North Fork tributaries at Hazard, Kentucky facts for kids

The North Fork Kentucky River is a big river, but it has many smaller streams and creeks that flow into it. These smaller streams are called tributaries. Many of these tributaries are found right near the city of Hazard, Kentucky.

In 1918, experts from the Kentucky Geological Survey studied these creeks. Most of them are still there today. However, some have disappeared because of mining activities. Also, the city of Hazard grew bigger, and a highway called the Daniel Boone Parkway was built after World War 2. These changes caused some creeks to be removed.

Many places that were once separate towns or communities in the early 1900s are now part of Hazard. This happened as Hazard grew and officially took over, or annexed, these areas.

Creeks and Old Communities

The North Fork Kentucky River has several important creeks flowing into it near Hazard. Some of these creeks no longer exist today.

• Lower Second Creek: This creek flows into the North Fork at 37°17′14″N 83°16′10″W / 37.28735°N 83.26931°W / 37.28735; -83.26931 (mouth of Lower Second Creek). Its source, or where it begins, is at 37°19′08″N 83°13′34″W / 37.31879°N 83.22600°W / 37.31879; -83.22600 (Lower Second Creek headwaters).
• First Creek: This creek is about 6 miles (9.7 km) long. It joins the North Fork at 37°16′33″N 83°15′17″W / 37.27589°N 83.25465°W / 37.27589; -83.25465 (mouth of First Creek).
  • Bee Branch†: This was a smaller stream that flowed into First Creek. It was about 1.75 miles (2.8 km) upstream from First Creek's mouth.
  • Peter Branch†: Another stream that joined First Creek, about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) upstream.
  • Wolf Pen Branch†: This stream was about 3 miles (4.8 km) upstream on First Creek.
  • White Oak Branch†: Located about 3.625 miles (5.8 km) upstream on First Creek.
  • Road Branch†: This stream was about 3.875 miles (6.2 km) upstream on First Creek.
• Lotts Creek: This creek's mouth is at 37°16′57″N 83°11′33″W / 37.28259°N 83.19237°W / 37.28259; -83.19237 (mouth of Lotts Creek). You can find more details about it in its own article.
• Upper Second Creek: This creek flows into the North Fork at 37°16′27″N 83°11′25″W / 37.27407°N 83.19016°W / 37.27407; -83.19016 (mouth of Upper Second Creek). Its source is at 37°14′32″N 83°08′35″W / 37.24218°N 83.14316°W / 37.24218; -83.14316 (Upper Second Creek headwaters).
  • Combs Fork: This stream joins Upper Second Creek about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) upstream. Its mouth is at 37°16′10″N 83°09′07″W / 37.26956°N 83.15205°W / 37.26956; -83.15205 (mouth of Combs Fork).
• Walker Branch
• Davidson Branch: This creek's mouth is at 37°14′16″N 83°10′43″W / 37.23786°N 83.17873°W / 37.23786; -83.17873 (mouth of Davidson Branch). It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream from the Hazard post office.
• Gregory Branch: This creek flows into the North Fork at 37°14′09″N 83°10′17″W / 37.23595°N 83.17126°W / 37.23595; -83.17126 (mouth of Gregory Branch).
• Big Creek: This creek's mouth is at 37°16′05″N 83°14′42″W / 37.26810°N 83.24495°W / 37.26810; -83.24495 (mouth of Big Creek). You can find more details about it in its own article.

Old Mining Towns and Post Offices

Many of these creeks were important because of the coal mining industry. Small towns and post offices grew up around the mines.

Typo and First Creek Area

The Typo railway station was located where First Creek flows into the North Fork. It was about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) by train from Hazard.

In 1918, several companies mined coal along First Creek. For example, the Harvey Coal Company mined coal from First Creek itself and from Road Branch. Other companies mined coal from Wolf Pen Branch and White Oak Branch.

There were also smaller mines on Bee Branch. The Monos post office was on Upper Second Creek. It opened in 1922 and closed in 1924.

The Leonard mining town and railway station were just downstream from Lower Second Creek. They were about 8 miles (13 km) by train from Hazard. The Butterfly post office opened there in 1920. It was named for the many butterflies seen in the area. The railway station later changed its name to Sonia.

Gregory Branch and Lothair

The Raccoon Coal Company had a mine near the mouth of Gregory Branch.

Lothair was another mining camp. It was across the river from Davidson Branch. A railway station opened there in 1914, and the Lothair post office opened in 1915. No one is completely sure how Lothair got its name. The post office closed in 1975. Lothair became part of Hazard in the 1960s so it could get public sewer lines.

Walker Branch and Allais

Allais was a mining camp started in the early 1920s. It was located at the mouth of Walker Branch. The camp was named after Victor Allais Sr., who was the mine superintendent.

The Allais post office opened in 1922. At that time, about 1,000 people lived in the mining camp. It had a railway station and a store. The post office closed in 1955. This area, later known as Walkertown, also became part of Hazard.

Hazard and Airport Gardens

In 1918, the town of Hazard was located between Walker Branch and Gregory Branch. There were several mines within the town itself.

A special station that measures the river's water level is located near Hazard. It helps keep track of how high the North Fork Kentucky River is.

Airport Gardens was a post office located across the North Fork from what used to be the Hazard Airport. It was named for its closeness to the airport. The post office was open from 1953 to 1970. The Hazard Airport opened in 1945 and was later replaced by a new airport in 1983.

Lennut and Domino

Lennut was a railway station and mining camp. It was a short train ride from Hazard. The Lennut post office opened in 1914. Its name is "tunnel" spelled backward. This is because the original name, "Tunnel," was already taken. The camp was about 500 yards (457 m) from a railway tunnel.

The Domino post office opened two weeks after Lennut. It served another mining camp and railway station on the same line. Both the Lennut and Domino post offices closed in 1933.

Floods

The Kentucky River basin, which includes the North Fork and its creeks, had a very big flood in early 1957. Hazard was the most affected place in the entire area.

All highways were blocked, and all power and water services stopped working. The main streets were under up to 17 feet (5.2 m) of floodwater. Five people died in the flood.

About 70 buildings were completely destroyed. Another 300 homes and 180 businesses were damaged. The bridge to Hazard Airport was washed away. Areas around Lothair and Airport Gardens also suffered damage. The total cost of the damage in Hazard was about US$84,500,000 (equivalent to $880,441,943 in 2022) in 1957 money.

The river reached its highest level ever recorded at the measuring station during this flood. It was 37.54 feet (11.44 m) high. The previous record was 34 feet (10 m) in 1927.

The Combs Family and Combs Station

The Dolen mining camp was located between Lennut and Domino. A railway station called Combs was built there in 1916. The Combs post office opened in 1922 and is still there today.

In 1923, part of the land was divided into smaller pieces for homes and businesses. The Dolen mining camp was renamed Combs. By 1932, nearly 900 people lived there.

A large family named Combs lived all over the North Fork area and its creeks. Many post offices and creeks were named after them. They often had nicknames to tell them apart. For example, there was "Bear" Combs, "Fisty Sam" Combs, and "Short Jerry" Combs. Other nicknames included "Tight Jerry," "Loose Jerry," and "Danger Nick" Combs.

Nicholas "Danger Nick" Combs was one of the first settlers in Perry County. He came with his brother John Combs and their families from Virginia in the 1790s. They later spread out to other areas like Lothair and Hazard. Elijah Combs founded Hazard.