National Register of Historic Places

Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District

Whitley City, McCreary County, Kentucky
Listed
September 22, 1997
Type
District
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
97001125

About this property

The Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District is a 210 acres (0.85 km2) historic district near Whitley City, Kentucky which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. It is also designated 15MC808 and 15MC809. It is presumably located near or on Barren Fork Rd., north of Whitley City. The Barren Fork Cemetery is the most visible surviving element of the community. The area was purchased in 1879 by the Lexington Stave and Mining Company, which would later change its name to Barren Fork Mining and Coal Company and then to Eagle Coal Company. The settlement was relocated in 1912 and a company store was added since employees were paid in company scrip. The coal prices were low during the Great Depression. The Barren Fork Coal Camp was active until the mine was closed 1935, upon vote by miners to join the United Mine Workers union. The United States Forest Service then bought the land and eventually removed most surface structures. The district included three contributing structures and eight contributing sites. The historic function was as a processing site, for industry/processing/extraction. It was listed for its information potential.

Location

Whitley City, McCreary County, Kentucky

Categories

COMMERCEBLACKEUROPEANHISTORIC - ABORIGINALAGRICULTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District listed on the National Register?

Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 1997.

What type of historic resource is Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District?

Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District?

The period of significance for Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District?

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