NPS Form 10-900-b 0MB Wo 1024-0018 (Jan. 1987) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service ^pR Q ^gg National Register of Historic Places L Multiple Property Documentation Form REGISTER This form is for use in documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900-a). Type all entries. A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Historic Resources of Prestonsburg, Kentucky________________ B. Associated Historic Contexts Community Development of Prestonsburg, c. 1815-1945__________ C. Geographical Data Corporate Limits of Prestonsburg, Floyd County, Kentucky continuation sheet D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Planning and Evaluation. Signature ofcertifying official David L. Mrgan Date State Historic Preservation Offreer, Commonwealth of Kentucky____________ State or Federal agency and bureau I, hereby, certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for^valuating related properties for listing in the National Register. 518 Signature of the Keeper of the National Register Date E. Statement of Historic Contexts Discuss each historic context listed in Section B. |X|See continuation sheet United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Historic Resources of Prestonsburg, Kentucky Section number E Page __L. The city of Prestonsburg, Kentucky (1980 population: 4,800), seat of Floyd C o u n t y, :i. s s i t u ate d i n i< e n t u c k y • s r u g g e d , m o u n t a i n o u s a n d sparsely s e 111 6? d eastern region. Prestonsburg occupies a narrow crescent of level land, c o n ta in ing ap pr ox i mat e1y 250 ac re s, a1on g t he east ban k of the B i g S andy River's Levisa For k, surrounded by steep, wooded hills. Although a limited a m o u n t o f r e s i d e n t i a 1 c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s t a k e n p 1 a c e o n t h e 1 o w e r s 1 o p e s o f t h e hills, most of the city ? s development has been confined to this terrace? a patter n t hat is t y p i ca1 of e a st er n Ken t uc ky t owns Prest onsb ur g ? s st r eet pattern ? also characteristic of cities in eastern Kentucky, is characterized by a g r i d o f n a r r o w street s. "i" h i s r e g u 1 a r i t y o f t h i s p a 11 e r n i B o c c: a s i o n ally interrupted by roadways that curve around the base of the hills and by alley- 1 i k e " 1 an es v n some o f wh i c h ac c omod at e veh i c: u 1 ar t r a f f i c an d some wh i c h ser ve a s w a 1 k w a y s« T h e c i t y p s m a i n n o r t h - s o u t h t h o r o u g h f a r e i s U. S« 2 3 4 6 0, labeled Lake Drive within the city limits. Its main east-west artery is C o u n t y R o a d .114, w h i c h c o n n e c t s w i t h t h e B e r t T» C o m b s M o u n t a i n P a r k w a y w e s t of the town. Floyd County is served by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, whose tracks parallel the west bank of the Levisa Fork. The area's economy i s b a s e d o n c o a 1 m i n i n g , o i 1 a n d g a s p r o d u c: t i o n f a n d 1 o g g i n g T l-i e e a. r 1 y d e v e 1 o p m e n t o f P r e s t o n s b u r g w a s c e n t e r e d o n t he r i v e r A s a r esu11 the ma. j or i t y o f i t s hi st ori c b u i1di n g s c an b e foun d a1ong th e streets that parallel the river, Front Street and Arnold Avenue, between Route 1:14 and Graham Street. Over time, the city gradually expanded to the north, east and south. However, development continued to take place in all areas of the c i t y« s o i t i s n o t u n c. o m m o n t o f i n d o i d e r b u i 1 d i n g s i n t e r m i n g I e d w i t h m u c: h newer- o n e s, an d m o s t c i t y b 1 o c k s i n c i u d e a variety o f b u i 1 d ing s o f v a r i e d scale, m a s s i n g a n d s t y 1 e, c o n s t r u c t e d o v e r fifty o r even a h u n c:! red years 5" t i me« C o m m u n i t y D e v e 1 o p m e n t o f F1 rest o n s b u r g , c . 1 B 1 5 19 4 5 Earl y D e v e 1 o p m e n t o f t h e P r e s t o n s b u r g a r e a, c . 17 '3 0 -18 5 9 The recorded history of Prestonsburg, one of the oldest towns in the Big Sandy valley,, begins in the late 1700 ? s» In 1791, pioneer John Spi'^lock is said to have built the first house in the vicinity. Five years later;, John NM Form 104004 ON* Appnnl No. »0«<0»a (**•) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet * Historic Resources of Prestonsburg, Kentucky Section number _JL Page 2 Preston conducted a survey of 800 acres of land in the area. John Graham, deputy B ur v ey or f or Ma son Coun t y, p u r c h a sed t h i s 800- -a c r e tract a n d named t h e fledgling settlement "Preston's Station-" On May 3, 1797, Preston's Station o f f i c i a 1 1 y be c a m e the t o w n o f P r e s t o n s b u r g . A t t h e t i m e o f i t s incorporation, it had only six residents- In 1800, Floyd County was formed f r o m s e c t i o n s o f M a s o n , M o n t g o m e r y a n d F" 1 e m i n g C o u n t i e s, w i t h F' r e s t o n s b u r g as i t s s eat o f g o v e r n m e n t T h e n e w c o u n t y, w h i c: h w a s t h e f o r t i e t h c: r- e a t e d b y t h e C o m m o n w e a 11 h o f S< e n t u c k y, t o o k i t s n a m e f r o f n C o 1 o n el J o h n F" 1 o y d , p i o n e e r and Indian fighter,, It is interesting to note that at the time of its formation, Floyd County was much larger than its present size and included the present-day counties of Pike, Johnson, Martin, Letcher, Magoffin and Perry Counties, as well as sections of seven other eastern Kentucky counties.