KNOTT COUNTY PLACE NAMES
 

Anco, This recently closed post office lies at the head of Yellow Creek, 2 miles from its confluence with Carr Fork Creek and 6 miles SSW of Hindman.  The post office was established on October 6, 1922, and named for its first post master, Anderson Combs.
Bearville, (Carrie) The post office serving this hamlet on Big Branch of Balls Fork of Troublesome Cree, 4 miles NW of Hindman, was established in the early 1950's with Lucinda Combs, postmaster.  Over the years it had been necessary to distinguish the several Combs families in that section by giving them nicknames.  One family was called the "Bear Combses," perhaps for some incident in the life of an ancestor, and the post office was named for them.
Betty (Wayland) This extinct post office on Ky 80 at the mouth of Triplett Branch of Jones Fork of Right Beaver Creek, 10 miles NW of Hindman, was in operation from February 1, 1950, to May 5, 1956.  It was named for the granddaughter  of     Hattie (Mrs. George) Cox, the first postmaster, and served the community of         Porter.  Porter was named for the owner of the Porter Mining Company, who, in the 1920's established there a way station at the end of a spur line he had built from what became known as Porter Junction, just n. of Lackey on the main C & O RR line.
Caney Creek also known as Pippa Passes, Hindman, Kite.  This village with post office, home of Alice Lloyd College, extends NE along the upper reaches of Caney Creek for about a mile from a point 4 1/2 miles E of Hindman.  When Alice Geddes Lloyd of Boston Established Caney Creek Junior College here in 1923, among the groups from whom she solicited funds were the Robert Browning Societies of New England.  They agreed also to build the local post office and are said to have suggested its name for the poet's heroin, the devout and simple mill girl Pippa, who, as she passes through her town on New Year's Day, innocently touches the lives of those who hear her songs  of joy and fulfillment.  The Post Office Department's preference for one-word names led to the post offices establishment on December 31, 1917, as Pippapass, a meaningless name retained until July 1, 1955, when pressure brought about a return to the intended spelling.  Local people still call their community Caney or Caney Creek as they always have.
Carr Creek, (Blackey) This hamlet with recently discontinued post office is on the new Carr Fork Lake, 3/4 mile up KY 160 from its jct with KY 15, and 6 miles S of Hindman.  For many years the community centered on a boarding school founded in 1920 by 2 Massachusetts women, Olive v. Marsh and Ruth E. Watson.  The post office of Dirk, established on December 22, 1905, to serve this area, was renamed Carr Creek in 1928 to honor the school, which had just sent its basketball team to compete in the national high school tournament in Chicago.  The school had been named for the Carr Fork of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, which in turn had been named for a pioneer settle historically identified only as "Old Man Carr," who was said to have been scalped by the Indians on nearby Defeated Creek.  Or perhaps, as Harry Caudill recently suggested, Carr Fork was named for Willie Carr, a mulatto who had "accompanied a band of North Carolinian" hunters to that area around 1794. Pursued by Indians, he jumped from a high ledge into "the rock-strewn creek."  The origin of Dirk is unknown
Cody, (Blackey) One of several communities completely inundated by the recent flooding of Carr Fork Lake.  Cody was centered at the jct of KY 15 and 160, at the mouth of Breeding and Defeated Creeks, branches of Carr fork (of the North Fork of the Kentucky River), 6 1/2 miles S of Hindman.  Its post office established on November 18, 1897, with Shade Smith, postmaster was named for a local family.
Decoy, (Knott and Breathitt) (Vest, Tiptop).  This hamlet with post office 12 miles NNW of Hindman and 15 1/2 miles E of Jackson straddles the county line.  Though the area was first settled around 1809, the post was not established until November 14, 1904, with Henry C. Shepherd, postmaster.  Shepherd was the hero of a most unusual place naming account:  Henry's goal of intellectual self-improvement included systematic study of a mail order dictionary.  One day therein he came across the word "decoy," to entrap, and was shortly able to apply this concept when he successfully set a trap for his unfaithful wife and her man.  He was later to say to his neighbors that he had decoyed them.  When it came to establish a post office in the community, Henry was asked to be the postmaster, and he requested it be named Decoy, for this word had much significance to him. 
Dirk Post Office (Carr Creek) (Blackey) This hamlet with recently discontinued post office is on the new Carr Fork Lake, 3/4 mile up KY 160 from its jct with KY 15, and 6 miles S of Hindman.  For many years the community centered on a boarding school founded in 1920 by 2 Massachusetts women, Olive v. Marsh and Ruth E. Watson.  The post office of Dirk, established on December 22, 1905, to serve this area, was renamed Carr Creek in 1928 to honor the school, which had just sent its basketball team to compete in the national high school tournament in Chicago.  The school had been named for the Carr Fork of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, which in turn had been named for a pioneer settle historically identified only as "Old Man Carr," who was said to have been scalped by the Indians on nearby Defeated Creek.  Or perhaps, as Harry Caudill recently suggested, Carr Fork was named for Willie Carr, a mulatto who had "accompanied a band of North Carolinian" hunters to that area around 1794. Pursued by Indians, he jumped from a high ledge into "the rock-strewn creek."  The origin of Dirk is unknown
Elmrock (Vest) This hamlet with post office is on KY 1098 and Laurel Fork of Quicksand Creek, just above the mouth of Baker Branch, 7 1/2 miles NNW of Hindman.  The post office was established on August 9, 1911, with Rachel Ritchie, postmaster, and named for its location by a big elm tree and a large rock.

Emmalena, (Carrie) This hamlet with post office is on KY 80 and Troublesome Creek, 4 miles W of Hindman.  The post office established on October 5, 1984, was named for Emma Thurman, the wife of the local school teacher who had petitioned for it, and Orlena Combs Morgan, the storekeeper and first postmaster.

Fisty, (Carrie) This hamlet with post office lies where Clear Creek joins Troublesome Creek at the jct of KY 80 and 721, 5 1/2 miles W of Hindman.  There were so many Combses in this area that they had to be distinguished by nicknames.  One was called "Fisty Sam," and according to local tradition he suggested that the new post office be named for him.  Margaret Ritchie became the first postmaster on August 18, 1906
Hindman, This 5th class city and seat of Knott County is on KY 80, at the forks of Troublesome Creek, 153 miles ESE of downtown Louisville.  In April 1884, 3 commissioners appointed to locate a site for the new county's seat established it here.  The McPherson post office established here on February 17, 1874, with Peyton M. Duke, postmaster was renamed on October 7, 1884 for then Lt. Governor James P. Hindman.  Duke gave the land for the town of Hindman, which was incorporated in 1886
Lackey, (Floyd and Knott) (Wayland).  This recently disincorporated city, with post office and C & O RR station, lies at the jct of KY 7 and 80 and the mouth of Jones Fork of Right Beaver Creek, 10 1/2 miles NW of Hindman and 13 1/2 miles S of Prestonsburg.  The post office was established on March 2, 1880, with Adam Martin, postmaster, and was named for the family of a prominent Floyd county Businessman and public official, Alexander Lackey, a Virginia born pioneer who settled at the forks of the Beaver (now Martin) around 1808
Larkslane, (Handshoe) This hamlet is on KY 80 and Jones Fork of Right Beaver Cree, 5 1/2 miles NE of Hindman.  Its post office was established and named by its first postmaster, Elizabeth Slone, for her husband, Lark Slone, and the lane that went past his home.  That section of KY 80 has also been locally called Stringtown for the arrangement of houses along the highway.
Littcarr, (Blackey) This hamlet with post office at the mouth of Little Carr Fork of Carr Fork of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, is centered at the jct of KY 140 and 160, 5 1/2 miles S of Hindman.  The post office was established on June 23, 1922, by Burnard Smith, whose request to name it Little Carr for its location was accepted by the postal authorities on conditions that it be shortened to its present form.
Pippa Passes,  Hindman, Kite.  This village with post office, home of Alice Lloyd College, extends NE along the upper reaches of Caney Creek for about a mile from a point 4 1/2 miles E of Hindman.  When Alice Geddes Lloyd of Boston Established Caney Creek Junior College here in 1923, among the groups from whom she solicited funds were the Robert Browning Societies of New England.  They agreed also to build the local post office and are said to have suggested its name for the poet's heroin, the devout and simple mill girl Pippa, who, as she passes through her town on New Year's Day, innocently touches the lives of those who hear her songs  of joy and fulfillment.  The Post Office Department's preference for one-word names led to the post offices establishment on December 31, 1917, as Pippapass, a meaningless name retained until July 1, 1955, when pressure brought about a return to the intended spelling.  Local people still call their community Caney or Caney Creek as they always have.
Puncheon , (Kite). This post office, 3/4 mile up Puncheon Branch of the Right Fork of Beaver Creek, 10 miles ESE of Hindman, was established on April 4, 1900, with John Franklin, postmaster.  It is said to have been named for the puncheon flooring of the building which it was located.  However, if the stream bore this name before 1900, it may well have been named for a local industry, the splitting of logs for the floors of early cabins.

Razorblade, (Democrat). (Mayking) This hamlet with post office is now located on KY 7 at the mouth of Lower Appletree on Rockhouse Creek and 8 miles N of Whitesburg.  According to Arthur Dixon, a former County Judge, it was first called Razorblade Branch of Rockhouse Creek, q mile above the present site.  A post office called Stick was established in this vicinity on February 12, 1889, with Elhanan King, postmaster, though the exact location is uncertain.  The post office was renamed Democrat on October 31, 1902. In 1915 it was located at the mouth of Big Branch of Rockhouse, but was later moved to its present site. Though no one seems to know why the Razorblade and Stick names were applied, everyone agrees that Democrat was named for the one lone Democrat in a staunchly Republican precinct, the postmaster himself.

Ritchie, (Carrie) This hamlet with recently discontinued post office is on the Clear Creek of Troublesome Creek and KY 721, 5 miles WSW of Hindman.  The post office was established on January 12, 1900, with Abbie Ritchie, postmaster, and named for the large number of local Ritchies, the descendants of pioneer of Crockett Ritchie
Sassafras, (Vicco). This coal town with post office is on Carr fork of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, 7 1.2 miles SSW of Hindman.  On March 27, 1879, Manton Cornett is said to have established the post office under a large sassafras tree at the mouth of Sassafras Creek, a branch of Carr Fork.  Around the turn of the century it was moved 2 miles down the fork to its present site at the mouth of Yellow Creek, and the community bearing its name grew up around it.
Smithsboro, (Blackey) The site of this extinct community on KY 15, at the mouth of Smith Branch of Carr Fork of the North Fork of the Kentucky River and 6 1/2 miles S of Hindman, is now under Carr Fork Lake.  Its recently discontinued post office, established on October 15, 1902, with George Francis, postmaster, was named for the brothers Jeremiah and Thomas Smith, local landowning sons of William and Millie (Combs) Smith, early Perry County residents.
Softshell, (Handshoe).  This post office on Ky 1087 and Balls Fork of Troublesome Cree, 4 miles NNE of Hindman, was established on May 4, 1926, with Sarah Slone, postmaster, and given the name popularly applied to the Regular Baptists to distinguish them from the Hard Shell or Primitive Baptists.     
Stringtown,  (Handshoe) (Also called- Larkslane) This hamlet is on KY 80 and Jones Fork of Right Beaver Creek, 5 1/2 miles NE of Hindman.  Its post office was established and named by its first postmaster, Elizabeth Slone, for her husband, Lark Slone, and the lane that went past his home.  That section of KY 80 has also been locally called Stringtown for the arrangement of houses along the highway.

Vest, This hamlet with post office is on KY 1087 and Balls Fork of Troublesome Creek, 3 1/2 miles N of Hindman.  The post office was established on January 31, 1886, with William Grigsby, postmaster, and named for the postal inspector who had been sent to validate the need for a post office and who stayed to assist in its establishment.  Nothing else is known about him. 

Vicco, This 6th class city with post office is on Ky 15 and Carr Fork of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, 5 1/2 miles ESE of Hazard.  Though there may have been a settlement here prior to the establishment of the Montgomery Creek Coal Company mines in the vicinity, it was at this time that the town and its post office were established as Montago, named for the company and the creek, which joins Carr Fork at this point.  The Montago post office, which opened on March 1, 1921, with William McKinley Stacy, postmaster, was renamed Vicco in 1923 for the Virginia Iron Coal and coke company which dominated coal production in the area.
Wiscoal (Vicco) This coal town with extinct post office and L & N RR station is on Ky 1088 and Yellow Creek, & miles SSW of Hindman.  It was named for the Wisconsin Coal Company, which had a mine and offices there.  The Wiscoal post office was established on May 22, 1929, with Edward H. Griffith, postmaster, and closed when the mines did.


February 27, 2003