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Knott County, Kentucky

66 topographic sheets cover 60 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

5 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kentucky within the United States
Knott County within Kentucky

What the record shows

  • 1,007 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings and 1 district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 60 populated places in this county; 60 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

2 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.

[Untitled
[Untitled
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1935. Library of Congress
Hotel built for jobless friends by mountain man near Hindman, Kentucky
Hotel built for jobless friends by mountain man near Hindman, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. 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
Bolen Buildingbuilding200707000676
Hindman Ben Franklinbuilding200707000675
Hindman Historic Districtdistrict201313000112
Hiram and Art Stamper Housebuilding201413001053
Wolfpenbuilding201412001200

The county from the air

20 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 500 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 20 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, 1951-04-30, scale 1:23600
1951-04-30, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.

Weather records

9 stations

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

The 1950 census, district by district

22 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.

  • 60-1Magisterial District 1: Hindman town
  • 60-2Magisterial District 1 - That part, outside Hindman town Bounded by Magisterial District line; State Hwy. 80; State Hwy. 80; State Hwy. 80
  • 60-3Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 80; Unnamed road to Allock from State Hwy. 80 to County line via Troublesome Creek, Dicks Branch and Lots Big Fork; County line; County line
  • 60-4Magisterial District 1 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 80; Smithsboro - Carrie Rd.; Magisterial District line, County line; Unnamed road to Allock via Lots Big Fork, Dicks Branch and Troublesome Creek to State Hwy. 80
  • 60-5Magisterial District 1 - That part, outside Hindman town Bounded by State Hwy. 80, State Hwy. 160; State Hwy. 160; Magisterial District line; Smithsboro - Carrie Rd.
  • 60-6Magisterial District 1 - That part, outside Hindman town Bounded by State Hwy. 80, Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line; State Hwy. 160, State Hwy. 80
  • 60-7Magisterial District 2: Anco, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; 1/2 mile offset line east of and parallel to Anco - Sassafras Rd.; A line due west through junction of Unnamed creek and Yellow Creek to County line; County line, Magisterial District line
  • 60-8Wiscoal - Sassafras, unincorporated: Wiscoal - Sassafras, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 15; A due south line from junction of State Hwy. 15 and Unnamed road to County line; County line; State Hwy. 15
  • 60-9Wiscoal - Sassafras, unincorporated - That part Bounded by A line due east from County line to junction of Yellow Creek and Unnamed stream, A southeast line from junction of Yellow Creek and Unnamed stream to junction of State Hwy. 15 and Unnamed road; State Hwy. 15; State Hwy. 15; Anco - Sassafras Rd.
  • 60-10Wiscoal - Sassafras, unincorporated - That part Bounded by A line due east from County line to junction of Yellow Creek and Unnamed stream; Anco - Sassafras Rd.; State Hwy. 15; County line
  • 60-11Magisterial District 2 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line; County line, Little Carr Fork Rd.; State Hwy. 160
  • 60-12Magisterial District 2 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; State Hwy. 160, Little Carr Fork Rd., County line; State Hwy. 15; Smithsboro - Carrie Rd.
  • 60-13Magisterial District 2 - That part outside the unincorporated places of Anco and Wiscoal - Sassafras Bounded by Magisterial District line; Smithsboro - Carrie Rd.; State Hwy. 15; Anco - Sassafras Rd. (See separate maps for boundaries of Anco and Wiscoal - Sassafras)
  • 60-14Magisterial District 2 - That part outside Wiscoal - Sassafras, unincorporated Bounded by State Hwy. 15; County line; County line (See separate map for boundaries of Wiscoal - Sassafras)
  • 60-15Magisterial District 3: Magisterial District 3 - That part north of Elmrock - Handshoe Rd. and northeast of Decoy - Elmrock Rd.
  • 60-16Magisterial District 3 - That part northwest of Decoy - Elmrock Rd. and west of Hindman - Elmrock Rd. via Baker Branch and Laurel Creek
  • 60-17Magisterial District 3 - That part south of Elmrock - Handshoe Rd., east of Hindman - Elmrock Rd. via Baker Branch and Laurel Creek, and west of Hindman - Yellow Mountain - Handshoe Rd.
  • 60-18Magisterial District 3 - That part east of Hindman - Yellow Mountain - Handshoe Rd. via Stewarts Branch and Lick Branch, and southeast of Elmrock - Handshoe Rd.
  • 60-19Magisterial District 4: Magisterial District 4 - That part east of State Hwy. 7
  • 60-20Magisterial District 4 - That part west of State Hwy. 7 and southeast of Ivis - Dema Rd. via Pippapass and Raven
  • 60-21Magisterial District 4 - That part northwest of Ivis - Dema Rd. via Pippapass and Raven, and southeast of State Hwy. 80
  • 60-22Magisterial District 4 - That part northwest of State Hwy. 80

Wildfire, 1997 to 2020

1,188 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,188 of them, burning about 75,976 acres. 2 started naturally and 244 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning526
Missing data/not specified/undetermined296
Arson/incendiarism244
Recreation and ceremony93
Misuse of fire by a minor14
Smoking6
Equipment and vehicle use5
Natural2
Railroad operations and maintenance2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. 7 of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 November 1999Arson/incendiarism10,000 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
2 November 2001Arson/incendiarism4,070 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
3 November 2000Arson/incendiarism3,500 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
14 November 1999Arson/incendiarism2,500 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
2 November 2000Arson/incendiarism2,500 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
11 November 1999Arson/incendiarism2,000 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
31 October 2001Arson/incendiarism1,500 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
26 April 2009Debris and open burning1,160 acresKentucky Division of ForestryARNOLD FORK

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

Storms, 1974 to 2025

60 of 190 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 190 reports for this county, causing 16 deaths, no injuries and about $2,115,300 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind95
Hail37
Flash Flood29
Flood17
Heavy Rain10
Debris Flow2

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
July 2022Flash FloodFisty16 killedExtensive flash flooding occurred in Knott County. Some of the reports included:||11:00 PM EST - Pictures on social media show flash flooding around the Big Branch Baptist Church. |11:56 PM EST - Broadcast media reported street flash flooding leaving KY-899 impassable in front of the Holly Hills Shopping Center. |12:38 AM EST - 4 children, ranging from 1 to 8 years old, perished in the flood waters of Montgomery and Troublesome Creeks after being swept away from their parents. Numerous news articles state that the family was awoken by the flash flood warning around 2:00 AM EDT (1:00 AM EST). The Considerable Tag that set off the WEA alerts as sent out at 1:38 AM EDT (12:38 AM EST), so this is likely what awakened the parents. The reports go on to state that it was a matter of minutes before the family was forced to escape to the roof of their mobile home once water started pouring in. They were not on the roof very long before they realized the mobile home was not stable, and they swam to a nearby tree. Strong currents in the water ripped the children away from the parent's grasp. It was around 8 hours before the parents were rescued. 2 of the 4 children were found deceased on Thursday (7/28). The other two were found deceased on Friday morning (7/29)|12:48 AM EST - A portion of Route 899 was flooded near the IGA store in Hindman.|1:00 AM EST - Pictures on social media show debris and rocks littered onto KY-1231 due to flash flooding.|1:30 AM EST - A house was destroyed and carried onto Steer Fork Road and KY-582 by flash flood waters.|2:00 AM EST - A fire truck from the Hindman Volunteer Fire Department was swept away and pinned underneath the Cowtown Road Bridge over Troublesome Creek.|2:00 AM EST - Picture on social media shows a car pinned under the pedestrian bridge in front of Alice Lloyd College after being swept away in the flood waters.|2:00 AM EST - Catastrophic flash flooding in the city of Hindman.|2:00 AM EST - Picture on social media shows the Hidden Treasure Shop along East Main Street (KY-550) in Hindman severely damaged by flash flood waters from Troublesome Creek. |2:00 AM EST - Homes on the lower side of KY-550 in the community of Fisty have been swept away by flash flooding along Troublesome Creek. |2:00 AM EST - Patriot Dairy Bar has been destroyed by flash flooding.|2:22 AM EST - A video on social media shows the Pine Top Post Office was 2/3 submerged by significant flash flood waters along Carr Fork. |2:27 AM EST - Highway 582 is flooded. Water is 3/4 of the way up the post office building at Pine Top. |2:30 AM EST - Camp Nathanael sustained significant damage to several structures in the community of Emmalena. |2:44 AM EST - Multiple cars were submerged and a house surrounded by water in the community of Emmalena. |8:00 AM EST - The cooperative observer located 1 mile East of Wiscoal reported a 24-hour total rainfall of 6.50 inches.
August 2001Flash FloodCountywide$800,000Several inches of rain fell in a short period of time across the county. This resulted in widespread flash flooding. The damage that resulted prompted the county to classified as a Presidentially declared disaster area. Most of the damage that resulted was to county roads and bridges although numerous homes were also affected.
April 1998Flash FloodCountywide$500,000no account filed
August 2014Flash FloodFisty$234,000Over three inches of rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms produced flash flooding across the county. Troublesome Creek was reported out of its banks from Hindman to Carrie, six inches of flowing water was reported over Highway 80, flooding at the junction of Highway 550 and 160 made the roads impassable, flood waters surrounded a house in Garner, the Hazard Community & Technical School campus was flooded in Hindman, and water was reported over the bumper of an SUV between Leburn and Hindman.
April 1998Flash FloodCountywide$200,000no account filed
July 2012Flash FloodCarr Creek$70,000Heavy rainfall caused a coal slurry pond to fill up with water and runoff into pay lake below. The pay lake overflowed and the pay lake's dam was partially washed out. This caused flash flooding to occur along Breeding Creek Road and a narrow part of highway 15 near Redfox. Residents were stranded due to the flooding and several homes/mobile homes were flooded during the event.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindElmrock$50,000Trees and powerlines were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 60 mpy on Highway 1098 near Elmrock.
February 1993Thunderstorm Windnot stated$50,000Strong winds destroyed a mobile home and downed several trees.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindHindman$30,000Numerous trees were blown down county wide by thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindHindman$25,000Twenty two hundred people were reported without power across the county.
May 2020Flash FloodFisty$20,000Local media relayed a report of water inundating residences on Clear Creek near Fisty.
February 2019Heavy RainHindman$10,000Local media reported mudslides across a large portion of the county, including Kentucky Highway 2029 southwest of Bolyn and Kentucky Highway 550 west of Hindman where a power pole was knocked down. This latter slide was near Hindman Elementary School, resulting in power to the school being knocked out.
August 2014Flash FloodHindman$10,000Troublesome creek was reported to have come out of its banks in the Carrie area shortly after a public report of 1.78 inches of rain fell in 35 minutes. A trailer on Lick Branch Road was flooded. A foot of flowing water was reported over Highway 1102. Also, the Ball Creek Volunteer Fire Dept assisted several families that were trapped by flood waters in their homes near Highway 550 in Hindman between 730 pm EST and 800 pm EST.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindHindman$10,000Severals trees were blown down on Highways 550, 1393, and 160.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindRitchie$10,000The Knott county Highway Dept had to remove trees from the roadway on Highways 1102 and 1088 near Ritchie.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindHindman$10,000Numerous large limbs were torn from trees by thunderstorm wind gusts. A 14 inch diameter tree was also blown down.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindCarrie$10,000Trees and power lines were blown down along KY 550 by wind gusts estimated at 62 mph.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindHindman$10,000Trees and power lines were blown down on Perkins Mountain Road and Big Branch Road in the Perkins Mountain area by wind gusts estimated at 62 mph.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindCarr Creek$8,000Trees and power lines were blown down near the intersection of Highway 160 and KY 15 by wind gusts estimated at 62 mph.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindMousie$8,000Two trees and power lines down on Highway 550 between Mousie and Hindman.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindEmmalena$5,000An NWS storm damage survey team found damage associated with 80-100 mph down burst winds at Camp Nathaniel near Emmalena. Numerous large diameter trees wre snapped or uprooted and were lying in a northwest to southeast direction. One large uprooted tree fell onto a building owned by the camp and other buildings received minor damage.
February 1997Thunderstorm WindHindman$5,000no account filed
August 2011Thunderstorm WindMousie$3,000Several large tree limbs were blown down in Mousie.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindTina$3,000A tree was blown down and onto a power line in Tina.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindBetty$3,000A few trees were snapped just inside the Knott County line near Betty.
November 2000Thunderstorm WindTalcum$3,000Strong winds brought several trees down in the area. Minor roof damage was also reported to several homes.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindIvis$2,000KYTC District 12 reported that KY-160 near the intersection with KY-899 was closed due to a tree that fell onto power and telephone lines.
August 2022Flash FloodHindman$2,000Water was ponding onto the KY-2759 near Hindman. In addition, a mudslide also occurred, and a large tree is down. Power lines are also down in the area as a result. The road has been been closed.
September 2009Thunderstorm WindPine Top$2,000Trees were blown down on Highway 582 and Route 1393.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindLeburn$2,000Two trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts at 4692 Possum Trot Road.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindCarrie$2,000Tree down on Highway 550. Power lines down in Carrie.
May 2020Flash FloodHindman$1,000A local media outlet reported water of at least half a foot deep flowing over Ogden Branch Road northwest of Hindman.
March 2015FloodCarrie$1,000One lane of KY 550 at mile marker 9 was impassable due to flooding.
March 2015FloodHindman$1,000Water was over Hwy 550.
March 2015FloodHindman$1,000Kentucky 550 at mile marker 11.25 was impassable due to flooding.
March 2015FloodMousie$1,000Highway 550E was covered by flood water.
July 2015Flash FloodRitchie$1,000A culvert was washed away due to large amounts of swiftly moving water on Singleton Branch off Clear Creek Rd near Hwy 550. A picture was posted showing several feet of water rushing down the road and surrounding houses.
July 2015Flash FloodHindman$1,000Flash flooding was occurring off Hwy 160 near Frogtown.
July 2015Flash FloodHindman$1,000Flood waters were entering and surrounding peoples homes off Hwy 160 at Bear Branch.
April 2015Flash FloodMousie$1,000A foot of water was observed flowing across Hwy 550 near Mousie.
December 2015FloodMousie$1,000High water affected a road in Mousie.
December 2013FloodMousie$1,000Water was over the road across sections Hwy 550 East between Mousie and Garrett. The road was impassable in places with anywhere between 2 and 12 inches of water flowing across it. The spotter witnessed a truck becoming submerged in the water and getting stuck.
December 2013FloodHindman$1,000Water was over the road on KY 550 at WKCB radio station.
July 2012FloodBrinkley$1,000Troublesome Creek was out of its banks from Brinkley to Hindman.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindHindman$1,000A 55 mph wind gust was measured by the Knott count mesonet site.
August 2012Flash FloodCody$1,000Defeated Creek was flooded and the flood waters pushed a vehicle partially off Defeated Creek Rd.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindKite$1,000A large tree was blown down along Highway 582 between Pine Top and Kite.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindBetty$1,000One tree was blown down on Highway 550 by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindHindman$1,000Large limbs down across Route 550.
February 2020FloodMousie$200Dispatch relayed reports of water over Kentucky Highway 550 near Mousie and Carrie.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindCordia$100Kentucky State Police reported a tree down across KY-1088 (Lotts Creek Road/Yellow Creek Road), at about the halfway point, east of Hazard.
April 2025HailDecoy-A social media post showed pictures of large hail, approximately ping-pong ball size, in the community of Decoy, KY.
January 2025FloodHindman-Perkins Madden Road, south of the town Hindman was flooded, especially near the entrance to the Knott County Nursing Home, due to poor drainage.
January 2025Debris FlowHindman-A rockslide/debris flow was reported along KY-160 across from the Golden Apple Fruit Market, southeast of Hindman.
May 2025HailFisty-A picture on social media showed hail accumulation on the ground in the community of Fisty. Stones between a quarter and half-dollar size were visible in the grass.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindCarrie-Knott County Dept of Highways reported a tree down between MM 9 and 10 on KY-550.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindFisty-Trees were downed onto KY-550 near the Perry County line.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindEmmalena-Trees were reported down on KY-550 near Montgomery Creek and Montgomery Creek Road, in the community of Emmalena.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindMousie-Trees were reported to have been downed on KY-550 near Jones Fork and the community of Mousie.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMousie-Hazard State Highway Patrol relayed a report of a tree down on the 3800 block of KY-1087 in Knott County, near the community of Mousie.

Mines and quarries

1 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 1 working inside this county. It still produces. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Ogden Branch StoneStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer

Every populated place in the county

60

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 vanished settlements of Knott County: the places named above 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.