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Magoffin County, Kentucky

55 topographic sheets cover 66 settlements here, and 3 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

3 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kentucky within the United States
Magoffin County within Kentucky

What the record shows

  • 936 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 3 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 3 buildings.
  • 1 of the 3 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 66 populated places in this county; 66 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

1 photograph, 1930

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.

A storekeeper in a small lumber camp in the mountains of eastern Kentucky filling a Red Cross order for a family of four persons
A storekeeper in a small lumber camp in the mountains of eastern Kentucky filling a Red Cross order for a family of four persons
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1930. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

3

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
Gardner Farmsteadbuilding201515000653
Judge D. W. Gardner Housebuilding197979001021
Salyersville Bankbuilding199797001340

The county from the air

31 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 767 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 31 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-16, scale 1:27770
1950-04-16, scale 1:27770. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-31, scale 1:23600
1951-03-31, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-31, scale 1:23600
1951-03-31, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-31, scale 1:23600
1951-03-31, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-31, scale 1:23600
1951-03-31, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-17, scale 1:36400
1952-04-17, scale 1:36400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-04-19, scale 1:60000
1960-04-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-04-19, scale 1:60000
1960-04-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-04-19, scale 1:60000
1960-04-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-09-14, scale 1:60000
1960-09-14, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-03-26, scale 1:24000
1961-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 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, 1975-04-05, scale 1:78000
1975-04-05, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-05, scale 1:78000
1975-04-05, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-05, scale 1:78000
1975-04-05, 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

6 stations, 2 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

18 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.

  • 77-1Magisterial District 1: Salyersville city: Salyersville city - That part north of State Hwy. 40
  • 77-2Salyersville city - That part south of State Hwy. 40
  • 77-3Magisterial District 1 - That part northeast of State Hvy. 40 and southeast of State Hwy. 30, outside Salyersville city
  • 77-4Magisterial District 1 - That part southwest of State Hwy. 40 and northwest of State Hwy. 30
  • 77-5Magisterial District 2: Magisterial District 2 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; County line; Litteral Fork Rd., Lickburg - Wheelersburg Rd., Bloomington - Lickburg Rd.
  • 77-6Magisterial District 2 - That part Bounded by Bloomington - Lickburg Rd., Lickburg - Wheelersburg Rd., Litteral Fork Rd.; County line; State Hwy. 40; Magisterial District line
  • 77-7Magisterial District 2 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 40; County line; Magisterial District line; Magisterial District line
  • 77-8Magisterial District 3: Magisterial District 3 - That part east of State Hwy. 40
  • 77-9Magisterial District 3 - That part northwest of State Hwy. 134 and Magisterial District line and west of State Hwy. 40
  • 77-10Magisterial District 3 - That part south and east of State Hwy. 134
  • 77-11Magisterial District 4: Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; County line; Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad; State Hwy. 7
  • 77-12Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line, State Hwy. 7; Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad; County line; Right Fork, Board tree Fork, Left Fork
  • 77-13Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; Left Tork, Board tree Fork, Right Fork; County line
  • 77-14Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, State Hwy. 7; Magisterial District line; County line; Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
  • 77-15Magisterial District 4 - That part Bounded by Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad; County line; Magisterial District line; State Hwy. 7, Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
  • 77-16Magisterial District 5: Magisterial District 5 - That part Bounded by Magisterial District line; County line; Long Branch; Licking River, Magisterial District line
  • 77-17Magisterial District 5 - That part south of Licking River and west of State Hwy. 7
  • 77-18Magisterial District 5 - That part south of Long Branch and east of State Hwy. 7

Wildfire, 1997 to 2020

1,081 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,081 of them, burning about 31,357 acres. 2 started naturally and 180 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning473
Missing data/not specified/undetermined258
Arson/incendiarism180
Recreation and ceremony137
Equipment and vehicle use16
Railroad operations and maintenance10
Misuse of fire by a minor4
Natural2
Smoking1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
29 April 2007Debris and open burning601 acresKentucky Division of ForestrySPRUCE PINE #1
1 April 2015Debris and open burning568 acresKentucky Division of ForestrySPRUCE PINE
13 April 2016Debris and open burning540 acresKentucky Division of ForestrySPRUCE PINE RT 7
26 March 2008Debris and open burning500 acresKentucky Division of ForestryCOAL BRANCH
10 November 1999Arson/incendiarism400 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
19 April 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined400 acresKentucky Division of ForestryDRY BREAD
13 November 1999Missing data/not specified/undetermined375 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
28 February 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined350 acresKentucky Division of ForestryJAKE WIREMANFORK

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

Storms, 1983 to 2025

60 of 305 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 305 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 30 injuries and about $26,661,250 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind170
Hail63
Flash Flood44
Flood17
Heavy Rain8
Tornado3

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
March 2012Tornado (EF3)Cutuno30 hurt, $25,000,000A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed a tornado moved across Magoffin County during the evening hours of March 2, 2012. The tornado crossed from Wolfe County into Magoffin County at approximately 651 pm EST and rapidly intensified. The tornado crossed the Mountain Parkway several times before impacting Salyersville at 703 pm EST at EF-3 strength with wind speeds estimated at around 160 mph and a maximum path width of up to 3/4 of a mile. The hardest hit area of Salyersville included the intersection of the Mountain Parkway and Highway 460 where many businesses and structures were totally destroyed. The town of Conley also suffered widespread and extreme damage as a direct result of this tornado. The tornado tracked from Magoffin County into Johnson County between the communities of Conley and Asa at approximately 708 pm EST.
June 1996Flash FloodSalyersville$500,000no account filed
February 2019Flash FloodSalyersville$250,000Rapidly rising water entering a nursing home in Salyersville led to its evacuation. Several other buildings and roads near and in Salyersville also experienced water inundation.
June 2003Flash FloodSalyersville$100,000Several bridges and roads were severely damaged by flood waters. Kentucky Routes 7, 1415, and 1766 were flooded. Water was also over Salt Lick Road and Big Lick Branch where a bridge was washed out. United States Route 460 was also flooded.
February 2019FloodSwampton$75,000A local media affiliate reported flooding throughout the county, including on Kentucky Highway 7 at Puncheon.
April 1998Flash FloodCountywide$75,000no account filed
February 2019Heavy RainStringtown$50,000The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported a rockslide on Kentucky Highway 40 northeast of Salyersville, resulting from repeated rounds of rainfall.
February 2019Heavy RainGullett$50,000The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported heavy rainfall causing a rockslide, forcing the closure of Mountain Parkway west of Salyersville near mile marker 66. The road reopened early on the morning of the 24th.
February 2021Flash FloodSalyersville$40,000Water rescues at the nursing home in Salyersville are underway at time of report. Burning Fork Creek flows just behind the nursing home.
February 2019Flash FloodFalcon$40,000Trained spotters observed flowing water over Kentucky Highway 40 near Falcon and Kentucky Highway 7 near Royalton. Swift water rescues were performed at each location.
February 2019FloodConley$40,000Several observers reported flooding in and around Salyersville on the evening of the 23rd into the 24th.
February 2023Flash FloodSalyersville$35,000Pictures and videos on social media show a large SUV having been swept into a water-filled ditch in front of River Bend Apartments in Salyersville, after trying to drive through the flooded roadway (KY-7/Gardner Trail) and losing traction. The car was mostly submerged in the water, but all occupants were able to escape the flooded vehicle.
April 2025FloodBradley$25,000A water rescue was reportedly ongoing at 63 Claude Allen Road, just off the Mountain Parkway, southeast of Salyersville.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$25,000A 195 foot tall communications tower was blown over by wind gusts estimated at 62 mph.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindBloomington$25,000Numerous trees down across Highways on north end of county. Highways affected included 40, 460, 1593, 2019, and 1081.
February 2020Heavy RainSeitz$20,000Local Emergency Management reported several mudslides, due to previous heavy rainfall, across southwestern to central portions of Magoffin County, including southwest of and near Salyersville.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindFritz$20,000Numerous trees were blown down along Route 378 by wind gusts estimated at 63 mph.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$16,000A double wide trailer was blown over and had the roof blown off. A single wide trailer had most its roof blown off as well. One large apple tree was uprooted as well. The damage occurred at Long Branch just west of Salyersville.
February 2019Heavy RainSwampton$15,000Department of Highway officials reported a massive mudslide on Kentucky Highway 7 south of Salyersville near Kentucky Highway 1766. The entire hill over the road gave way due to persistent rainfall, resulting in power lines becoming entangled in trees and forcing an extended closure of the highway.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindIvyton$15,000An outbuilding was destroyed on Burning Fork Road.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindSublett$12,000Pictures on social media showed a snapped electric pole with power lines and a transformer on the ground along RC Arnett Road, near the Sublett community. In addition, extensive roofing material was blown off a home in this location, and multiple large tress and branches snapped.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindHendricks$10,000An NWS Employee and dispatch reported trees blown down on Mountain Parkway and Kentucky Highway 114 from near Ivyton to east of Salyersville. A vehicle that had pulled over due to heavy rain was struck by a tree, but the occupants were not injured. Powerlines were also blown down southwest of Salyersville.
July 2017Flash FloodSalyersville$10,000Emergency management and local broadcast media reported several instances of flowing water and corresponding road closures in and around Salyersville. Flowing water of nearly 6 inches was observed flowing across roads in town, while Kentucky Highway 2019 was closed as 8 to 10 inches of water ran over it. Kentucky Highway 30 was also inundated with flowing water along with numerous other low lying areas near streams.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindCyrus$10,000Numerous trees were blown down, with some of them landing on homes, powerlines, and vehicles in the Wheelersburg community. Hail damage was also noted to some homes and cars and several gardens were destroyed by wind blown hail.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindKernie$10,000Several large trees were blown down or snapped off along the Mountain Parkway near mile marker 68 in Kernie.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$10,000Roof damage occurred to several homes and utility wires were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts. Some vehicles were damaged by flying shingles.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$10,000Several large tree limbs were blown down and across roads in several areas near Salyersville.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindRoyalton$10,000Numerous trees were down. One tree fell on a trailer home.
May 1996Flash FloodForaker$10,000no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$10,000no account filed
April 2011Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$8,000Three trees were blown down across Salyersville and power lines were blown down along Route 40 to Paintsville.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindHendricks$8,000A portion of a barn roof was ripped off along Route 30. Telephone poles were also snapped off in the same area by wind gusts estimated at 62 mph.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$8,000Large tree limbs were blown down and across roads by thunderstorm wind gusts in several areas near Salyersville.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindRoyalton$7,000Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts in the Oakley community.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindNetty$6,000There were trees and debris in the roadway on KY 2022 between mile markers 0 and 2.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$6,000The roof was blown off a two story building.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$5,000A trailer was blown over within the city limits of Salyersville.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindWheelersburg$5,000Trees were blown down in Wheelersburg.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindFritz$5,000Several trees were blown down along Rte 378 near Rte 30 in Fritz.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$5,000Thunderstorm wind gusts blew down trees on Routes 867 and 1090 near Salyersville.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindHendricks$5,000Trees down on Route 378.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindBethanna$5,000Some roof and structural damage was reported to have occurred to a home.
November 2003Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$5,000Law enforcement reported that trees blew down on United States Route 460 in Salyersville. A co-operative observer reported that trees fell onto and downed power lines in Wheelersburg.
June 2003Flash FloodRoyalton$5,000A house trailer was knocked off of its blocks on Guncreek Road. The water was two feet deep in some places. Water was over Burning Fork Road and houses were cut off from any traffic. The Licking River was over Kentucky Highway 7.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindCountywide$5,000Numerous trees were downed by strong winds. Downed trees were reported one mile west of Elsie, Ivyton, and Meadows.
May 1995Thunderstorm Windnot stated$5,000Four trees were down along with shingles being ripped off a roof in Magoffin City.
July 2017Flash FloodNetty$3,000Flooding of low lying areas occurred along Johnson Creek near Netty and Johnson Fork near Epson. There were also a few inches of water observed flowing over the Mountain Parkway.
January 1999Thunderstorm WindWaldo$3,000Roof torn off home.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$3,000Trees were downed. Two trees fell on houses.
January 1997Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$3,000no account filed
June 2019Thunderstorm WindTip Top$2,000Dispatch relayed a report of a tree blown down onto powerlines southwest of Royalton.
May 2018Flash FloodHendricks$2,000Emergency Management relayed a report of water flowing over Kentucky Route 30 near the Middle Fork of the Licking River southwest of Salyersville, making the road impassable. Road damage was also prevalent due to the swiftly flowing water.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$2,000Large limbs were blown down along KY Hwy 114 between mile markers 0 and 1 four miles east southeast of Salyersville.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$2,000A portion of the roof of a mobile home was blown off.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindWaldo$2,000Two trees were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$2,000Large limbs were blown down onto a power line.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindLakeville$2,000Trees and power lines were down.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindSalyersville$2,000Power lines were down on Kentucky Highway 40 near U.S. Highway 460 East.
May 2023Tornado (EF1)Foraker$1,000An NWS Survey Team, in conjunction with Magoffin County Emergency Management, confirmed that an EF-1 Tornado touched down on a hillside southwest of Board Tree Rd, crossed the road and then traveled through the holler/drainage along Williams Arnett Cemetery Rd. It then climbed up the adjacent ridgeline before weakening and dissipating. Several structures sustained minor damage, and many trees were snapped or uprooted.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindElsie$1,000A tree was blown down and onto Route 134 at U.S. 460 near Elsie.

Mines and quarries

1 recorded

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

Commodity Workings
Clay1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Burning Fork ShaleClayProspect

Every populated place in the county

66

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 Magoffin 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.