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Morgan County, Kentucky

74 topographic sheets cover 81 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
Morgan County within Kentucky
Explore by year 1880 1911

What the record shows

  • 1,118 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 81 populated places in this county; 81 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

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
Christian Church of West Libertybuilding201010000529
Judge John E. Cooper Housebuilding199696000824
Morgan County Courthousebuilding197676000929

Digitised newspapers

2 issues

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

Licking Valley Courier

West Liberty, Ky., 19?? to Current. 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, 1880 - Map of Morgan and Johnson counties and parts of Magofin, Floyd and Martin
Land ownership map (1880) - Map of Morgan and Johnson counties and parts of Magofin, Floyd and Martin. Library of Congress.

Weather records

6 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

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.

  • 88-1Magisterial District 1: West Liberty town
  • 88-2Magisterial District 1 - That part southeast of State Hwy. 172 and east of State Hwy. 40/7
  • 88-3Magisterial District 1 - That part west of State Hwy. 172, north of State Hwy. 40/7 and west of State Hwy. 191, outside West Liberty town
  • 88-4Magisterial District 1 - That part southwest of State Hwy. 40/7 and east of State Hwys. 40/7 and 191, outside West Liberty town
  • 88-5Magisterial District 2: Magisterial District 2 - That part east of Muddy Branch and northeast of State Hwy. 172
  • 88-6Magisterial District 2 - That part west of Muddy Branch, and northwest of State Hwy. 172
  • 88-7Magisterial District 2 - That part south of State Hwy. 172 and southwest of Elamton - Logville Rd.
  • 88-8Magisterial District 2 - That part southeast of State Hwy. 172, north of Relief - Dingus Rd. via Mima and east of Elamton- Logville Rd.
  • 88-9Magisterial District 2 - That part south of State Hwy. 172, southeast of Relief - Dingus Rd. and east of Elamton - Logville Rd.
  • 88-10Magisterial District 3: Magisterial District 3 - That part northeast of State Hwy. 7
  • 88-11Magisterial District 3 - That part southwest of State Hwy. 7 and northeast of Dan - Wagners Store Rd. via Blairs Mill and Zag
  • 88-12Magisterial District 3 - That part west of Dan - Wagners Store Rd. via Blairs Mill and Zag
  • 88-13Magisterial District 4: Magisterial District 4 - That part north of Dan - Woodsbend Rd. via Omer to Grassy Creek and east of Grassy Creek
  • 88-14Magisterial District 4 - That part south of Dan - Woodsbend Rd. via Omer to Grassy Creek, west of Grassy Creek and north of State Hwy. 40
  • 88-15Magisterial District 4 - That part south of State Hwy. 40
  • 88-16Magisterial District 5: Magisterial District 5 - That part northeast of State Hwy. 191 and north of State Hwy. 134
  • 88-17Magisterial District 5 - That part southwest of State Hwy. 191 and northeast of Grassy Creek - Caney Rd.
  • 88-18Magisterial District 5 - That part southwest of Grassy Creek - Caney Rd., west of State Hwy. 191 and south of State Hwy. 134

Wildfire, 1995 to 2020

573 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 573 of them, burning about 11,370 acres. 3 started naturally and 169 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning217
Arson/incendiarism169
Missing data/not specified/undetermined150
Recreation and ceremony30
Railroad operations and maintenance3
Natural3
Equipment and vehicle use1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
19 November 1999Arson/incendiarism600 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
18 November 2015Debris and open burning527 acresKentucky Division of ForestrySHOP BRANCH
16 April 2003Missing data/not specified/undetermined300 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
10 March 2000Arson/incendiarism300 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
31 March 2015Debris and open burning260 acresKentucky Division of ForestryPASTURE FORK
2 November 2001Arson/incendiarism250 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
1 April 2003Missing data/not specified/undetermined200 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
25 February 2002Debris and open burning200 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named

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

Storms, 1970 to 2025

60 of 372 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 372 reports for this county, causing 6 deaths, 83 injuries and about $77,034,600 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind241
Hail53
Flash Flood41
Flood21
Heavy Rain9
Tornado5
Funnel Cloud1
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
March 2012Tornado (EF3)Artville6 killed, 80 hurt, $75,000,000A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed that an EF-3 tornado tracked from Menifee County into Morgan County on March 2, 2012. The tornado entered Morgan County at around 546 pm EST, just to the northwest of Ezel, and tracked east-northeast making a direct hit on downtown West Liberty at around 558 pm EST. The tornado caused extensive damage to nearly every structure in town, including the 105 year old courthouse, the depression-era WPA building that houses the community center and the 100 year old West Liberty United Methodist and Christian churches. The tornado continued northeast from West Liberty through the remainder of Morgan County, causing extensive damage to numerous structures and downing thousands of trees with a consistent path width of 3/4 to 1 mile throughout the county. Estimated peak winds in Morgan County were 140 mph. The tornado crossed into Lawrence county at 610 pm EST between Moon and Terryville. Six fatalities occurred in Morgan county as a direct result of the tornado.
September 1972Tornado (F2)not stated3 hurt, $25,000no account filed
June 1990Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
September 2020Flash FloodLick Branch$150,000Morgan County Dispatch reported that Cow Branch Road was closed near the community of Lenox due to water over the road, making it impassable. The EM then reported that cars had been washed down the creek, and houses had been inundated from the high water.
March 1997Flash FloodCrockett$150,000no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindEzel$110,000Straight line wind damage associated with a severe thunderstorm produced a path of damage approximately 9 miles long and 4 miles wide. Massive amounts of tree damage occurred all of which was lying in a southeastward direction. One mobile home received roof damage when a large pine tree fell onto the home. Barns and out buildings also received minor damage to the roof tin. Several cars received major damage as trees fell upon them.
September 2020Flash FloodCottle$100,000Emergency Management reported extensive flash flooding and damage along War Creek Road as War Creek quickly swelled out of its banks. This led to damages to cars and houses along the road.
September 2020Flash FloodWest Liberty Arpt$100,000Law enforcement reported portions of Prestonsburg Street and Spaws Creek Road had been closed due to flood waters over the road after two rounds of heavy rain moved through the location. Spaws Creek Road was especially hard hit, as the EM reported Spaws Creek rose out of it banks and took out bridges and caused damage to nearby properties.
February 2012Tornado (EF2)Mize$100,000A storm damage team from the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Kentucky confirmed that an EF-2 tornado touched down in Morgan county on February 29, 2012. The tornado touched down about 6 miles southwest of West Liberty near the town of Grassy Creek. The tornado track was not continuous, but instead made several touchdowns and liftoffs before dissipating near the community of Malone. Winds were estimated at around 120 mph. Several structures were damaged along the path of the tornado, with the most extreme damage occurring to a residential structure in the Malone area.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindEzel$100,000Thunderstorm wind gusts uprooted trees and downed power lines in Ezel. Approximately 500 residents of the city were without power and phone service until around 930 pm that evening.
April 1996Thunderstorm WindCannel City$100,000no account filed
April 2008Flash FloodMima$55,000A bridge was washed out by flood water on Highway 437.
September 2020FloodIndex$50,000After another dose of heavy rain, water spilled out of a drainage ditches and onto the road near the Morgan County Tire Center in Index, Kentucky, just southwest of West Liberty.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindStacy Fork$50,000A tree fell on a school bus, truck, and mini van on KY 191 between mile markers 9 and 10. The vehicles appeared to be totaled.
June 1995Thunderstorm Windnot stated$50,000State police reported a tree down across a mobile home at Spaws Creek about 30 miles North of Jackson near the Morgan/Menifee County line. No injuries reported.
March 1997Thunderstorm WindEzel$50,000no account filed
March 1997Thunderstorm WindEzel$50,000no account filed
June 2009Tornado (EF1)Relief$35,000An EF1 tornado with winds of 90-95 mph touched down 1.5 miles northwest of Relief. The tornado was on the ground for 1.5 miles and had a path width of 75 yards. The tornado lifted shortly after crossing into Johnson County. Dozens of trees were damaged and numerous trees were snapped off or uprooted.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindEzel$30,000Trees were blown down in Ezel including onto 2 mobile homes.
March 2021Flash FloodWest Liberty Arpt$30,000Pictures posted on social media showed water from Long Branch flowing across Prestonsburg Street in West Liberty, making it impassable. It had also surrounding a neighboring home. This was confirmed by the 911 dispatch as well.
May 2018Flash FloodMoon$30,000Dispatch reported flowing water covering the road on Lick Branch near the Kentucky Highway 437 bridge in Dingus. Near Moon, heavy rainfall caused water to quickly rise and inundate area basements.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindGreear$25,000Dispatch reported trees downed on the southwest side of West Liberty. A power pole near Morgan Central Elementary School was hit by some of these trees. A vehicle was also hit by falling trees, while the roof of a house was partially torn off.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$25,000Numerous trees were blown down from West Liberty to Ezel.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindMalone$20,000There were numerous trees blown down across 844 in Stacy Fork. The largest trees was a Willow tree approximately 20 inches in diameter.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindCaney$20,000Multiple trees were blown down and a roof was caved in on a building in Caney.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindRelief$20,000Multiple trees were blown down and half inch diameter hail occurred.
November 2003Flash FloodCountywide$20,000People were trapped in cars due to high water on Laurel Fork Road, Railline Road (near Wrigley), and Big Bandy Road (off of Highway 650). A fast-food restaurant was flooded along United States 460, near West Liberty.
February 2021FloodFlorress$15,000Report received from MPing: River/Creek is overflowing and resulting in flooding of cropland/yard/and or basement.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindMize$10,000Dispatch reported trees blown down on U.S. Highway 460 near Murphy Fork Road west of Mize. Tree damage also occurred near Cannel City while a utility pole was snapped.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$10,000Trees were blown down in and around town.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindEzel$10,000Numerous trees were blown down along Hwy 882 west of Ezel.
April 2009Thunderstorm WindEzel$10,000Trees were blown down on Highways 460, 2498, and 772.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$10,000Several trees and large limbs were blown down.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$8,000A roof was blown off a house in West Liberty.
April 2009Thunderstorm WindMize$8,000The roof was blown off a barn.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindCottle$7,000Several trees down in the Lacy Creek area.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindEzel$6,000Two trees were blown down. Numerous tree branches were also blown down.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindZag$6,000Six trees down near intersection of Highways 976 and 519.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindGrassy Creek$5,000The Morgan County emergency management reported that strong thunderstorm wind gusts had knocked down numerous trees across the county, including at least one tree over the road at Grassy Creek.
February 2019Heavy RainStacy Fork$5,000Local media reported a mudslide on Kentucky Highway 844 south of West Liberty due to recent heavy rain.
September 2018Debris FlowLeisure$5,000Kentucky Department of Transportation officials reported downed trees across Kentucky Highway 711 west of Wrigley. These were the result of a mudslide due to persistent rainfall over the past couple of days. This led to downed power lines and a couple of thousand of power outages.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindEzel$5,000Numerous trees were blown down in and around Ezel.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$5,000Several trees were blown down along Liberty Rd in West Liberty near the Davis Lane intersection. Some structural damage to a trailer also occurred just west of the Morgan county hospital.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$5,000Trees were blown down along Cow Branch Rd off Hwy 172 and also on Hwy 772 at mile marker 6.
May 2011HailCannel City$5,000Golf ball size hail caused damage to an automobile and a tow behind trailer in Cannel City.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindRelief$5,000Trees were down on KY 437 between mile markers 11 and 12.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindCannel City$5,000A spotter reported that 12 inch diameter trees were blown down and a porch roof was blown off.
December 2009FloodMurphy Fork$5,000Water was over a road in Murphy Fork. Trees were also down across this same road.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindKellacey$5,000Large limbs were blown down along Route 985.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$5,000Trees were blown onto and blocking roads near West Liberty.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$5,000Trees were blown down onto Highways 2499, 172, and 460 by wind gusts estimated at 61 mph.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindEzel$5,000Strong winds blew a barn down onto a mobile home.
July 2001Flash FloodWrigley$5,000Over a foot of water was flowing over the intersection of Highway 7 and 711. Water also was reported to have entered several homes in town.
June 1998Flash FloodWest Liberty$5,000Numerous roads covered with water in town and surrounding areas. Some homes with water damage.
September 1993Thunderstorm Windnot stated$5,000Several trees and power lines were blown down in Centerville, Grassey Creek and Malone.
March 2011Thunderstorm WindEzel$4,000Large tree limbs were blown down in Ezel.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindLicking River$4,000Several large limbs down.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindWest Liberty$3,000The Morgan County emergency management reported that strong thunderstorm wind gusts had knocked down multiple trees in the trailer park just off of KY-7, and that at least one tree had fallen onto a mobile home.
February 2019Heavy RainGrassy Creek$3,000The Department of Highways reported a major break in pavement, made worse by heavy rain on February 23rd, on Kentucky Highway 705 near Grassy Creek. This led to an extended closure of the road.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindMaytown$3,000Trees were blown down in downtown Maytown.

Mines and quarries

5 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 5 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 3 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken3
Clay2

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Barnett ShaleClayProspect
Zag ShaleClayProspect
D QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Mjm MineStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Zag MineStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

81

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 Morgan 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.