Unnamed road; District line, 1/4 mile offset line southeast of Unnamed road, Clear Creek; Clear Creek; Offset 1/4 mile line west of Unnamed road, Unnamed stream
  • 36-39McDowell, unincorporated Bounded by Hall Fork; Unnamed road, 1/4 mile offset line east of and parallel to Unnamed road, Branch of Frasier Creek, Frazier Creek; 1/4 mile offset line south and west of and parallel to Unnamed road, Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, Unnamed road; State Hwy. 122, Unnamed road, Left Fork of Beaver Creek
  • 36-40Magisterial District 3 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line; Spurlock Creek Rd., State Hwy. 122, State Hwy. 80; Magisterial District line, Martin town limits, Magisterial District line
  • 36-41Magisterial District 3 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 80, State Hwy. 122; State Hwy. 122; Sizemore Branch; Magisterial District line
  • 36-42Magisterial District 3 - That part outside the unincorporated place of McDowell Bounded by Spurlock Creek Rd.; Magisterial District line; McDowell - Grethel Rd., Hall Fork Beaver Creek, McDowell - Gibson Rd., State Hwy. 122; State Hwy. 122
  • 36-43Magisterial District 3 - That part outside the unincorporated places of Ligon and McDowell Bounded by Unnamed road, Chespeake and Ohio Railroad, 1/4 mile offset line south and west of and parallel to Unnamed road, Frazier Creek, Branch of Frazier Creek, 1/4 mile offset line east of and parallel to Unnamed road, Unnamed road, McDowell - Grethel Rd.; Magisterial District line; 1/4 mile offset line northwest of and parallel to Unnamed road, Unnamed road, Clear Creek; State Hwy. 122 (See separate maps for boundaries of Ligon and McDowell)
  • 36-44Magisterial District 3 - That part outside the unincorporated place of McDowell Bounded by Sizemore Branch, State Hwy. 122, McDowell - Gibson Rd.; Hall Fork, Left Fork of Beaver Creek, Unnamed road, State Hwy. 122, Buckingham - Halo Rd., Unnamed road from Halo to south County line; County line; County line, Magisterial District line
  • 36-45Magisterial District 3 - That part outside the unincorporated place of Ligon Bounded by Clear Creek, Unnamed stream, 1/4 mile offset line west of and parallel to Unnamed road, Clear Creek, 1/4 mile offset line southeast of and parallel to Unnamed road; Magisterial District line, County line; State Hwy. 122, Burton town limits, State Hwy, 122; State Hwy. 122 (See separate map for boundaries of Ligon)
  • 36-46Magisterial District 3 - That part outside Wheelwright town Bounded by State Hwy. 122, Burton town limits, State Hwy. 122; Beaver Creek, Weeksbury town limits, Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek extended; County line; Unnamed road from south County line to Halo, Buckingham - Halo Rd.
  • 36-47Magisterial District 3 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 122; County line; Beaver Creek extended, Beaver Creek, Weeksbury town limits, Beaver Creek (Remainder of Magisterial District 3 is in Martin town)
  • 36-48Magisterial District 4: Betsy Layne, unincorporated Bounded by Mare Creek; County line; Layne Branch; Sandy River (Levisa Fork)
  • 36-49Magisterial District 4 - That part outside the unincorporated place of Betsy Layne Bounded by Magisterial District line; County line; Mare Creek, U.S. Hwy. 23; Magisterial District line
  • 36-50Magisterial District 4 - That part outside the unincorporated place of Betsy Layne Bounded by U.S. Hwy. 23; Mare Creek, Sandy River (Levisa Fork), U.S. Hwy. 23; Harold - Dana Rd.; Harold - Dana Rd., Dana - Banner Rd., Magisterial District line
  • 36-51Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Dana - Banner Rd., Harold - Dana Rd.; Harold - Little Mud Creek Rd., Little Mud Creek, Little Mud Creek extended; Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line
  • 36-52Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Harold - Dana Rd.; Harold - Grethel Rd., Grethel - Ligon Rd. via Teaberry; Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line, Little Mud Creek extended, Little Mud Creek, Harold - Little Mud Creek Rd.
  • 36-53Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Grethel - Galveston Rd. via Galveston to County line; County line; Magisterial District line; Grethel - Ligon Rd. via Teaberry
  • 36-54Magisterial District 4 - That part outside the unincorporated place of Betsy Layne Bounded by Layne Branch; County line; Grethel - Galveston Rd. from County line via Galveston, Grethel - Harold Rd., Harold - Dana Rd., U.S. Hwy. 23

Wildfire, 1997 to 2020

1,363 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,363 of them, burning about 69,792 acres. None started naturally and 311 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning586
Arson/incendiarism311
Missing data/not specified/undetermined274
Recreation and ceremony178
Equipment and vehicle use5
Railroad operations and maintenance5
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Smoking2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. 6 of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
1 November 2001Arson/incendiarism7,500 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
1 November 2000Debris and open burning1,800 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
2 November 2001Arson/incendiarism1,700 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
16 April 1999Arson/incendiarism1,600 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
23 September 2007Debris and open burning1,500 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
18 November 1999Arson/incendiarism1,500 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
6 November 2001Arson/incendiarism1,200 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
5 November 2001Arson/incendiarism1,000 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1967 to 2026

60 of 543 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 543 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 6 injuries and about $12,046,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind244
Flash Flood112
Hail90
Flood78
Heavy Rain11
Lightning3
Debris Flow3
Tornado2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2019Thunderstorm WindPrestonsburg1 killed, $155,000A National Weather Service Meteorologist surveyed localized downburst winds in Prestonsburg. These winds caused sporadic damage throughout the community. The highest wind gust estimated was in downtown Prestonsburg on West Court Street |where one half of the roof of a hock shop building was lifted off. This roof landed on West Court Street, including on multiple vehicles, fatally wounding one person in a moving vehicle. Glass was also broken on multiple windows on the north side of the building. There were a number of other buildings and homes with minor roof |or gutter damage nearby, as well as a couple of uprooted trees near the downtown area. A HAM radio tower that had been mounted on the top of the annex building beside the jail and behind the courthouse in downtown Prestonsburg was also destroyed by thunderstorm wind gusts. The winds snapped the support wires that had been holding up the tower causing the tower to break in half and fall onto the roof of the building it had been mounted on and the ground next to the building. Wind speeds that uprooted a tree at a residence on South Highland Avenue were estimated to be in the upper end of the 70 to 80 mph range.
September 1970Tornado (F1)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
August 2001Flash FloodSouth Central Portion1 hurt, $7,600,000High water from the areas worst flash flooding in years took its toll on area roads, bridges and homes. Extensive damage resulted in the county, making it one of five in the area to be classified as a Presidentially declared disaster area. Up to 1200 homes were affected by the flash flood. All of the Left Beaver and Mud Creek area from Martin south to the end of the county was the hardest hit. Most of the southern part of the county was without commercial utilities for several days after the flash flood.Several shelters were opened and more than 50 people stayed at the Mud Creek Senior Center, more were housed at Allen Central High School and other locations. Officials reported that Kentucky Highway 979 suffered severe damage. A 2 mile stretch of road along Mud Creek was completely washed out, there was no evidence of the road after waters receded. Road and bridge damage was too numerous to mention individually. A 68 year old man had to be rescued from his truck on Tinker Fork Creek. He was trapped inside the vehicle from 10:30 pm until 3:30 am when the water got so high it forced him to swim out the back window. Rescuers were able to get a rope around his waist and pull him up a cliff to safety. He received some sore muscles but was otherwise uninjured.Two months after the event several roads were still under repair. The 2 mile stretch along Mud Creek was still not repaired and residents were using the creek bed as a road to reach their residences.
June 2022LightningDotson1 hurt, $60,000A lightning strike caused a structure fire at a residence on Jack Arnett Branch, leading to an injury to an occupant of the home.
April 1999Thunderstorm WindAllen1 hurt, $25,000Winds blew off roofs on homes, collapsed a commercial building and knocked over several billboards. One man was injured by a falling cinder block.
August 1989Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
June 2003Flash FloodDotson$1,200,000Flood waters damaged several county roads, drains, and bridges. Water was flowing across Kentucky Highway 114 near Dotson. A couple of house trailers were submerged in flood waters. There were also several mudslides in the area.
August 2014Flash FloodBonanza$1,000,000Severe flash flooding occurred across parts of Floyd County as three to four inches of rain fell in one to two hours. Flash flood reports first came in from Lancer where eight inches to a foot of water was flowing across a roadway. Flood waters was reported to have entered homes and vehicles along Spradlin Branch and Mays Branch near Prestonsburg and Main Street and North Lake Drive were closed in downtown Prestonsburg. Highway 1427 was washed out by flood waters and the Creekside Subdivision near the confluence of Potts Branch and Abbott Creek was evacuated due to rising water. Flood water washed partially washed out the road at the junction of Highway 979 and 1426 near Harold. Flood waters were reported to be covering all four lanes of US 23 near Auxier as late as midnight.
April 1998Flash FloodCountywide$165,000no account filed
January 2012Thunderstorm WindDotson$100,000Trees were blown down throughout the county. Several trees were snapped or uprooted and power lines were downed along Hwy 114 and in Rough and Tough Branch in and near the community of Dotson. A billboard was also severely damaged due to the winds. The local VFD reported several transformer fires due to the downed trees and power lines.
April 2007Flash FloodWayland$100,000Multiple homes flooded. One family rescued from their home.
February 2021Flash FloodMartin$75,000Reports of 2 to 4 feet of water that is now inundating downtown Martin. Also notified of numerous water rescues ongoing across Floyd County as well.
April 2007Flash FloodGrethel$60,000Flood water on Rt 979 delayed Fire Dept from responding to home fire. An alternate route had to found.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindEastern$50,000Significant damage was observed at the Floyd County Board of Education in the community of Eastern, where wind penetrated steel doors of the gymnasium next to the main building, before escaping through the NW portion of the gymnasium roof, blowing out a substantial section.
February 2018FloodJustell$50,000A horse farm was washed out by the flooded Levisa Fork.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindPrestonsburg$50,000There were numerous calls of trees and power lines down.
May 2009Flash FloodDotson$50,000Power poles and lines were reported down due to loose earth. One home caught fire after a live power line fell on it in Buckeye Branch. Flood waters were preventing rescuers from reaching the residence.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindPrestonsburg$50,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down at the Jenny Wiley State Park. Part of one tree fell on a building. Several boats were blown loose from the dock on Dewey Lake. One tree was blown down on a vehicle near Dewey Lake.
June 1994Thunderstorm Windnot stated$50,000The sheriff's office in Floyd County reported that trees were downed on Highway 404 in the David area.
March 2021FloodBonanza$40,000Spotter reported 5 feet of water now over KY 1427 (Abbott Creek Rd) just west of Prestonsburg. Water was also continuing to rise.
February 2021FloodBonanza$40,000Spotter reported 5 feet of water now over KY 1427 (Abbott Creek Rd) just west of Prestonsburg. Water was also continuing to rise.
June 2001Flash FloodPrestonsburg$40,000Raging water in the Middle Creek forced several families from their homes after heavy rains fell across the area. Several mobile homes were flooded leaving a coating of mud throughout the interior. One car was washed up against a tree. Eight residences were affected by the high waters and 5 families had to be evacuated.
July 2022Flash FloodGunlock$35,000A picture shows a single wide trailer having floated across Mill Creek Road Bridge, and is wedged against the guard rail by flash flood waters.
February 2019Flash FloodPrestonsburg$35,000A spotter observed 3-4 foot deep water flowing over Abbott Creek Road near Bonanza. Creekside Subdivision had homes with water entering their crawl spaces, while a truck was picked up by the quickly flowing water.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindBlue Moon$35,000A few trailers were damaged and many trees were snapped or uprooted.
March 2020FloodBonanza$30,000Emergency Management reported water from Abbott Creek was approaching the foundation of several low lying homes along Kentucky Highway 1427 east of Bonanza. Over one foot of water made it into a few homes, causing major damage.
September 1998Flash FloodPrestonsburg$30,000Flash flooding occurred Monday afternoon for about one hour at Stratton Branch. The water roared down a hillside and knocked buildings from their foundation, pulled a culvert loose and tore up chunks of pavement. Two mobile homes sustained flood damage.
August 2022Flash FloodDotson$25,000Ruff and Tuff Road culvert was washed out, leading to the road being closed near the community of Dotson.
February 2021FloodBonanza$25,000KY 1427 (Abbott Creek Rd) about 3 miles west of U.S. 23 was impassable with 2.5 to 3 feet of water estimated to be flowing over it. A vehicle was stranded in the flood waters in this location. This is a very flood prone area.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindAllen$25,000A trained spotter observed a tree blown over onto a house in Allen.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindWest Prestonsburg$25,000Emergency Management reported tree damage southwest of Prestonsburg, including one falling on a house as well as the top of a pear tree being broken off.
May 2011FloodWest Prestonsburg$25,000Hwy 1427, also known as Abbott Creek Road, had one and one and a half feet of water flowing over it three miles from the junction with Hwy 23.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindPrestonsburg$25,000The Road Dept responded to reports of approximately 25 trees blocking roads all across the county. Highway 3190 was still blocked by downed trees as of 230 pm EST. This damage was caused by wind gusts estimated at 63 mph.
April 2007Flash FloodPrinter$25,000Families evacuated from homes due to flooding.
April 2025Flash FloodBonanza$20,000A creek is out of it's banks and inundating homes near Creekside Drive along Abbott Creek near Prestonsburg.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindPrestonsburg$20,000A large tree was uprooted and blown over near the corner of Scott Lane and Dingus Street. Numerous other trees were blow down in the city of Prestonsburg including one that was blown down and onto a mobile home.
March 2021FloodBonanza$20,000KY 1427 (Abbott Creek Rd) about 3 miles west of U.S. 23 was impassable with 2.5 to 3 feet of water estimated to be flowing over it. A vehicle was stranded in the flood waters in this location. This is a very flood prone area.
February 2021FloodDotson$20,000Middle Creek is flooded and continuing to rise in the Dotson community, encompassing yards and low lying areas along the creek.
February 2021FloodGlo$20,000Broadcast media had a picture shared on social media from the public, showing flooding across a road in the community of Estill and up to the edge of a home. The exact road is unknown.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindBosco$20,000Numerous trees were blown down across a fifty foot wide by one quarter mile long path.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindGarrett$20,000Several trees were blown down, with a few of the trees falling onto cars.
March 2021Flash FloodSalisbury$15,000A bridge was washed out on Spurlock Creek, and a car was stuck where the pavement had broken.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindBetsy Layne$15,000A trained spotter and emergency management reported multiple trees down near Tram. A mobile home was also knocked off of its block.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindGarrett$15,000Multiple trees were blown down.
September 2007Thunderstorm WindBetsy Layne$15,000Numerous trees down between Stanville and Betsy Layne, mainly near Highway 460. Roof damage in Stanville allowed heavy rain to collapse building onto first floor. Building interior heavily damage by torrential rain.
February 1998Thunderstorm WindPrestonsburg$15,000no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindPrestonsburg$15,000no account filed
March 2025Thunderstorm WindMidas$10,000A NWS Storm Survey team was sent out to Floyd County to look at widespread damage that occurred at this location as thunderstorms moved through. The survey team concluded that the damage was in line with straight line winds and not a tornado. Damage was observed along the hillside near Brush Creek at the intersection of KY-550 and KY-850, with several trees uprooted or snapped headed in the northeasterly direction. A residence also received damage at this location ( just north of the intersection), where wind hit the broad side of the barn before peeling the roofing off. Several more trees were snapped and uprooted at this location, including a 300 year old oak tree that sustained damage. Peak winds were likely between 90 and 100 mph at this location.
December 2019FloodPrestonsburg$10,000Local media reported flooding due to heavy rain in Archer Park in Prestonsburg. This caused damage to the city's Christmas lights display as the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River rose to 20 feet, causing the river to overspill its banks into the park.
May 2017Flash FloodDrift$10,000Emergency management relayed reports of numerous roadways containing flowing water over them throughout Floyd County, including Kentucky Highway 1210. One road had high enough water to reach the hoods of cars near Martin, while several roads were closed due to culverts being washed out from Martin to Drift.
August 2013Flash FloodGarrett$10,000A number of homes in the Rock Fork community were damaged by flood water.
August 2013Flash FloodWayland$10,000Route 7 was closed for about an hour due to flooding. At least 6 homes in the area experienced significant flooding.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindDana$10,000Several trees were snapped and a home suffered minor damage in Dana.
April 2011Tornado (EF1)Beaver$10,000The storm survey team confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down 2.7 miles south of Teaberry in extreme southeastern Floyd county Monday April 4th. The estimated max winds were around 90 MPH. The path length was 0.4 miles with a path width of 100 yards. The tornado touched down on Smokey Branch and destroyed a trailer home and downed close to 100 trees.
May 2009Flash FloodDana$10,000A mobile home was washed away in the Martin area due to flood waters. A family of six was waiting to be rescued on high ground but was able to evacuate from their mobile home.
May 2009Flash FloodDotson$10,000Rock and mud slides have been reported along Kentucky Route 404 in the David and Blue River areas along the left fork of Middle Creek.
April 2007Flash FloodBeaver$10,000Home flooded at Teaberry.
July 2001Flash FloodBanner$10,000Heavy rains caused flash flooding across the county. On Ivy Creek flood waters threaten 5 homes. One wheelchair occupant had to be evacuated.
May 1996Flash FloodPrestonsburg$10,000no account filed
August 1996Flash FloodMc Dowell$10,000no account filed

Mines and quarries

4 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 4 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 3 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Silica1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Clay1
Sand and Gravel, Construction1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Allen PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
East Point RoadcutClayProspect
F-1 MineStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Levisa Fork Sandstone PitSilicaPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

86

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 1 place that was also surveyed for fire insurance comes first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

The vanished settlements of Floyd County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Recorded here

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

17 topographic sheets and 2 fire insurance atlases, 1926 to 1938

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.