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Powell County, Kentucky

29 topographic sheets cover 32 settlements here, and 1 property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

1 National Register listing published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kentucky within the United States
Powell County within Kentucky
Explore by year 1901 1922

What the record shows

  • 396 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 1 property here is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a building.
  • It was 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.

Photographs

1 photograph,

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.

Powell County Courthouse, Washington & Court Streets, Stanton, Powell County, KY
Powell County Courthouse, Washington & Court Streets, Stanton, Powell County, KY
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

1

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
Clay City National Bank Buildingbuilding197676000940

Digitised newspapers

6 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 Clay City Times

Clay City, Ky., 1901 to Current. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The county from the air

23 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 395 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 23 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, 1950-06-01, scale 1:23600
1950-06-01, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
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, 1950-06-01, scale 1:23600
1950-06-01, scale 1:23600. 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, 1960-04-19, scale 1:60000
1960-04-19, scale 1:60000. 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, 1965-03-31, scale 1:24000
1965-03-31, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-03-31, scale 1:24000
1965-03-31, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-03-31, scale 1:24000
1965-03-31, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-03-31, scale 1:24000
1965-03-31, 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, 1975-04-13, scale 1:78000
1975-04-13, scale 1:78000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-24, scale 1:80000
1977-03-24, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-24, scale 1:80000
1977-03-24, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-24, scale 1:80000
1977-03-24, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-24, scale 1:80000
1977-03-24, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

7 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

11 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.

  • 99-1Magisterial District 1: Magisterial District 1 - That part northwest of State Hwy. 82
  • 99-2Magisterial District 1 - That part southeast of State Hwy. 82
  • 99-3Magisterial District 2: Clay City town
  • 99-4Magisterial District 2 - That part outside Clay City town
  • 99-5Magisterial District 3: Stanton town
  • 99-6Magisterial District 3 - That part north of State Hwy. 15, outside Stanton town
  • 99-7Magisterial District 3 - That part south of State Hwy. 15
  • 99-8Magisterial District 4: Magisterial District 4 - That part east of Bowen - Xena Rd.
  • 99-9Magisterial District 4 - That part west of Bowen - Xena Rd.
  • 99-10Magisterial District 5: Magisterial District 5 - That part north of State Hwy. 15
  • 99-11Magisterial District 5 - That part south of State Hwy. 15

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

204 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 204 of them, burning about 7,818 acres. None started naturally and 32 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Recreation and ceremony56
Missing data/not specified/undetermined52
Debris and open burning49
Arson/incendiarism32
Equipment and vehicle use6
Smoking4
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Railroad operations and maintenance1
Fireworks1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
24 October 2010Recreation and ceremony1,640 acresDaniel Boone National ForestFISHTRAP
11 April 1999Arson/incendiarism715 acresDaniel Boone National ForestSOUTH FORK
18 November 1999Arson/incendiarism715 acresDaniel Boone National ForestD.BOONE HUT
18 November 1999Arson/incendiarism540 acresDaniel Boone National ForestNADA
18 November 1999Arson/incendiarism450 acresDaniel Boone National ForestAUXIER RIDGE
4 March 2000Debris and open burning415 acresDaniel Boone National ForestSTAR GAP
11 November 2016Recreation and ceremony250 acresDaniel Boone National ForestWOODLAND
25 February 2002Recreation and ceremony195 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named

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

Storms, 1955 to 2026

60 of 381 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 381 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 4 injuries and about $6,642,860 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind202
Flash Flood62
Hail53
Flood42
Heavy Rain10
Tornado7
Lightning3
Funnel Cloud2

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 2015Thunderstorm WindNatural Bridge1 killed, 1 hurtA dead tree fell onto a tent at a campsite at the Middlefork campground, killing one person inside the tent and critically injuring a second person. No other tree damage was noted by first responders except for the dead tree.
June 1997Flash FloodStanton1 hurt, $3,300,000no account filed
March 1982Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
April 2014LightningClay City1 hurtA county employee was struck by lightning. The person was taken to a hospital but there were no details available on specific injuries.
March 1997Tornado (F0)Stanton$1,250,000no account filed
March 1997Tornado (F1)Stanton$500,000no account filed
March 1997Flash FloodClay City$200,000no account filed
June 2019Flash FloodNada$150,000Fire Rescue, Dispatch, and an NWS Employee reported numerous roads and locations inundated by flowing flood waters. Multiple locations along Kentucky Highway 11 in Slade experienced half a foot or more of flowing water as vehicles became submerged in water near Little Abner's Motel, Miguel's Restaurant, and the Go Time convenience store off the Mountain Parkway exit in Slade. A swift water rescue was performed near See on High Rock Road as two people were trapped in a vehicle. Dispatch reported houses surrounded by water near Rogers Chapel, leading to numerous water rescues.
June 2019Heavy RainRosslyn$80,000The county Emergency Manager relayed a report of a mudslide on North Bend Road (Kentucky Highway 615) northeast of Stanton. This slide fell onto a two story house, causing the second floor to collapse into the first floor. An elderly 90 year old woman was trapped for a period of time, but was unscathed after being rescued by emergency crews. The portion of North Bend Road near the house was closed for safety precautions until the 20th.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindStanton$80,000There was roof damage on a house in Stanton and trees and power lines down county wide.
April 2008Flash FloodClay City$55,000Adams Ridge Road was washed out by flood waters.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindVaughns Mill$50,000Numerous large trees had been blown down. Several out buildings were also damaged or had their roofs blown off in the Hardwick Creek area.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindStanton$50,000A roof was blown off of a house. Multiple trees were blown down. Power lines were blown down.
August 2009Flash FloodClay City$50,000The Powell County emergency manager say that Stanton is experiencing severe flash flooding. A rescue was underway in the city limits on Stanton Road. A daycare center was evacuated due to flooding and many businesses were flooded. Debris was seen flowing across many roads within Stanton city limits.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindSlade$50,000Straight-line wind broke off trees and power poles through the area and blew the roofs off of two dugouts in Clay City.
March 1997Thunderstorm WindStanton$50,000no account filed
April 2025Thunderstorm WindRosslyn$35,000A barn collapsed in the 900 block on Cane Creek Road (State Hwy 615/N. Bend Road) due to thunderstorm winds.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindClay City$35,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down county wide.
September 2020Flash FloodNatural Bridge$25,000High waters caused a truck to be swept off the road trying to leave the Middlefork Campground at Natural Bridge. All passengers were able to escape safely.
February 2017LightningStanton$25,000A lightning strike caused a fire that destroyed a building on Paint Creek Road near Stanton.
May 1990Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1980Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1978Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 2025Thunderstorm WindNada$22,000A barn in the 1400 block of South Fork Road received considerable roof damage, along with wood siding being ripped off of one side.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindKnowlton$22,000Powell County dispatch reported that a house off of Darrell Randall Rd in Stanton, Kentucky had its roof blown off, as well as a vehicle damaged from the roof. ||WKYT in Lexington also reported on this story. The information can be found at: https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/18/it-sounded-like-house-was-going-blow-apart-eastern-kentucky-family-cleaning-up-after-strong-storms-dealt-severe-damage/ .
April 2025Thunderstorm WindRosslyn$20,000A house on the south side of Campton Road (just east of the intersection with Deer Trace) suffered considerable roof damage due to severe thunderstorm winds. Multiple trees on the property were also felled. Heavy rain on top of the roof damage eventually caused a partial roof collapse inside the home.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindStanton$20,000Trees were blown down countywide.
July 2021Flash FloodStanton$15,000Water was flowing over the road in the Brookside Cottages subdivision in Stanton, and made it into the Leasing Office. The force of the water cased the pavement on the road to break apart.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindWestbend$15,000Trees and large limbs were blown down on Winchester Road and in the Black Creek area.
December 2019FloodClay City$11,000The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported standing water over Kentucky Highways 2026, 1184, and 613 between Bowen and Clay City.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindStanton$10,000A tree was blown down and onto a structure in Stanton. Exact details, including location in Stanton, were not given.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindStanton$10,000The roof was blown off of an apartment complex in Stanton.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindClay City$10,000Numerous tree branches were torn off along Spout Springs Road. Branches were 2 to 5 inches in diameter. One tree was also blown down on Highway 2001.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindClay City$10,000Several trees down.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$10,000Trees and power lines were down in many areas, including Hard Wicks Creek, Skyview Drive, Natural Bridge State Park, and Nada Tunnel Road.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindVirden$7,000Numerous reports of wind damage were received from a National Weather Service employee, trained storm spotter, local fire rescue, and dispatch in between Clay City and Stanton. This consisted of a plethora of trees blown down, resulting in several power outages. The roofs of a barn and mobile home were also damaged as this storm moved east along Mountain Parkway.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindClay City$7,000Dispatch reported that a tree fell on a vehicle on Main St, injuring two of the passengers.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindStanton$7,000Seven trees blown down.
January 2012Thunderstorm WindStanton$6,000Trees were blown down and onto power lines in Stanton.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindVaughns Mill$5,000A tree is on a 3-phase powerline along Spout Springs Road. The road is closed and repairs are ongoing.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindWaltersville$5,000Dispatch relayed a report of a tree downed on Irvine Road near the intersection with Snow Creek Road west of Clay City. A vehicle struck this tree, but no injuries were sustained.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindBowen$5,000A citizen and local media outlet relayed a report of a few trees downed at Callies Lake and Campground near Bowen. A structure was damaged by one of these trees.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindKnowlton$5,000Trees were blown down onto power lines in the Cat Creek area.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindVaughns Mill$5,000Trees down along Hardwick Creek Rd.
February 2000Flash FloodCountywide$5,000Several reports were received of water over roads and numerouse rock slides occurred due to the heavy rains.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindClay City$5,000Trees downed. One tree fell onto house.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindVirden$4,000A tree was blown down and onto some power lines.
September 2020FloodNada$3,000Heavy rains led to rising water levels on the Red River, flooding the Red River Gorge Campground located along its banks.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindVaughns Mill$3,000Downed power lines blocked the road at the intersection of Hardwicks Creek and Frames Branch Roads southwest of Stanton.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindStanton$3,000Large limbs were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindStanton$3,000A few trees were blown down at various locations around the county.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindClay City$3,000Power lines were downed.
March 1997Thunderstorm WindClay City$3,000no account filed
April 2011Thunderstorm WindBowen$2,500Several large tree branches were blocking the east bound left lane of the Mountain Parkway near mile marker 28.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindClay City$2,500A thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 60 mph occurred near Stanton in Powell county. One small tree and two large limbs blown down in Stanton.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindWaltersville$2,000Dispatch and Emergency Management relayed reports of the roof blown off of a home on Stokley Loop in Clay City, while another home on Ashley Hollow Road sustained roof damage. The latter home also had multiple trees blown down around it while having a meter pulled off of it.
August 2013Flash FloodStanton Arpt$2,000Water was reported flowing across East College Avenue in several places. At one point water entered the Pooh and Pals daycare center. The water receded from the building and off the road by 335 pm.
February 2012Thunderstorm WindStanton$2,000Large tree limbs were blown down on Mill Knob.
February 2012Thunderstorm WindClay City$2,000Large tree limbs were blown down on Snow Creek.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindKnowlton$2,000Large tree limbs were partially blocking the road at the intersection of James Crowe Hollow and Cat Creek Roads.

Mines and quarries

2 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 2 workings inside this county. All of them still produce. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Clay1
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
Drake 01ClayProducer
Natural Bridge Stone Co., Inc.Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer

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

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

1 structure

The vanished settlements of Powell 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.