Middle Fork Kentucky River

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Infobox river Middle Fork Kentucky River is a river in Kentucky in the United States.Template:Sfn It is a fork of the Kentucky River that it joins just upstream of Beattyville.Template:Sfn Template:Citation needed span

Basin and hydrology

Floods

Template:See also The Kentucky River basin, including Middle Fork and its tributaries, suffered a major flood in January and February 1957.Template:Sfn Peak flood levels were higher by Template:Convert at Buckhorn and Template:Convert at Tallega than the previous record peak levels in 1939.Template:Sfn One person was drowned in Cutshin Creek.Template:Sfn

Most of the urban damage was at Buckhorn, with properties under up to Template:Convert of water, and at Hyden.Template:Sfn In Bockhorn 10 homes were destroyed, and in Hyden 30% of the homes were damaged in some way.Template:Sfn 20 commercial buildings in Hyden were flooded, and the local lumber company had a lot of its stock swept away.Template:Sfn

Tributaries and other locations

• Its major tributaries include:
  • Hell-for-Certain Creek Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord.
    • Mill Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
    • Big ForkTemplate:Sfn
    • Devils Jump Branch Template:Convert upstream,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Oldhouse Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Polly Morril Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Bull Creek Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn whose name anecdotally comes from pioneer settler John Amis having shot a bull buffalo on its banks,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
    • Lower Field Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Wolf Pen Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
    • Thousand Sticks Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord at the foot of Thousandsticks MountainTemplate:Sfn
    • Henry Fork (a.k.a. Osborne Fork)Template:Sfn
    • Davidson Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Cutshin Creek Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord, whose further tributaries and locations are in its article
  • Mile Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Nighwaw Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Elic Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Asher Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Betty Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Owls-Nest Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord
    • a left branch Template:Convert upstream,Template:Sfn
    • Banger Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn mouth at Template:Coord headwaters at Template:Coord
  • Roberts Branch Template:Convert downstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Rockhouse Creek at Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Tantrough Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Big Lute Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Shack Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Potato Knob Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Puncheon Camp Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Road Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Left Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
      • Laurel Creek Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Hurst Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Round Hole Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Rough Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Davis Branch (a.k.a. Mart's Branch) Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Short Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • a right branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • a right branch Template:Convert upstream,Template:Sfn
    • a right branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Munsey Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Right Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Hurricane Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • a left branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Wolf Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • a right branch Template:Convert upstream,Template:Sfn
  • Burnt Camp Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Morgan Branch at Burnt Camp mouth at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Left Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Big Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Camp Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Johns Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Right Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Lower Bad Creek,Template:Sfn
    • Bonnet Rock Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Marion Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Stinnett Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Little Stinnett Creek Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Lick Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Big Branch Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Greasy Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Saltwell Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Trace Branch (a.k.a. Harmon Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Martor Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Beech Fork Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn whose further tributaries and locations are in its article
  • Lower Bad Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Pinch Hollow Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Upper Bad Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Sang Branch (a.k.a. Ginseng Branch) Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • White Oak Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • War Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Rye Cove Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Roark Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Turkey Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden,Template:Sfn
  • Spruce Pine Creek Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
    • Dry Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
      • two forks Template:Convert upstream,Template:Sfn
    • Long Fork Template:Convert upstream at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Mazie Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Rough Branch Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn
  • Rainbow Branch (a.k.a. Meadow Branch) Template:Convert upstream of Hyden at altitude Template:Convert,Template:Sfn

The confluence of Bull Creek, the main Middle Fork, and Cutshin Creek was known in the 19th century in Kentucky as a "turkeyfoot".Template:Sfn

Hell-For-Certain Creek and Osha, Omarsville/Kaliopi post offices

The name of Hell-For-Certain Creek comes, anecdotally, from the bad experience of a pair of travellers navigating its waters.Template:Sfn It is a common favourite name to use in stories about travelling in Kentucky, although the eye dialect pronunciation of "Hell For Sartin" that is employed by storytellers is incorrect and considered offensive and insulting by native Kentuckyans.Template:Sfn

The Osha post office was established by postmaster William C. "Short Buckel Bill" Begley on 1906-09-15.Template:Sfn Begley had originally wanted the name Hell For Certain after the creek, but this was rejected by the USPS, so his second choice was the name of his daughter (1893–1990).Template:Sfn It was located at the mouth of Hell-for-Certain Creek, and closed in December 1907.Template:Sfn

The Omarsville post office was established on 1929-02-27 by postmaster Lilbern W. Woods.Template:Sfn It was named after Omar Huff, the son of Republican Party official Elmer Huff.Template:Sfn Originally located at the mouth of Mill Branch, it moved around several times over the years.Template:Sfn It was at several sites on Big Fork, then in 1942 postmasters Ethel Pilatos (née Woods and Lilbern's sister) and her husband Sam Pilatos (an immigrant from Greece) moved it to the site of Sam's store that, then was and still now is, located at the mouth of Devils Jump and called The Mouth of Devils Jump Branch.Template:Sfn Because of other similarly named post offices and mail being misdirected, on 1945-03-01 Omarsville was renamed Kaliopi after Sam's mother (cf. Calliope).Template:Sfn It closed in July 1981.Template:Sfn

Dryhill and Gad/Thousandsticks post offices on Bull Creek

The Dryhill post office was established on 1897-09-30 by postmaster Dan McDaniel.Template:Sfn It was located on a literally dry hill just above the "turkeyfoot" confluence of Bull Creek, Middle Fork, and Cutshin Creek, where the Daniel Boone Parkway and Kentucky Route 257 now cross Middle Fork.Template:Sfn Like Omarsville, it served a store located at the mouth of Bull Creek and called The Mouth of Bull Creek.Template:Sfn It closed in July 1908, and McDaniel tried to reestablish it on 1910-08-13, this time using his own surname.Template:Sfn However, that name was taken in Breckenridge County so he continued with the original Dryhill.Template:Sfn It became a rural branch of Hyden post office in 1964.Template:Sfn

The Gad post office was established on 1905-03-01 by postmaster Polly Osborne.Template:Sfn She had originally wanted the name Bull Creek but that was taken and so she chose Gad after the Tribe of Gad or Gad.Template:Sfn It was originally located a slight distance upstream on Henry Fork, and on 1924-05-31 moved to Bull Creek itself at the mouth of Thousandsticks Creek, after which it was at the same time renamed.Template:Sfn It closed in November 2004.Template:Sfn

Thousandsticks post office, the creek it was renamed after, a school, church, the local weekly newspaper in Hyden, and Thousandsticks Mountain after which they all were named, have two different origin stories for their names.Template:Sfn The first is that early settlers found a large number of old dead trees in the area and so named it after the "thousand sticks", i.e. tree trunks.Template:Sfn The second is that early travellers discovered the aftermath of a forest fire in the area and so named it after the "thousand sticks", i.e. charred tree stumps.Template:Sfn

Kentucky Route 118, which joins the Daniel Boone Parkway at Thousandsticks, is called the "Hyden Spur" as it is the access road for Hyden.Template:Sfn

General

In 1918, Howard Asher and Rene Asher had mines on Red Bird just downstream of the ford that is downstream of Asher Branch.Template:Sfn Andrew Asher had one on Banger Branch;Template:Sfn and Hughes Asher one on Roberts Branch.Template:Sfn

Nathanial Roberts's mine was on Roberts Branch.Template:Sfn

See also

• List of rivers of Kentucky

Sources

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Further reading

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