BlockBefore

Madison County, Kentucky

53 topographic sheets and 13 fire insurance atlases across 2 places.

Research this county

From the record

75 National Register listings published here, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kentucky within the United States
Madison County within Kentucky
Explore by year 1876 1922

What the record shows

  • 2 places in this county were surveyed for fire insurance: Richmond, Berea, between 1886 and 1949.
  • 13 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
  • 795 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 75 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 64 buildings, 9 districts and 2 sites.
  • 13 of the 75 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 50 populated places in this county; 50 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

15 photographs, 2020

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.

The "Nothin' Fancy Farm" sign, placed on a most ordinary barn, presumably by an owner who knows his property's limitations, near Richmond, Kentucky
The "Nothin' Fancy Farm" sign, placed on a most ordinary barn, presumably by an owner who knows his property's limitations, near Richmond, Kentucky
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
The Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, completed in 1909 and named for the legendary Appachian pathfinder, in Berea, Kentucky
The Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, completed in 1909 and named for the legendary Appachian pathfinder, in Berea, Kentucky
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
Direction sign to the Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, completed in 1909 and named for the legendary Appachian pathfinder, in Berea, Kentucky
Direction sign to the Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, completed in 1909 and named for the legendary Appachian pathfinder, in Berea, Kentucky
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
The colorfule Weaver's Bottom Craft Studio in Berea, Kentucky's, Artisan Village
The colorfule Weaver's Bottom Craft Studio in Berea, Kentucky's, Artisan Village
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Outdoor art at the Artisan Village, a cluster of sculptors', weavers', jewelery designers' and other artists' shops in Berea, Kentucky
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress
Whitehall, Stone Outbuilding, Clay Lane, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Whitehall, Stone Outbuilding, Clay Lane, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Whitehall, Log Cabin, Clay Lane, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Whitehall, Log Cabin, Clay Lane, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Castlewood, U.S. Route 25, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Castlewood, U.S. Route 25, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Brassfield Depot, 1964 Brassfield Road (State Route 499), Brassfield, Madison County, KY
Brassfield Depot, 1964 Brassfield Road (State Route 499), Brassfield, Madison County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Woodlawn, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Woodlawn, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Berea College, Lincoln Hall, Berea College, Berea, Madison County, KY
Berea College, Lincoln Hall, Berea College, Berea, Madison County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Whitehall, Clay Lane, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Whitehall, Clay Lane, Richmond, Madison County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

75

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
Arlingtonbuilding198383003778
Battle of Richmond Historic Areasdistrict199694000844
Berea College Forestsite200302000343
Berea College Square Commercial Historic Districtdistrict2020100005899
Berea Downtown Commercial and Residential Historic Districtdistrict2020100005909
Blair Parkbuilding198383003779
Blythewoodbuilding198988003330
Bogie Houses and Mill Sitedistrict197676000920
Boone Tavern Hotelbuilding199695001527
Judge Daniel Breck Housebuilding197676000921
Bronston Placebuilding198383003781
Burnawoodbuilding198484001801
Campbell Housebuilding198988003334
Cane Springs Primitive Baptist Churchbuilding197878001381
Chenault Housebuilding198988003339
Churchill Weaversbuilding201413001054
Brutus and Pattie Field Clay Housebuilding199088003341
Whitney Cobb Housebuilding198988003312
Cornelison Potterybuilding197878001380
Covington Housebuilding198988003329
Downtown Richmond Historic Districtdistrict197676000922
Dozier-Guess Housebuilding198988003343
Duncannonbuilding198080001650
Eastern Kentucky University Historic Districtdistrict198484001804
Elk Gardenbuilding198988003326
Elmwoodbuilding201284003927
Farmers Bank of Kirksvillebuilding199088003324
Fort Boonesborough Townsite Historic Districtdistrict199494000303
Griggs Housebuilding198988003316
Hagan Housebuilding198988003337
Hakins-Stone-Hagan-Curtis Housebuilding198988003327
Nathan Hawkins Housebuilding198383002815
William Holloway Housebuilding198383003783
Homelandsbuilding198988003332
Irvintonbuilding197575000798
Merritt Jones Tavernbuilding197373000817
Karr Housebuilding198988003313
Kellogg and Company Warehousebuilding2017100001424
Kirksville Christian Churchbuilding198988003325
Lincoln Hallbuilding197474000892
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Passenger Depotbuilding197575000797
Madison County Courthousebuilding197575000800
Mason Housebuilding198988003320
Miller, William M., Farm, (Boundary Increase)district200100001599
William M. Miller Housebuilding197979003602
Moberly Housebuilding198988003315
John Moberly Housebuilding198383002817
Morrison Housebuilding198988003340
Mt. Pleasantbuilding198383003784
Mt. Pleasant Christian Churchbuilding198988003331
Mt. Zion Christian Churchbuilding198988003318
Stephen Murphy Housebuilding198383002818
Newby Country Storebuilding2025100011680
Isaac Newland Housebuilding198383002819
Old Central Universitybuilding197373000818
Richmond Armorybuilding200000000282
Richmond Cemeterysite198383003785
Rolling Meadowsbuilding198988003321
Shearer Storebuilding199088003314
Simmons Housebuilding198988003323
Squire Turner Housebuilding198383003786
Stephenson Housebuilding198988003322
Tate Buildingbuilding200606000814
Tates Creek Baptist Churchbuilding198988003333
Taylor Housebuilding198383003787
Taylor Housebuilding198988003336
Tevis Housebuilding198988003335
Turner Housebuilding198988003338
Turner-Fitzpatrick Housebuilding198988003328
Union Bus Stationbuilding200707000285
Viney Fork Baptist Churchbuilding198988003317
Walker Housebuilding198383003789
William Walker Housebuilding198988003319
West Richmond Historic Districtdistrict198484001815
Whitehallbuilding197171000352

Digitised newspapers

30 issues

Sampled issues, machine-read from the Library of Congress scan and published page by page, so every headline and column is searchable text.

The Citizen

Berea, Ky., 1899 to 1958. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Climax

Richmond, Madison County, Ky., 1887 to 1897. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Richmond Climax

Richmond, Ky., 1897 to 1914. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Madisonian

Richmond, Ky., 1913 to 1914. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Climax-Madisonian

Richmond, Madison County, Ky., 1914 to 1917. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Richmond Climax

Richmond, Madison County, Ky., 1917 to 191?. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Kentucky Register

Richmond, Ky., 190? to 1917. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

Richmond Daily Register

Richmond, Madison County, Ky., 1917 to 1978. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

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, 1876 - Map of Madison Co., Kentucky
Land ownership map (1876) - Map of Madison Co., Kentucky. Library of Congress.

Photographs from libraries nationwide

4 of 7 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 7 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Eplee's Tourist Court, Berea, Kentucky -- on Highway U. S. 25, Boston Public Library - undated
Eplee's Tourist Court, Berea, Kentucky -- on Highway U. S. 25. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Eplee's Motel, Berea, Ky. -- on Highway U.S. 25 and Ky. 21, Boston Public Library - undated
Eplee's Motel, Berea, Ky. -- on Highway U.S. 25 and Ky. 21. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Madison County, Boston Public Library - undated
Madison County. Hoeing, J. B. (Joseph Bernard), 1855, Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Moore's Motel, Berea, KY, Boston Public Library - undated
Moore's Motel, Berea, KY. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

41 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 868 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 41 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, 1950-06-01, scale 1:23600
1950-06-01, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-06-10, scale 1:16500
1950-06-10, scale 1:16500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-06-10, scale 1:16500
1950-06-10, scale 1:16500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-06-10, scale 1:16500
1950-06-10, scale 1:16500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-04-16, scale 1:24000
1958-04-16, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-04-16, scale 1:24000
1958-04-16, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-04-16, scale 1:24000
1958-04-16, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-04-16, scale 1:24000
1958-04-16, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-10-28, scale 1:24000
1959-10-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-10-28, scale 1:24000
1959-10-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-11-02, scale 1:24000
1959-11-02, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-11-02, scale 1:24000
1959-11-02, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-09, scale 1:24000
1960-01-09, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-09, scale 1:24000
1960-01-09, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-09, scale 1:24000
1960-01-09, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-09, scale 1:24000
1960-01-09, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-11-23, scale 1:24000
1964-11-23, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-11-23, scale 1:24000
1964-11-23, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-11-23, scale 1:24000
1964-11-23, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-11-23, scale 1:24000
1964-11-23, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-15, scale 1:24000
1965-02-15, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-15, scale 1:24000
1965-02-15, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-15, scale 1:24000
1965-02-15, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-15, scale 1:24000
1965-02-15, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-05-27, scale 1:24000
1969-05-27, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-05-27, scale 1:24000
1969-05-27, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-05-27, scale 1:24000
1969-05-27, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-05-27, scale 1:24000
1969-05-27, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-30, scale 1:24000
1971-03-30, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-30, scale 1:24000
1971-03-30, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-30, scale 1:24000
1971-03-30, scale 1:24000. 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, 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, 1976-03-17, scale 1:78000
1976-03-17, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-03-17, scale 1:78000
1976-03-17, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-05-12, scale 1:78000
1976-05-12, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-05-12, scale 1:78000
1976-05-12, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2002-04-01, scale 1:15000
2002-04-01, scale 1:15000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2002-04-01, scale 1:15000
2002-04-01, scale 1:15000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

22 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

42 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.

  • 76-1Richmond city, coextensive with Magisterial Districts 1 and 2: Richmond city - That part of Ward 1 in Magisterial District 1 Bounded by City limits; Ward line, B; Irvine, Magisterial District line, W. Main; N. Third
  • 76-2Richmond city - That part of Ward 1 in Magisterial District 1 Bounded by City limits; N. Third; Moberly Ave., Fifth, North, Seventh; W. Main
  • 76-3Richmond city - That part of Ward 1 in Magisterial District 1 Bounded by North, Fifth, Moberly Ave.; N. Third; W. Main; Seventh
  • 76-4Richmond city - That part of Ward 2 in Magisterial District 1 Bounded by City limits; Old Four Mile Rd., Four Mile Ave., Irvine, Collins; Main; N. First, Irvine, B, Ward line
  • 76-5Richmond city - That part of Ward 3 in Magisterial District 1 Bounded by W. Main; Lancaster Ave.; City limits; City limits, Sunset Ave.
  • 76-6Richmond city - That part of Ward 3 in Magisterial District 1 Bounded by City limits; W. Main; Sunset Ave.; City limits
  • 76-7Richmond city - That part of Ward 1 in Magisterial District 2 Bounded by Irvine; N. First; W. Main; Magisterial District line
  • 76-8Richmond city - That part of Ward 1 in Magisterial District 2 Bounded by Four Mile Ave., Old Four Mile Rd., City limits; City limits; E. Main; Fairview, Irvine, N. Estill Ave.
  • 76-9Richmond city - That part of Ward 2 in Magisterial District 2 Bounded by Irvine, Four Mile Ave., Old Four Mile Rd.; Four Mile Ave., N. Estill Ave., Irvine, Fairview; E. Main; Collins
  • 76-10Richmond city - That part of Ward 3 in Magisterial District 2 Bounded by E. Main; City limits; City limits; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad
  • 76-11Richmond city - That part of Ward 3 in Magisterial District 2 Bounded by W. Main, E. Main; Louisiana and Nashville Railroad; City limits; City limits, Lancaster Ave.
  • 76-12Magisterial District 3, Foxtown: Magisterial District 3, Foxtown - That part east of U.S. Hwy. 227 and northeast of Otter Creek
  • 76-13Magisterial District 3, Foxtown - That part west of U.S. Hwy. 227, north of Redhouse - White Hall Rd., and east of U.S. Hwy. 25
  • 76-14Magisterial District 3, Foxtown - That part west and southwest of U.S. Hwy. 25
  • 76-15Magisterial District 3, Foxtown - That part east of U.S. Hwy. 25, south of Redhouse - White Hall Rd., southeast of U.S. Hwy. 227, and southwest of Otter Creek
  • 76-16Magisterial District 4, Union: Magisterial District 4, Union - That part east of Muddy Creek and Union City - Waco Rd.
  • 76-17Magisterial District 4, Union - That part west of Muddy Creek, and north of Union City - Waco Rd. and Richmond - Union City Rd.
  • 76-18Magisterial District 4, Union - That part south of Richmond - Union City Rd. and Union City - Waco Rd., excluding Blue Grass Ordnance Depot (part)
  • 76-19Blue Grass Ordnance Depot - That part in Magisterial District 4, Union (Remainder of Blue Grass Ordnance Depot comprises part of Magisterial District 5, Yates)
  • 76-20Magisterial District 5, Yates: Magisterial District 5, Yates - That part north of State Hwy. 52
  • 76-21Magisterial District 5, Yates - That part south and southwest of State Hwy. 52, east and northeast of Portwood - Panola Rd.
  • 76-22Magisterial District 5, Yates - That part south of State Hwy. 52, west and southwest of Portwood - Panole Rd., north and northwest of Bobtown - Needmore Rd. via Dreyfus, and northeast of State Hwy. 169, excluding Blue Grass Ordnance Depot (part)
  • 76-23Blue Grass Ordnance Depot - That part in Magisterial District 5, Yates (Remainder of Blue Grass Ordnance Depot comprises part of Magisterial District 4, Union)
  • 76-24Magisterial District 5, Yates - That part southwest of State Hwy. 169
  • 76-25Magisterial District 5, Yates - That part east of State Hwy. 169, and southeast and south of Bobtown - Needmore Rd. via Dreyfus
  • 76-26Magisterial District 6, Glade: Berea city: Berea city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; City limits; Spring, Main, Center, Estill, Forest
  • 76-27Berea city - That part Bounded by City limits; Forest, Estill, Center, Main, Spring; City limits; Boone, Chestnut, Broadway
  • 76-28Berea city - That part Bounded by City limits, Broadway; Broadway, Chestnut, Boone; City limits; City limits
  • 76-29Magisterial District 6, Glade - That part north of Silver Creek
  • 76-30Magisterial District 6, Glade - That part south of Silver Creek, and north of State Hwy. 21 and Berea - Buggytown Rd., outside Berea city
  • 76-31Magisterial District 6, Glade - That part south of State Hwy. 21 and east of U.S. Hwy. 25, outside Berea city
  • 76-32Magisterial District 6, Glade - That part south of Berea - Buggytown Rd. and west of U.S. Hwy. 25, outside Berea city
  • 76-33Magisterial District 7, Kirksville: Magisterial District 7, Kirksville - That part north of Taylor Fork and Silver Creek
  • 76-34Magisterial District 7, Kirksville - That part southwest and west of Silver Creek, north of Caleast - Hackley Rd. via Kirksville
  • 76-35Magisterial District 7, Kirksville - That part south of Taylor Fork, east of Silver Creek, and northwest of State Hwy. 52
  • 76-36Magisterial District 7, Kirksville - That part southeast of State Hwy. 52
  • 76-37Magisterial District 7, Kirksville - That part south of Caleast - Hackley Rd. via Kirksville, southwest of Silver Creek, and northwest of State Hwy. 52
  • 76-38Magisterial District 8, Million: Magisterial District 8, Million - That part northeast of State Hwy. 169, east of Perkins - Baldwin Rd., and north of road from State Hwy. 169 to Silver Creek via Baldwin, State Hwy. 169, and Shallow Fork Creek
  • 76-39Magisterial District 8, Million - That part west of State Hwy. 169 and Perkins - Baldwin Rd., north of road from Silver Creek to State Hwy. 169 via Baldwin and Unnamed branch of Silver Creek, and east of Silver Creek
  • 76-40Magisterial District 8, Million - That part southwest of Silver Creek
  • 76-41Magisterial District 8, Million - That part northeast of Silver Creek, south of Unnamed branch of Silver Creek and road from Silver Creek to State Hwy. 169 via Baldwin, and southwest of road from Baldwin to Magisterial District line via Newby
  • 76-42Magisterial District 8, Million - That part south of road from Silver Creek to State Hwy. 169 via Baldwin, State Hwy. 169, and Shallow Fork Creek, and northeast of road from Baldwin to Magisterial District line via Newby

Wildfire, 1997 to 2020

141 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 141 of them, burning about 1,547 acres. 2 started naturally and 18 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning61
Missing data/not specified/undetermined37
Arson/incendiarism18
Recreation and ceremony16
Misuse of fire by a minor3
Smoking2
Natural2
Equipment and vehicle use1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
13 November 2010Recreation and ceremony220 acresKentucky Division of ForestryOWSLEY FORK #1
12 November 2001Arson/incendiarism150 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
11 April 1997Arson/incendiarism76 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
30 March 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined75 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
22 November 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined70 acresKentucky Division of ForestryLOCUST BRANCH SCHOOL ROAD
3 November 2003Missing data/not specified/undetermined56 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
31 October 2000Arson/incendiarism50 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
27 February 2004Missing data/not specified/undetermined50 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named

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

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 401 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 401 reports for this county, causing 16 deaths, 66 injuries and about $40,634,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind216
Hail80
Flash Flood61
Tornado18
Flood18
Lightning4
Heavy Rain3
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
April 1974Tornado (F4)not stated7 killed, 20 hurtno account filed
May 2009Tornado (EF3)Kirksville2 killed, 15 hurtThe tornado first touched down in the Nina Ridge Road area three miles ESE of McCreary in Garrard County. The tornado caused EF-1 damage at this location before strengthening to EF-2 just before entering Madison County. ||Near the intersection of Highways 1295 and 52 in Madison County, the tornado reached EF-3 intensity. Near this intersection, two adults were killed when the mobile home they were in was picked up and thrown by the tornado. The bodies were recovered from a nearby pond. Five other occupants of the mobile home, including three children, were injured. A female relative in a brick home just yards away from the mobile home received only minor injuries despite being pinned under a collapsed wall in the house. ||The tornado weakened and lifted at times as it continued east across the county, but still caused significant damage. It tore much of the roof off a fire station on the south side of Richmond before moving over the Bluegrass Army Depot toward the community of Waco in the eastern part of the county. After doing extensive damage to mainly roofs in a subdivision of brick homes near Waco, the tornado destroyed a mobile home in the area, carrying two teenage male occupants of the home through the air before dropping them near an elementary school 300 yards away. The teens miraculously received only minor injuries. The tornado weakened significantly from this point on, doing only minor roof damage and downing trees as it continued eastward before lifting near the end of Drowning Creek Road. ||The tornado was up to 150 yards wide with maximum estimated wind speeds up to 140 mph. Approximately 150 homes received damage, the most severe being several brick homes where only interior walls remained standing in the wake of the tornado.
August 2013LightningCottonburg2 killed, 3 hurtLightning struck a tobacco barn near Buckeye, killing two men and injuring 3 others. The men were hanging tobacco at the time.
April 2015FloodRedhouse1 killed, $20,000The public reported that several homes were surrounded by high water from heavy rainfall. Approximately 3 to 4 inches of rain fell during the morning. Additionally, a 42 year old male lost his life after hydroplaning on Paint Lick Rd during the morning hours. The vehicle then crashed into Paint Lick Creek and became submerged. Rescue workers were able to retrieve his body later in the evening.
May 2010Flash FloodRedhouse1 killed, $20,000The heavy rains over the previous 24 hours caused the creek flowing by a home to flood the house. One person died in the home when they began shaking and collapsed in the water. The cause of death was found to be drowning and electrocution due to submersion. M65PH.
February 2000Flash FloodRichmond1 killed, $10,000A 15 year old boy died after the car in which he was riding was overtaken by flood waters.
June 2003Flash FloodCountywide1 killed, $2,000A vehicle was attempting to cross a low water bridge over Drowning Creek near Panola in eastern Madison County. The creek was well above the bridge and traveling swiftly. The vehicle was swept away by flood waters. The driver and an adult passenger were rescued, but a 6 year old child was missing, and recovered several days later. Elsewhere, there was minor street flooding in the city of Richmond.
September 1996LightningBerea1 killedno account filed
April 1996Tornado (F2)Berea10 hurt, $12,800,000no account filed
June 2016LightningRichmond4 hurtEmployees working at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services were shocked when lightning stuck the building. Lightning also sparked a garage fire on Hume Branch Road near Waco.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindUnion City3 hurtThe National Weather Service, in conjunction with Madison County KY EMA, conducted a storm damage survey in eastern Madison County. The most concentrated area of damage was located at 595 Charlie Norris Rd, where several large barns, a greenhouse, and the top of a silo all experienced major structural damage. All of the barn and silo damage was moved from the SW to the NNE at a distance of up to half a mile. The medium sized greenhouse had its entire roof structure destroyed. A single-wide mobile home was turned and rolled once or twice, with three people inside. The three people all sustained bruises and cuts, with the most significant being a female who was thrown into a fish tank and had to go the hospital. An old farmhouse adjacent to the mobile home sustained major roof damage as well. All across the property, there were uprooted and snapped trees. Across the street, on the west side of the road, a medium sized barn was completely destroyed.At 645 Charlie Norris Rd, there was extensive tree damage, especially cedar trees, along with outbuildings and barns. The home owner had recently built a new fence with posts in concrete, and some of these posts were leaning or lifted out of the ground. The owner was putting away a small John Deere tractor about a minute before the storm struck and the winds were so strong, it lifted the tractor almost a foot off the ground and rotated it approximately 60 degrees. A smaller house on the property experienced damage on the front porch, which had its foundation lifted, damaging the roof and gutter. The emergency manager in Clark County KY reported sporadic wind damage across the county, mainly in the form of tree damage. One of the most concentrated areas of damage was 470 Ford Hampton Rd in Winchester.
March 1955Tornado (F3)not stated2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
April 1955Tornado (F1)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
May 2009Thunderstorm WindSilver Creek2 hurtA mobile home was blown across Moran Mill Road near KY 52W.
May 1990Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $25,000,000no account filed
August 1972Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
April 2002Thunderstorm WindRichmond1 hurt, $25,000Many trees were downed. A tree fell on a mobile home, injuring an occupant. Another tree fell on a vehicle. A utility pole was blown down. An ATM machine was damaged by wind.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindCountywide1 hurt, $5,000Trees and power lines were downed countywide. In Richmond on Boggs Lane, a tree was blown on to a moving vehicle. Minor injuries were reported. Also in Richmond, a shed roof was blown off at Westover Avenue and Spring Street.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindUnion City1 hurtA mobile home was flipped over on Charlie Norris Road. Two occupants were inside with one person receiving minor injuries.
July 2010Flash FloodFarristown$892,000Homes were flooded on Peachtree Dr. near US Hwy 25 and Carpenter Rd.
July 2018LightningWaco$100,000There was a structure fire caused by a lightning strike on Waco Loop.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindRichmond$100,000A storm survey conducted by NWS Jackson concluded that 2 areas of straight line wind damage occurred near Richmond, Kentucky. The most significant damage occurred just south of Richmond where peak winds reached an estimated 80 mph as a mobile home park was damaged. An anchored mobile home was damaged and slid off its foundation. The second area of straight line winds was just north of Richmond and yielded maximum estimated winds of 65 mph.
May 2003Tornado (F1)Happy Lndg$100,000A barn was destroyed. Two homes, two greenhouses, and a garage were damaged. The debris pattern indicated a brief tornado touchdown.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindKirksville$75,000The Madison County emergency manager reported several barns were flattened due to severe thunderstorm winds.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindRichmond$70,000The Madison County emergency manager reported several mobile homes damaged due to severe thunderstorm winds.
April 2015Tornado (EF0)Berea Richmond Fld$60,000The tornado first touched down near a ravine just northwest of Jessica Circle where it snapped a few trees. It then moved southeast, destroying two outbuildings. One of the outbuildings was fully packed, weighing several thousand pounds, and another larger outbuilding was pushed off its foundation. The tornado also did some damage to the roof and shingles of a residence at 326 Jessica Circle. The tornado then continued on an intermittent path to the southeast where it did some additional roof damage to another home and snapped several other trees. The tornado lifted just west of Cherokee Lane.
May 2010Flash FloodRichmond$50,000The fire department responded to flooded homes and mobile homes where people were trapped due to rising water. Evacuations also took place.
April 2008Flash FloodDoylesville$50,000Several basements were flooded. Some county roads were closed due to high water. There was a landslide on Red House Road north of Richmond.
December 2007Flash FloodRichmond$50,000Numerous roads in Richmond were under water due to heavy rains. Some roads were covered by as much as four feet of water. Some buildings were flooded.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindRedhouse$50,000A tree was downed on a mobile home.
January 2006Thunderstorm WindBerea$50,000A mobile home was demolished.
November 2017Thunderstorm WindBaldwin$40,000Broadcast media reported numerous trees and farm outbuildings damaged by severe thunderstorm winds in the Baldwin community.
July 2010Flash FloodBuggytown$40,000Law enforcement reported that there were two water rescues underway at KY 52 and Peggy Flatts Rd.
April 2018Thunderstorm WindBybee$30,000State officials reported trees down on power lines on Drowning Creek Road.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindTerrill$30,000The public reported damage to a gas station on Berea Road.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindUnion City$30,000The Madison County emergency manager reported trees down at several locations on Union City Road, including one older tree on the roof of a shed. There was also minor siding and roof damage on Diamond Brook Drive.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindWhite Hall$30,000Straight line winds blew shingles off some homes. Roofs on some homes had structural damage. Several trees were uprooted. Part of the structure of a gas station was blown on to Highway 627 just southwest of the Fort Boonesboro State Park.
April 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 1974Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1966Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 1958Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2020Thunderstorm WindAsbury$20,000A tree fell down on a car. Power lines were also down in the area.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBrassfield$20,000High winds blew down a barn in eastern Madison County.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindRichmond$20,000Tree fell on cars on Ellis Court in Richmond.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindRichmond$15,000There was a tree on a power line on Gibson Lane in Richmond.
April 2015Tornado (EF1)Speedwell$15,000The tornado first touched down on a farm at 1235 Crooksville Road where it snapped and uprooted several trees, spreading them in several directions. It then continued southeast across Gumbottom Road, where a large oak tree was uprooted. Sporadic tree damage continued southeast towards Walter Lakes Road. Just before the tornado lifted, it did minor shingle and porch damage to a residence along Walter Lakes Road.
August 2013Flash FloodMiddletown$15,000Local law enforcement reported that standing water flooded several cars near Berea.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindWhite Hall$15,000Straight line winds blew a storage shed blown onto the road at the intersection of State Highway 627 and Lost Fork Road. A small construction trailer was destroyed at the intersection of Lower Hines Creek Road and U.S. Highway 25. Winds overturned the ice making machine at a nearby store.
July 2001Flash FloodWaco$15,000One road was closed and several homes had water in basements.
November 2000Thunderstorm WindCountywide$15,000no account filed
April 2017Thunderstorm WindUnion City$10,000A NWS Storm Survey team found many shingles off a roof and a garage door caved in on Diamond Brook Drive.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindMiddletown$10,000The Madison County emergency manager reported power lines down in the Berea area. Power outages due to severe thunderstorm winds were also reported near the intersection of Highway 52W and KY 595.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindRichmond$10,000A tree fell and damaged a truck near the Eastern Kentucky University Campus.
August 2012Flash FloodRichmond$10,000The Madison County emergency manager reported a water rescue just west of downtown Richmond within an area that commonly experiences flooding. Several other low water crossings east of Richmond were briefly closed by high water.
May 2010FloodDoylesville$10,000The Kentucky River at Ford Lock crested at 32.3 feet around 1015 AM EST on May 3. Flood stage at Ford is 26 feet. At this level, some offices at the Fort Boonesborough State Park are flooded, and some homes along Kentucky Highway 388 are threatened by flood waters.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindRichmond$10,000Thunderstorm winds downed blew a tree and power lines on car on Woodland Avenue. A carport was blown down on Highway 169. Winds downed another tree near White Station.
January 2005Thunderstorm WindRichmond$10,000Trees and fences were blown down.
March 2002Thunderstorm WindKingston$10,000Trees were downed and a building was destroyed.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindCountywide$10,000no account filed
May 2015Thunderstorm WindRichmond$5,000An amateur radio operator reported trees down in Richmond, one of which fell onto a car on Sunset Avenue.

Mines and quarries

2 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 2 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 1 is closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Clay1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Boonesboro QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Portwood ClayClayProspect

Every populated place in the county

50

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 Madison County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Recorded here

Richmond, Kentucky

17 topographic sheets and 8 fire insurance atlases, 1886 to 1949

Berea, Kentucky

18 topographic sheets and 5 fire insurance atlases, 1907 to 1942

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

7 structures

The vanished settlements of Madison 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.