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Harlan County, Kentucky

93 topographic sheets and 7 fire insurance atlases across 2 places.

Research this county

From the record

5 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
Harlan County within Kentucky

What the record shows

  • 2 places in this county were surveyed for fire insurance: Harlan, Cumberland, between 1919 and 1949.
  • 7 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
  • 2,515 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 5 districts.
  • 1 of the 5 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 105 populated places in this county; 105 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

6 photographs, 1935 to 1940

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.

Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Meeting and picnic lunch at Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Meeting and picnic lunch at Pine Mountain settlement school near Harlan, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
[Untitled
[Untitled
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1935. Library of Congress
Kentucky Route 840 Bridge, Spanning Cumberland River, Loyall, Harlan County, KY
Kentucky Route 840 Bridge, Spanning Cumberland River, Loyall, Harlan County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

5

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
Benham Historic Districtdistrict198383002785
Cumberland Central Business Districtdistrict199696000282
Harlan Commercial Districtdistrict198686000461
Lynch Historic Districtdistrict200303000086
Pine Mountain Settlement Schooldistrict197878001337

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

1

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Land ownership map, 187? - Map of the Cumberland Valley oil region : showing the lands of the New York and Kentucky and the Burksville Kentucky Oil and Mining companies
Land ownership map (187?) - Map of the Cumberland Valley oil region : showing the lands of the New York and Kentucky and the Burksville Kentucky Oil and Mining companies. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

38 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 906 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 38 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, 1951-04-23, scale 1:38400
1951-04-23, scale 1:38400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-23, scale 1:38400
1951-04-23, scale 1:38400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-23, scale 1:38400
1951-04-23, scale 1:38400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-23, scale 1:38400
1951-04-23, scale 1:38400. 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, 1953-04-20, scale 1:39000
1953-04-20, scale 1:39000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-20, scale 1:39000
1953-04-20, scale 1:39000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-20, scale 1:39000
1953-04-20, scale 1:39000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-20, scale 1:39000
1953-04-20, scale 1:39000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-04-25, scale 1:60000
1956-04-25, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-04-25, scale 1:60000
1956-04-25, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-04-25, scale 1:60000
1956-04-25, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-04-25, scale 1:60000
1956-04-25, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-04-25, scale 1:24000
1969-04-25, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-04-25, scale 1:24000
1969-04-25, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-04-25, scale 1:24000
1969-04-25, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-04-25, scale 1:24000
1969-04-25, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-09-04, scale 1:44000
1972-09-04, scale 1:44000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-09-04, scale 1:44000
1972-09-04, scale 1:44000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-09-04, scale 1:44000
1972-09-04, scale 1:44000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-09-04, scale 1:44000
1972-09-04, scale 1:44000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-01, scale 1:78000
1975-04-01, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-01, scale 1:78000
1975-04-01, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-04-01, scale 1:80000
1976-04-01, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-04-01, scale 1:80000
1976-04-01, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-04-01, scale 1:80000
1976-04-01, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-04-01, scale 1:80000
1976-04-01, scale 1:80000. 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, 1977-03-04, scale 1:80000
1977-03-04, scale 1:80000. 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, 1977-03-04, scale 1:80000
1977-03-04, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-09-18, scale 1:33000
1989-09-18, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-09-18, scale 1:33000
1989-09-18, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-09-18, scale 1:33000
1989-09-18, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-09-18, scale 1:32000
1989-09-18, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

14 stations, 6 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

85 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.

  • 48-1Magisterial District 1: Harlan city: Harlan city - That part Bounded by City limits; Clover Fork, Surgener Ave., Clover, Ivy, Magnolia; Cumberland River
  • 48-2Harlan city - That part Bounded by City limits; Cumberland River, Martins Fork; City limits
  • 48-3Harlan city - That part, excluding Lewallen Hotel Bounded by Magnolia; Second; Clover, Main, Clover Fork; Cumberland River
  • 48-4Lewallen Hotel (In Harlan city)
  • 48-5Harlan city - That part Bounded by lvy; Clover, Surgener Ave.; Clover Fork; Main, Clover, Second
  • 48-6Harlan city - That part Bounded by Clover Fork; City limits; City limits; Main, Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, Surgener Ave.
  • 48-7Harlan city - That part Bounded by Clover Fork; Surgener Ave.; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, Main, City limits; Martins Fork
  • 48-8Loyall town: Loyall town - That part north of Cumberland River
  • 48-9Loyall town - That part south of Cumberland River
  • 48-10Ages - Brookside, unincorporated: Ages - Brookside, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 38; Ages Creek; State Hwy. 38; Shumate Branch, Clover Fork, Cumberland River, Unnamed stream
  • 48-11Ages - Brookside, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 38; Magisterial District line; Clover Fork Cumberland River; State Hwy. 38, Ages Creek
  • 48-12Black Joe - Coxton, unincorporated: Black Joe - Coxten, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to Clover Fork Cumberland River; Unnamed branch; Clover Fork Cumberland River; North - south line through intersection of State Hwy. 38 and Clover Fork Cumberland River
  • 48-13Black Joe - Coxton, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Clover Fork Cumberland River; Lick Branch; Offset line 1/2 mile south of and parallel to State Hwy. 38 North-south line through intersection of State Hwy. 38 and Clover Fork Cumberland River
  • 48-14Kitts, unincorporated: Kitts, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 38; North-south line through intersection of State Hwy. 38 and Clover Fork Cumberland River; State Hwy. 38; Harlan city limits
  • 48-15Kitts, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 38; North-south line through intersection of State Hwy. 38 and Clover Fork Cumberland River; Offset line 1/2 mile south of and parallel to State Hwy. 38; Harlan city limits
  • 48-16Liggett - Bardo - Stanfield, unincorporated: Liggett - Bardo - Stanfield, unincorporated - That part Bounded by East-west line through intersection of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad and State Hwy. 72; Catron Creek; Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line
  • 48-17Liggett - Bardo - Stanfield, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Southerly line from junction of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad and State Hwy. 72 to intersection of Lower Double Branch and Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line; Catron Creek
  • 48-18Yancey, unincorporated: Yancey, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile east of and parallel to Unnamed Rd. and Uanamed Rd. extended; Farmers Branch; Slates Fork; Northeasterly line through junction of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad and Unnamed Rd.
  • 48-19Yancey, unincorperated - That part Bounded by Slaters Fork; Dee Branch; Offset line 1/2 mile west of and parallel to Slaters Fork; Northeasterly line through junction of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad and Unnamed Rd.
  • 48-20BMagisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by Pine Mountain; Magisterial District line; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; State Hwy. 257
  • 48-20AMasterial District 1 - That part Bounded by County line; Magisterial District line; Pine Mountain; State Hwy. 257
  • 48-21AMagisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by Pine Mountain; State Hwy. 257; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, Loyall town limits, Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; Magisterial District line
  • 48-21BMagisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by County line; State Hwy. 257; Pine Mountain; Magisterial District line
  • 48-22Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; U.S. Hwy. 119; Loyall town limits
  • 48-23Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, Loyall town limits, U.S. Hwy. 119; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, Harlan city limits, Martins Fork Cumberland River, Catron Creek; East-west line through intersection of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, and State Hwy. 72; Magisterial District line (See separate map for boundaries of Liggett - Bardo - Stansfield)
  • 48-24Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line, 1/2 mile offset line northeast of State Hwy. 38, Unnamed stream, Clover Fork, Shumate Branch, State Hwy. 38, Clover Fork; Magisterial District line; Martins Fork Cumberland River, Harlan city limits, 1/2 mile offset line southeast of State Hwy. 38, North-South line, 1/2 mile offset line south of State Hwy. 38, Lick Branch, Clover Fork, Unnamed branch, 1/2 mile offset line north of Clover Fork, North-South line, 1/2 mile offset line northwest of State Hwy. 38, Harlan city limits, Louisiana and Nashville Railroad (See separate maps for boundaries of Ages - Brookside, Black Joe - Coxton, and Kitts)
  • 48-25Magisterial District 1 - That part outside Yancey, unincorporated Bounded by Martins Fork Cumberland River; Magisterial District; Magisterial District; Southern line from junction of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad and State Hwy. 72 to intersection of Lower Double Branch and Magisterial District line and Catron Creek
  • 48-26Magisterial District 2: Evarts town: Evarts town - That part north and east of U.S. Hwy. 38 and State Hwy. 215
  • 48-27Evarts town - That part south and west of U.S. Hwy. 38 and State Hwy. 215
  • 48-28Highsplint - Shields, unincorporated: Highsplint - Shields, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 38; Joes Branch; State Hwy. 38, Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; Kelly Branch
  • 48-29Highsplint - Shields, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, State Hwy. 38; Joes Branch; Clover Fork, Cumberland River, Offset line 1/2 mile east of and parallel to State Hwy. 38; Liges Branch
  • 48-30Kenvir - Redbud, unincorporated: Kenvir - Redbud, unincorporated - That part Bounded by 1/2 mile offset line north of and parallel to State Hwy. 215; Pounding Mill Crock, Yocum Creek, Franks Branch; State Hwy. 215; Evarts city limits
  • 48-31Kenvir - Redbud, unincorperated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 215; Franks Branch; 1/2 mile offset line south of and parallel to State Hwy. 215; Evarts city limits
  • 48-32Kenvir - Redbud, unincorporated - That part Bounded by 1/4 mile offset line north of and parallel to State Hwy. 215; Reds Creek; State Hwy. 215; Franks Branch, Yecum Creek, Founding Mill Creek
  • 48-33Kenvir - Redbud, unincorperated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 215; Reds Creek, Yocum Creek, Sharps Branch; 1/4 mile offset line south of and parallel to State Hwy. 215; Franks Branch
  • 48-34Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint, unincorporated: Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/4 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 38 and Fugitt Creek; Southeasterly line through intersection of Fugitt Creek and Unnamed Rd.; Fugitt Creek, State Hwy. 38 and Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; North-south line through junction Clover Fork Cumberland River and Cold Branch, Cold Branch
  • 48-35Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 38; Southwesterly line through junction of Clover Fork Cumberland River and Jacks Fork, Jacks Fork; Offset line 1/4 mile west and south of State Hwy. 38; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad
  • 48-36Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Southeasterly line through intersection of Fugitt Creek and Unnamed Rd., offset line 1/4 mile east of Fugitt Creek and State Hwy. 38; Southwesterly line through junction Clover Fork Cumberland River and Jacks Fork; State Hwy. 38; Fugitt Creek
  • 48-37Verda, unincorporated: Verda, unincorporated - That part Bounded by 1/4 mile offset line north of and parallel to State Hwy. 38; Southeasterly line to point where Louisiana and Nashville Railroad crosses Clover Fork, Cumberland River; Clover Fork Cumberland River; Magisterial District line
  • 48-38Verda, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Clover Fork Cumberland River; Jones Creek; Southwesterly line at point 1/2 mile east of Road Branch; Offset line 1/4 mile west of and Parallel to Jones Creek
  • 48-39Verda, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Clover Fork Cumberland River; Offset line 1/4 mile east of and parallel to Jones Creek; Southwesterly line at point 1/2 mile east of Road Branch; Jones Creek
  • 48-40Magisterial District 2 - That part north of State Hwy. 38 and east of Cold Branch, outside the unincorporated place of Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint (See separate map for boundaries of Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint)
  • 48-41Magisterial District 2 - That part west of Cold Branch and north of Clover Fork Cumberland River, outside Evarts town and the unincorporated places of Highsplint - Shields and Verda (See separate map for boundaries of Highsplint - Shields and Verda)
  • 48-42Magisterial District 2 - That part southeast of Clover Fork Cumberland River, south of Yocum Creek, and west of Briton Branch, outside Evarts town and the unincorporated places of Kenvir - Redbud and Verda (See separate maps for boundaries of Kenvir - Redbud and Verda)
  • 48-43Magisterial District 2 - That part south of Clover Fork Cumberland River and State Hwy. 38 and east of Briton Branch and Yocum Creek, outside Evarts town and the unincorporated places of Highsplint - Shields, Kenvir - Redbud and Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint. (See separate maps for boundaries of Highsplint - Shields, Kenvir - Redbud and Louellen - Black Bottom - Closplint) Supervisor Note: This ED is expected to require sub-division. Examine before enumeration. See instructions
  • 48-44Magisterial District 3: Cumberland city: Cumberland city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; City limits, Big Looney Creek; U.S. Hwy. 119, Arcene
  • 48-45Cumberland city - That part Bounded by City limits; Arcene, U.S. Hwy. 119; Poor Fork Cumberland River, State Hwy. 123; City limits
  • 48-46Cumberland city - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 123; Poor Fork Cumberland River; Poor Fork Cumberland River; City limits
  • 48-47Cumberland city - That part Bounded by Poor Fork Cumberland River; Poor Fork Cumberland River; Cloverlick Creek; City limits
  • 48-48Cumberland city - That part Bounded by Poor Fork Cumberland River, Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; Central, City limits; City limits; City limits, Cloverlick Creek
  • 48-49Cumberland city - That part Bounded by Poor Fork Cumberland River, Big Leoney Creek; City limits; City limits, Central, Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; Poor Fork Cumberland River
  • 48-50Lynch - Benham, unincorporated: Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Long Rock Branch; Looney Creek; Big Branch
  • 48-51Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Big Branch; State Hwy. 160; Northeasterly line at point where State Hwy. 160 meets Cumberland city limits
  • 48-52Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 160; Laurel Branch; 1/2 mile offset line south of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Cumberland city limits
  • 48-53Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 160; Lane Branch; ,1/2 mile offset line south of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Laurel Branch
  • 48-54Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 160; Scott Branch; Offset line 1/2 mile south of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Lane Branch
  • 48-55Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 160; Looney Creek, Maggard Branch; Offset line 1/2 mile south of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Scott Branch
  • 48-56Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded State Hwy. 160, Big Branch, Looney Creek; Gap Branch; Offset line 1/2 mile south of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Maggard Branch, Looney Creek
  • 48-57Lynch - Benham, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Looney Creek; Unnamed stream; Offeet line 1/2 mile south of and parallel to State Hwy. 160; Gap Branch
  • 48-58Magisterial District 3 - That part east of Trace Branch, Cloverlick Creek, U.S. Hwy. 119 and State Hwy. 180, outside Cumberland city and the unincorporated place of Lynch - Benham (See separate map for boundaries of Lynch - Benham)
  • 48-59Magisterial District 3 - That part west of State Hwy. 180 and north of U.S. Hwy. 119
  • 48-60Magisterial District 3 - That part south of U.S. Hwy. 119 and west of Cloverlick Creek and Trace Branch, outside Cumberland city
  • 48-61Magisterial District 4: Magisterial District 4 - That part north of Bledsoe - Gilley Rd. via Pine Mountain
  • 48-62Magisterial District 4 - That part south of Bledsoe - Gilley Rd. via Pine Mountain
  • 48-63Magisterial District 5: Alva, unincorperated: Alva, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/4 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 72; North-south line 1/4 mile through junction of Chunklink Branch and Rockhouse Branch; State Hwy. 72; Toms Branch
  • 48-64Alva, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 72; North-south line 1/4 mile through junction of Chuncklink Branch and Rockhouse Branch; Offset line 1/4 mile south of and parallel to State Hwy. 72; Unnamed stream
  • 48-65Magisterial District 5 - That part outside the unincorporated place of Alva (See separate map for boundaries of Alva)
  • 48-66Magisterial District 6: Cawood, unincorporated: Cawood, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/4 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 66 and Crummies Creek; Lower Halls Branch; Crummies Creek, State Hwy. 66; Stillhouse Branch
  • 48-67Cawood, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/4 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 66; Stillhouse Branch, State Hwy. 66, Crummies Creek; Crummies Creek, Martins Fork Cumberland River; Unnamed Rd. Unnamed Rd. extended
  • 48-68Cawood, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Southerly line from junction of Lower Halls Branch and Crummies Creek to junction of Laurel Creek and Long Branch; Long Branch; Crummies Creek
  • 48-69Chevrolet, unincorporated: Chevrolet, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/4 mile north of and parallel to State Hwy. 66; Unnamed Rd.; State Hwy. 66; Magisterial District line
  • 48-70Chevrolet, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 66; Unnamed Rd. extended; Martins Fork Cumberland River; Magisterial District line
  • 48-71Lemarue - Glidden - Mary Ellen - Coal Good, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Offset line 1/2 mile north of and parallel to Turtle Creek; North-south line 1/2 mile east from junction of Turtle Creek and Left Fork; Offset line 1/2 mile south of and parallel to Turtle Creek; Martins Fork Cumberland River
  • 48-72Magisterial District 6 - That part north of State Hwy. 66 and Martins Fork Cumberland River and east of Turtle Creek, outside the unincorporated places of Cawood and Lemarue - Glidden - Mary Ellen - Coal Good (See separate maps for boundaries of Cawood and Lemarue - Glidden - Mary Ellen - Coal Good)
  • 48-73Magisterial District 6 - That part west of Turtle Creek and west and north of Martins Fork Cumberland River, outside the unincorporated places of Chevrolet and Lemarue - Glidden - Mary Ellen - Coal Good, and Cawood (See separate maps for boundaries of Chevrolet and Lemarue - In Glidden - Mary Ellen - Coal Good and Cawood)
  • 48-74Magisterial District 6 - That part south and east of Martins Fork Cumberland River and south of State Hwy. 66, outside the unincorporated place of Cawood. (See separate map for boundaries of Cawood)
  • 48-75Magisterial District 7: Wallins Creek town:
  • 48-76Twila - Creech, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Ginseng Creek, State Hwy. 219, Unnamed Rd., Unnamed Rd. extended; Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line
  • 48-77AMagisterial District 7 -That part south of Pine Mountain and north of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, outside Wallins Creek town
  • 48-77BMagisterial District 7 - That part north of Pine Mountain and east of Old Magisterial District line
  • 48-78Magisterial District 7 - That part south of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad, west of State Hwy. 219, outside Wallins Creek town and the unincorporated place of Twila - Creech (See separate map for boundaries of Twila - Creech)
  • 48-79Magisterial District 7 - That part south of Louisiana and Nashville Railroad and east of State Hwy. 219, outside Wallins Creek town and the unincorporated place of Twila - Creech. (See separate map for boundaries of Twila - Creech)
  • 48-80Magisterial District 8: Molus, unincorperated (See boundaries shown on aerial phote BUG-23-16)
  • 48-81BN/A
  • 48-81AN/A

Wildfire, 1997 to 2020

671 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 671 of them, burning about 58,719 acres. 7 started naturally and 152 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning280
Missing data/not specified/undetermined169
Arson/incendiarism152
Recreation and ceremony47
Misuse of fire by a minor7
Natural7
Equipment and vehicle use5
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Smoking2

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
1 November 2016Recreation and ceremony7,400 acresKentucky Division of ForestryNOLANSBURG
1 November 2000Arson/incendiarism3,860 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
30 October 2000Arson/incendiarism3,539 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
30 October 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined3,300 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
28 October 2000Arson/incendiarism2,252 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
12 November 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,200 acresKentucky Division of ForestryLYNCH FIRE
31 October 2000Debris and open burning1,772 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
2 November 2000Debris and open burning1,542 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named

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

Storms, 1968 to 2025

60 of 294 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 294 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 3 injuries and about $8,553,650 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind165
Hail65
Flash Flood32
Flood20
Heavy Rain9
Tornado2
Debris Flow1

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
February 1997Thunderstorm WindAges2 killed, $10,000no account filed
April 2014Thunderstorm WindDressen3 hurtA Storm Survey Team comprised of officials from the National Weather Service and Harlan County Emergency Management determined that the wind damage that occurred on Monday April 28th in the Harlan and Evarts Communities of Harlan County was caused by straight-line winds of up to 90 mph. The thunderstorm which caused the damaging winds moved from Tennessee across southeast Whitley County, Bell County and Harlan County producing sporadic wind damage along it's path. The damage in Harlan County included several large hardwood and softwood trees either uprooted or snapped at the base, and damage to at least three structures. Three minor injuries were reported as well.||While a couple witnesses stated that a funnel cloud was observed, all damage surveyed was blown in a northeasterly direction, consistent with straight line wind damage. Either the funnel cloud didn't touch down, or only did so very briefly and the touchdown location was indistinguishable from the straight-line wind damage.
February 2020FloodSand Hill$5,000,000A local newspaper and citizens reported a couple of mobile homes being swept into the Cumberland River outside of Harlan as the river overspilled its banks. Approximately 70 homes were reported to have been impacted by flood waters across the county. Various streets, especially northeast of Harlan, were closed due to flood waters, including Kentucky Highway 413 from U.S. Highway 421 to Kentucky Highway 522. Portions of U.S. Highway 119 were also closed around Loyall and Baxter near the Cumberland River as major flood stage was reached. This forced the closure of flood gates in Harlan.
April 2013Flash FloodHarlan$1,000,000A foot of water was flowing over May Street. A couple of mudslides and a flooded business were reported in the Middle of Harlan as well. Substantial damage was done to roads across the county, mainly from urban and small stream flooding and from ditches washing out.
April 2007Tornado (EF0)Cawood$700,000An EF0 tornado with estimated winds at 75 mph, a path length of 1 mile and a path width of 50 yards snapped numerous large trees, destroyed an old barn, and damaged a few outbuildings and roofs.
February 2018FloodCranks$500,000Numerous roads in Cranks, Evarts, and Harlan and elsewhere around the county were closed or impassable due to flooding. A written state of emergency was declared for Harlan County during the height of the flooding.
June 2016Flash FloodBledsoe$500,000Law enforcement reported several instances of significant flash flooding between Bledsoe and Baxter. Radar estimates and rain gauges indicated 3 to 6 inches of rain fell across Harlan County, with one cooperative observer 3 miles north of Harlan measuring 6.02 inches of rain. Considerable property damage was incurred, including that to between 75 to 100 homes as well as several fences and yards. Some homes in Bledsoe ended up with 3 to 4 feet of water inside of them. Roads and small bridges along U.S. Highway 421 were washed away as creeks spilled over their banks. Roads were further hampered by a rock/mud slide at U.S. Highway 119 and Sukey Ridge Rd outside of Baxter. The Kentucky State Emergency Operations Center received requests for assistance and resources from county officials as written declarations were also composed. American Red Cross teams were mobilized to Harlan County, providing food and water to residents.
April 2013Flash FloodCranks$200,000Highway 421 was flooded near Cranks.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindHarlan$50,000There were trees blown down, roofs blown off, including a small supermarket, billboards down. power lines down, and numerous windows blown out of downtown businesses.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindHarlan$50,000Numerous reports were received of downed trees and power lines. The State Police reported that at least 50 trees had fallen across roads as a result of thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindHarlan$50,000Sunshine Fire Dept. reported multiple trees and power lines down around Highway 72 and 421 bypass.
March 2002Flash FloodClosplint$50,000Heavy rains that fell on March 17 and March 18 caused several evacuations as well as numerous road closures across much of Harlan County. 12 hour rainfall amounts exceeded three inches.
May 2002HailHarlan$30,000Golfball size hail caused damage to some vehicles.
February 2019Heavy RainTeetersville$25,000Department of Highway officials reported that Kentucky Highway 72 was blocked between Kentucky Highway 2425 and Pruitt's Curve due to a large rock slide. Crews were able to open one lane by late morning, following the Harlan County Judge Executive declaring a State of Emergency. This was likely caused by 1.5 to 2 inches of rain on top of saturated terrain. Crews worked to clean up the slide for the next 5 weeks, causing travel impacts.
June 2018Flash FloodCoxton$25,000A local media outlet reported flash flooding from near Coxton to Ages, as well as in Jones Creek where flowing water approached homes and carried away vehicles and culverts.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindCumberland$20,000A tree fell on a house on Parker St. in Cumberland, KY. No injuries were reported.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindWallins Creek$20,000Numerous trees were blown down on Wallins Creek. Winds were estimated at 70 mph.
April 2007Tornado (EF0)Tway$20,000An EF0 tornado with estimated winds around 80 mph, a path length of 0.3 miles and a width of 25 yards, damaged a maintenance building and heavily damaged a trailer roof.
April 1998Flash FloodCountywide$20,000no account filed
April 2007Thunderstorm WindGrays Knob$15,000Numerous large limbs down on Highway 421 from Grays Knob to Cawood. Shingles and tin torn from rooftops and small outbuildings blown over.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindEvarts$10,000Tractor trailer reportedly blown over on KY-38 near the Marathon gas station.
July 2020Flash FloodCumberland$10,000Two to three inches of rain fell in the Cumberland community of Harlan County. City police reported high water across a handful of streets in the community, including multiple road closures. College road along the south side of town was among those listed. The police department also reported that one of their police cruisers was stuck in the flood waters and would not start.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindLoyall$10,000Trees were blown down.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindHarlan$10,000Trees were blown down in the city of Harlan.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindCawood$10,000Law enforecement reported that 10 trees were blown down in Cawood near Highway 3001.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindRosspoint$10,000Approximately 10 trees were blown down and blocking roads. This damage was caused by wind gusts estimated at 62 mph.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$10,000Trees fell on some homes.
August 2001Flash FloodTotz$10,000Three homes were flooded as Kentucky Highway 522 was covered with water.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindWallins Creek$8,000Numerous wrist size tree limbs were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2008HailWallins Creek$8,000Several tree limbs the size of a persons wrist were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindBledsoe$7,000Power lines were blown down.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindHarlan$7,000Thundestorm wind gusts downed several power lines in the Browning Acres neighborhood.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindHarlan$6,000Radio operators received numerous reports of wind damage including damaged signs, shingles removed from roofs, large tree limbs down, and debris in the road in downtown Harlan in the area of Main and Clover Streets.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindLow$6,000A trained spotter reported that 5 trees had been blown down near his and that he had lost power.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindColdiron$6,000A tree and 10 large limbs were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
September 2018FloodBaxter$5,000Local broadcast media and dispatch relayed reports of nearly 3 feet of standing water in a poor drainage area on Duffield Street in Harlan. Farther southwest of Harlan, runoff caused Little Creek in Crawford Branch to develop a swift enough current to wash out a culvert on a driveway on Kentucky Highway 2425.
March 2012Thunderstorm WindPutney$5,000Trees were blown down along Hwy 522 in Putney.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindCumberland$5,000Trees approximately 3 inches in diameter were blown down in yards. Tree limbs were blown down and into roads as well.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindEvarts$5,000There was a mudslide with trees blocking KY 38.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindPutney$5,000There were trees reported down along KY 522 in Harlan county.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindEvarts$5,000Power lines were downed by thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindCumberland$5,000Power lines were blown down.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindLoyall$5,000Power lines were blown down.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindEvarts$5,000Trees were blown down.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindEvarts$5,000Trees were blown down in the city of Evarts.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindHarlan$5,000A tree fell on a dentist office in Harlan during a severe thunderstorm. Numerous trees were also reported down throughout the county.
December 1998Thunderstorm WindVerda$5,000Numerous reports of trees and power lines downed throughout county. One tree fell onto a trailer at Brittians Creek.
April 1998Flash FloodCountywide$5,000no account filed
May 1996Flash FloodWallins Creek$5,000no account filed
November 1996Flash FloodCranks$5,000no account filed
April 2011Thunderstorm WindEvarts$4,000A trained spotter reported that several 3 to 5 inch diameter limbs were blown from trees in Evarts. Some shingles were also blown off of his home as the storm passed. The spotter also reported seeing a wall cloud on the southwest flanks of the storm.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindHolmes Mill$4,000Half a dozen trees were blown down along Highway 38. A tree had fallen onto a car at Goose Bottom as well.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindHarlan$4,000Four trees were blown down in the Wallens Creek area.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindKeith$3,000Several trees were blown down onto powerlines in the Holiday Acres Trailer Park near the community of Loyall.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindBrookside$3,000Trees were blown down and roofing material was removed from a structure in the Brookside community.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindCumberland$3,000Multiple large tree limbs and branches were blown down in yards and roadways near Cumberland.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindEvarts$3,000Three trees were blown down in Evarts.
March 2008Thunderstorm WindWallins Creek$3,000One tree was blown down onto power lines in Wallins Creek.
June 2007HailWallins Creek$3,000Quarter size hail lasted for 20 minutes and covered the ground. Also trees were blown down in front yard.
August 1997Thunderstorm WindClosplint$3,000Power lines were downed.

Mines and quarries

5 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 5 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 4 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Clay3
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Silica1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Harlan MineStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Pine Mountain Sandstone OutcropSilicaProspect
Jesse Spur RoadcutClayProspect
Kentenia ShaleClayProspect
Wallins Creek South ShaleClayProspect

Every populated place in the county

105

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 2 places that were also surveyed for fire insurance come first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

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

Recorded here

Harlan, Kentucky

25 topographic sheets and 5 fire insurance atlases, 1919 to 1947

Cumberland, Kentucky

20 topographic sheets and 2 fire insurance atlases, 1949

Everything this county holds

The complete index, with nothing left out. Each of these is a separate record with its own page: a federal survey report, or the case file that argued a property on to the National Register. Both are public domain and reproduced word for word.

Surveyed structures

1 structure

The vanished settlements of Harlan County, the places these records name that are no longer on the map.

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.