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Monroe County, Kentucky

40 topographic sheets cover 32 settlements here, and 6 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

6 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kentucky within the United States
Monroe County within Kentucky

What the record shows

  • 364 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 6 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 6 buildings.
  • 2 of the 6 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 32 populated places in this county; 32 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

6

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
Barlow Baxter Housebuilding200101000795
Thomas P. Evans Housebuilding199292001488
Clark C. Fowler Housebuilding200101000794
Mount Vernon A.M.E. Churchbuilding197777000639
Old Mulkey Meetinghousebuilding197373000821
George W. Proffitt Jr. Housebuilding200101000793

The county from the air

15 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 331 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 15 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 1:28400
1951-04-23, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-23, scale 1:28400
1951-04-23, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-23, scale 1:28400
1951-04-23, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-23, scale 1:28400
1951-04-23, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-03-20, scale 1:23600
1953-03-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-03-20, scale 1:23600
1953-03-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-03-20, scale 1:23600
1953-03-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-03-20, scale 1:23600
1953-03-20, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-03-27, scale 1:19000
1964-03-27, scale 1:19000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-05-18, scale 1:62352
1972-05-18, scale 1:62352. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-01, scale 1:76000
1974-02-01, scale 1:76000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

6 stations

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, as the federal records hold them.

The 1950 census, district by district

23 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.

  • 86-1Magisterial District 1, Gum: Fountain Run town
  • 86-2Magisterial District 1, Gum - That part northeast of Barren River, northwest of State Hwy. 87 and north of Akersville - Flippin Rd. via Howard school, outside Fountain Run Town
  • 86-3Magisterial District 1, Gum - That part southwest of Barren River, southeast of State Hwy. 87 and south of Akersville - Flippin Rd. via Howard School
  • 86-4Magisterial District 2, Turner: Magisterial District 2, Turner - That part east and north of Dryfork - Mudlick Rd. via Jeffrey
  • 86-5Magisterial District 2, Turner - That part west and south of Dryfork - Mudlick Rd., via Jeffrey, and west and north of Flippin - Mudlick Rd.
  • 86-6Magisterial District 2, Turner - That part south and east of Flippin - Mudlick Rd.
  • 86-7Magisterial District 3, Brush: Magisterial District 3, Brush - That part east of Beaumont - Persimmon Rd., south of road from Persimmon to State Hwy. 163 and east of State Hwy. 163
  • 86-8Magisterial District 3, Brush - That part west of Beaumont - Persimmon Rd., north of road from Persimmon to State Hwy. 163 and west of State Hwy. 163
  • 86-9Magisterial District 4, Center Point: Magisterial District 4, Center Point - That part north of Cumberland River
  • 86-10Magisterial District 4, Center Point - That part south of Cumberland River
  • 86-11Tompkinsville city, comprising parts of Magisterial Districts 5, East Tompkinsville, and 6, West Tompkinsville: Tompkinsville city - That part in Magisterial District 5, East Tompkinsville
  • 86-12Tompkinsville city - That part in Magisterial District 6, West Tompkinsville, north of Columbia and Kentucky
  • 86-13Tompkinsville city - That part in Magisterial District 6, West Tompkinsville, south of Columbia and Kentucky
  • 86-14Magisterial District 5, East Tompkinsville, outside Tompkinsville city: Magisterial District 5, East Tompkinsville - That part northeast of State Hwy. 163 and north of State Hwy. 216, outside Tompkinsville city
  • 86-15Magisterial District 5, East Tompkinsville - That part southwest of State Hwy. 163 and south of State Hwy. 216, east of Tompkinsville - Boler Rd., outside Tompkinsville city
  • 86-16Magisterial District 5, East Tompkinsville - That part west of Tompkinsville - Boler Rd., outside Tompkinsville city (Remainder of Magisterial District 5, East Tompkinsville, is in Tompkinsville city)
  • 86-17Magisterial District 6, West Tompkinsville, outside Tompkinsville city: Magisterial District 6, West Tompkinsville - That part east of State Hwy. 163, outside Tompkinsville city
  • 86-18Magisterial District 6, West Tompkinsville - That part west of State Hwy. 163 and north of State Hwys. 63/100 and Emberton - Tompkinsville Rd. via County Poor House, outside Tompkinsville city
  • 86-19Magisterial District 6, West Tompkinsville - That part south of Emberton - Tompkinsville Rd. via County Poor House and State Hwys. 63 and 100, outside Tompkinsville city (Remainder of Magisterial District 6, West Tompkinsville, is Tompkinsville city)
  • 86-20Magisterial District 7, Union: Magisterial District 7, Union - That part east of Freedom - Bailey Store Rd.
  • 86-21Magisterial District 7, Union - That part west of Freedom - Bailey Store Rd.
  • 86-22Magisterial District 8, Gamaliel: Magisterial District 8, Gamaliel - That part north and east of State Hwys. 100 and 63
  • 86-23Magisterial District 8, Gamaliel - That part south and west of State Hwys. 100 and 63

Wildfire, 1998 to 2017

174 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 174 of them, burning about 3,583 acres. 2 started naturally and 10 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning81
Missing data/not specified/undetermined42
Recreation and ceremony25
Arson/incendiarism10
Railroad operations and maintenance8
Smoking4
Natural2
Equipment and vehicle use2

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
10 February 2000Arson/incendiarism457 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
21 March 2007Debris and open burning169 acresKentucky Division of ForestryGORDON FIRE
6 April 2010Debris and open burning133 acresKentucky Division of ForestryLITTLE SULFUR
28 November 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined97 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
11 December 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined90 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
2 April 2007Debris and open burning85 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
25 March 2007Debris and open burning80 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
28 May 2007Debris and open burning73 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named

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

Storms, 1971 to 2025

60 of 175 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 175 reports for this county, causing 1 death, no injuries and about $4,912,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind109
Hail30
Flash Flood17
Tornado13
Flood2
Lightning2
Heavy Rain2

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
December 2018FloodGamaliel1 killed, $10,000A 19 year old female on Lyons Road attempted to drive through a low water crossing on the Rocky Branch of the East Fork of the Barren River just before 7 pm CST on New Year's Eve, but was washed away by the swollen creek's rising water. Her vehicle was carried downstream 500 yards, where it was discovered unoccupied the next day. After several days of searching, law enforcement located her body seven miles downstream on January 5, 2019.
February 2008Tornado (EF3)Bugtussle$3,700,000The tornado crossed into Monroe County, Kentucky from Macon County, Tennessee. About two miles west of Gamaliel, the tornado destroyed two conventional homes and two mobile homes. Thirteen residents of the four homes took shelter in the basement of one of the homes. They escaped without injury, although they were trapped in rubble for 30 minutes. Several other homes were damaged in a subdivision a mile north of Gamaliel. The tornado ripped the roof off a brick home there. It tracked across rural Monroe County, uprooting and snapping large trees. On the north side of Tompkinsville, it destroyed a large wood frame warehouse and twisted a large steel frame metal building off its foundation. A nearby well built brick home had its roof and exterior walls swept away. It also destroyed a detached three car garage.
May 1989Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
January 2008Thunderstorm WindMt Herman$150,000Thunderstorm winds downed at least 20 tobacco barns and other outbuildings. At least one home was damaged.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindFountain Run$150,000Thunderstorm winds damaged several homes in the Fountain Run area. Elsewhere, numerous trees were downed.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindMt Herman$120,000Two barns were destroyed. Winds also damaged a house.
May 2010Flash FloodTompkinsville$100,000Numerous roads across the county were closed due to flash flooding. A total of six to ten inches of rain fell across Monroe county from May 1-2.
March 1997Tornado (F2)Bugtussle$100,000no account filed
July 2006Thunderstorm WindGamaliel$75,000One barn was blown down and two other barns suffered roof damage.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindMt Herman$50,000State officials reported multiple trees and power lines down in the area due to severe thunderstorm winds.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindRockbridge$30,000State officials reported several trees and power lines down in the area.
February 2008Tornado (EF3)Fountain Run$30,000This EF3 tornado crossed into a wooded section of Monroe County from Allen County, and lifted near Highway 87 south of the town of Fountain Run. Several outbuildings were destroyed and a car was flipped on Circle D Lane. On Akersville Road, fences were downed and about 200,000 log feet of timber were knocked down.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindTompkinsville$25,000Local law enforcement reported trees and power lines down across the county.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindTompkinsville$20,000Multiple trees and power lines were reported down.
July 2013LightningFountain Run$20,000Local law enforcement relayed a report of a house in Fountain Run damaged by lightning.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindGamaliel$20,000A garage was destroyed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2010LightningTompkinsville$10,000Lightning sparked a house fire on Sixth Street. The time is approximate.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindRockbridge$10,000A barn was damaged about a quarter mile east of Rockbridge.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$10,000Several trees were blown down across the county.
March 1997Thunderstorm WindGamaliel$10,000no account filed
May 2000Thunderstorm WindGamaliel$7,500Trees were downed. One fell on a mobile home.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindEmberton$5,000The local highway department reported a house damaged by winds along State Highway 63 west of Tompkinsville.
May 2010Tornado (EF0)Tompkinsville$5,000A NWS storm survey confirmed that a tornado touched down around 835 am CDT 4.3 miles west of Tompkinsville. A tobacco barn and several trees were damaged. The tornado then traveled east around 5.7 miles and lifted 1.4 miles east of Tompkinsville after damaging several trees. The tornado was rated EF-0 with estimated winds of 80 to 85 mph.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindTompkinsville$2,000A window was blown out of a house. Trees were blown down across city streets.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindPersimmon$1,000Trees and large limbs were downed at Persimmon.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindMt Herman$750Trees were downed.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindSulphur Lick$750Trees were downed.
February 2025Flash FloodFlippin-Multiple county and state roads were closed across Monroe County due to flash flooding and high water.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindJeffrey-Several trees were blown over by strong thunderstorm winds in western Monroe County.
February 2025Thunderstorm WindJeffrey-About one third of a barn roof was torn off by winds on Whitlow Road near Les Williams Road.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindHestand-Several large trees, as well as power lines, were downed along Kentucky Route 163 in southern Monroe County.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindVernon-Trees were downed across Vernon Road in southeastern Monroe County.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindTompkinsville-Trees were downed in Tompkinsville as well as across Monroe County.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLamb-There was a report of a tree down on Jack Hunt Road.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindFountain Run-Multiple trees were blown down in Fountain Run.
May 2024Tornado (EF1)Persimmon-The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey and found a|tornado occurred on Sunday, May 26th, 2024. Despite the fact that the tornado was only on the ground for a little over one mile and one minute, it tracked very briefly through Monroe, Metcalfe, and Cumberland County. Starting in Monroe|County near the Bacon Branch of Leatherwood Creek on a rural|hillside, drone footage found a clearly defined path of uprooted|trees with a convergent signature to the damage consistent with|100 mph winds. The tornado then turned along the creek and|crossed into the intersection of Cumberland County and Metcalfe|County.
February 2023HailGrandview-Pictures from near Tompkinsville showed a few quarter-sized hailstones mixed with smaller hailstones on a deck.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindFountain Run-There were trees down in Fountain Run.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindGamaliel-There were trees down in Gamaliel.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindBushong-Pictures showed metal siding and roofing blown off of a barn. Several trees were down along Meshack Creek Road and Lyons Chapel Road.
December 2023Tornado (EF1)Harlan Xrds-A brief EF-1 tornado touched down just south of the Kentucky border in Clay County where it blew down a few trees on Barber Shop Road (EF-0). The tornado intensified to EF-1 as it moved northeast into Kentucky and caused significant roof and siding damage to several chicken barns in Harlan Crossroads. A home also lost its porch and part of its roof on Red Hill-Beech Grove Road. A few more trees were blown down west of of Beech Grove-Boles Road before the tornado lifted.
February 2022Thunderstorm WindHarlan Xrds-Trees were reported down on Gamaliel between Gamaliel and Tompkinsville.
January 2022Thunderstorm WindEmberton-Dispatch reported trees and power lines were down.
January 2022Thunderstorm WindFountain Run-Dispatch reported trees and power lines down.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindTompkinsville-Power lines were reported down on the west side of Tompkinsville.
February 2021Flash FloodTompkinsville-Water was over Watt Bridge on Kentucky 163.
January 2021Thunderstorm WindFountain Run-A tree was blown down near Browns Ford Boat Ramp.
May 2021Tornado (EF1)Tompkinsville-The National Weather Service determined an EF-1 tornado with maximum sustained winds of 95 mph caused a damage path 60 yards wide. ||The thunderstorm quickly became severe in southwest Monroe County. It quickly became severe in southwest Monroe County and became tornadic on the southwest side of Tompkinsville. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Second and Jackson Streets. Trees were lying in multiple directions and most of them were twisted, snapped, or uprooted. Power lines were down, and several power poles were snapped. Winds at that location were between 85 and 90 mph with a width of 50 yards. ||Farther to the northeast, between 5th Street and Carter Street, the tornado increased to 95 mph and the width expanded out to 60 yards. Several homes experienced roof damage with some windows blown out. One home had multiple large trees uprooted with a camper trailer and pontoon boat flipped over. There were several pieces of lumber that were impaled in the ground and pieces of sheet metal thrown into trees. ||The US Bank building received roof damage before the tornado briefly lifted before touching down near the intersection of Pedigo and White Streets. ||There was significant tree damage on the east of Main Street by Pedigo Street. Trees were facing multiple directions. Mud spatter was on the backside of homes and vehicles along Short Street to Monroe Street. Multiple power lines were down in the area. Winds decreased to 90 mph along Monroe Street. ||The National Weather Service drone found some twisted tree tops near Spring Valley Road and Woodhaven as a result of wind speeds of 85 mph. The tornado lifted at Jackie Crow Salvage Yard as it threw debris on top of a hill about 250 yards from the salvage yard. ||Several videos showed brief funnels coming down from the main storm, almost like a small skipping tornado.
May 2021Flash FloodJeffrey-Photos on social media showed flooding over Bethlehem Church Road.
May 2021Flash FloodEmberton-Images on social media showed high water from East Fork Creek over the County House Road Bridge.
December 2021Tornado (EF0)Boles-This tornado developed in Clay County, Tennessee, on the northeast side of Hermitage Springs, before tracking northeastward and crossing into Monroe County, Kentucky (see Storm Data from the Nashville, Tennessee office for more information on the beginning portion of this tornado in Tennessee). A barn and several trees were damaged along Beech Grove-Boles Road, with estimated maximum wind speeds of 85 mph. Additional trees were damaged along Rhoton Cave Road and near the intersection of Highways 163 and 216 in Hestand. The tornado damaged a barn near the intersection of Vernon Road and Bailey Cemetery Road before lifting.
February 2021Thunderstorm WindGrandview-One tree blew down.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindTompkinsville-Broadcast media relayed a public picture of severe roof damage to a home near Tompkinsville.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindCenter Pt-The National Weather Service in conjunction with Monroe County KY EMA conducted a storm damage survey across extreme northeast portions of Monroe County for storm damage on Saturday, January 11. A line of storms produced significant cedar tree damage at 12829 Center Point Road. Several cedar trees were uprooted and snapped across the cattle pasture. A very large barn had significant roof damage storing hay had metal roofing peeled back and thrown several hundred yards downwind. A carport at the one story family residence was lifted up with an inordinate amount of insulation and building material was blown up to 500 yards northeastward. The trailer portion of an 18- wheeler...full of family storage...was pushed over and moved 10 yards. The air conditioning unit was moved approximately 35 yards to the northeast. A wheelbarrow was wrapped around a power line and blown through a fence. The front porch roof fell and pillars were scattered in the yard. Part of the homes roof was peeled off and bricks were blown off the side of the house. A power line was wrapped around a tree. The type of damage is consistent with the radar imagery of a linear line of storms pushing the rough the area from the west southwest to east northeast. Witnesses said they felt a pressure drop that lasted about 20 seconds.
August 2020Flash FloodOtia-Highway 100 East, approximately 3 miles east of Tompkinsville, was completely flooded.
February 2019Flash FloodOtia-The Kentucky 214 ferry was closed due to flooding.
August 2019HailGamaliel-The public reported hail the size of quarters at Gamaliel Shooting Supply.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindGamaliel-Trees were reported down.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindGrandview-Two or three trees were blocking Center Point Road.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindLamb-There were multiple reports of trees down near Lamb.

Mines and quarries

9 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 9 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 8 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Uranium, Oil Shale3
Uranium3
Oil Shale3
Zinc2
Dolomite1
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
Fountain RunZinc, DolomiteProspect1970
Trico Stone MineStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
GamalielZincProspect
Outcrop Sample For UraniumUranium, Oil ShaleOccurrence
Outcrop Sample For UraniumUranium, Oil ShaleOccurrence
Outcrop Sample For UraniumUranium, Oil ShaleOccurrence
Outcrop Sample For UraniumUranium, Oil ShaleOccurrence
Outcrop Sample For UraniumUranium, Oil ShaleOccurrence
Outcrop Sample For UraniumUranium, Oil ShaleOccurrence

Every populated place in the county

32

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 Monroe 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.