You’ll find Upper Squabble nestled in Perry County’s Appalachian Mountains at 1,191 feet elevation (37.28844°N, -83.54470°W). This former coal mining town thrived until the early 1950s when health and safety concerns led to its abandonment. Today, the ghost town’s weathered remnants lie hidden among steep hills and dense forests of the Cumberland Plateau, with only overgrown paths and mine spoils marking its existence. The site’s quiet solitude holds countless untold stories of Appalachian life.
Key Takeaways
- Upper Squabble was an Appalachian mining community in eastern Kentucky that became abandoned in the early 1950s.
- Located at 1,191 feet elevation (37.28844°N, -83.54470°W), the ghost town sits among steep hills and dense Cumberland Plateau forests.
- The town’s decline followed a typical coal mining boom-and-bust pattern, with final economic collapse occurring after 2012.
- No preserved buildings remain, with only weathered infrastructure and overgrown paths marking the former town’s existence.
- The area features historical remnants like an abandoned schoolhouse and is surrounded by streams including Acup Branch and Carr Fork.
A Hidden Corner of Perry County: Location and Terrain
Nestled deep within the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky, Upper Squabble sits at an elevation of 1,191 feet in Perry County‘s rugged terrain.
High in Kentucky’s ancient Appalachians, Upper Squabble perches among misty peaks and weathered hollows at 1,191 feet.
You’ll find this ghost town at coordinates 37.28844°N, -83.54470°W, surrounded by the steep hills and dense forests that characterize the Cumberland Plateau region.
If you’re exploring these rugged landscapes, you’ll discover a network of small streams, including Acup Branch and Carr Fork, winding through the undeveloped wilderness.
Historical maps, including the USGS Mistletoe quadrangle, pinpoint Upper Squabble’s location in this remote corner of Perry County. The area’s isolation has contributed to numerous ongoing disputes over property boundaries between local landowners.
While the county seat of Hazard lies 10-15 miles away, you’ll need to navigate local rural roads to reach this hidden spot, as no major highways pass through the area. Local features include the distinctive Toenail Hollow just 0.8 miles from the settlement.
From Settlement to Ghost Town: The Story of Upper Squabble
The story of Upper Squabble reflects the boom-and-bust cycle that defined many Appalachian mining communities in the 19th and 20th centuries.
You’ll find its historical significance rooted in coal mining, which initially drew settlers to this Perry County town with promises of steady work and community growth.
As mines closed and coal demand dropped, Upper Squabble’s fate was sealed. By the early 1950s, the town was officially abandoned due to health and safety concerns. Like the once-thriving town of Paradise, Kentucky, where the TVA buyout displaced residents, Upper Squabble’s community dispersed.
What remains today tells a compelling tale of economic collapse and social upheaval. The boarded-up buildings, including the infamous schoolhouse, have spawned numerous ghost stories and local legends. Similar to the tragedy at Elsewhere General Store, visitors have reported finding abandoned goods and personal belongings frozen in time.
These abandoned structures serve as silent witnesses to a once-thriving community, joining countless other ghost towns across Appalachia that share similar stories of rise and decline.
Life in the Kentucky Mountains: Community and Culture
Life in Kentucky’s mountain communities evolved through a complex interweaving of Native American wisdom and European settler traditions.
Archaeological evidence suggests domesticated May grass was among the crops cultivated by early inhabitants, establishing agricultural practices that would influence later settlements.
You’ll find these influences reflected in how communities preserved their cultural heritage, from the way they built their homes using local timber and stone to their methods of farming corn, sunflowers, and squash.
Community traditions centered around subsistence living, where you’d rely on a mix of agriculture, hunting, and foraging to survive.
Local craftsmen passed down their knowledge through generations, creating essential items and structures that defined mountain life.
You’d see neighbors trading goods along established routes, forming tight-knit social networks that helped them overcome the challenges of isolation and limited resources in the mountainous terrain.
The region’s inhabitants demonstrated remarkable self-reliance and fortitude as they adapted to life in the rugged mountain environment.
Economic Decline and Abandonment
As traditional industries crumbled in Upper Squabble and surrounding Appalachian Kentucky, you’d witness a devastating economic erosion that transformed thriving communities into near-ghost towns.
The collapse of coal mining after 2012 triggered waves of economic migration, as unemployment rates soared to double the national average. You’d see the community’s resilience tested as working-age residents left for urban opportunities, leaving behind an aging population struggling to maintain basic services. The economic downturn was felt particularly hard in towns like Corbin where the coal industry’s collapse in 2012 devastated the local economy. Local incomes plummeted to 58.4 percent of the U.S. average, reflecting the severe economic distress throughout Appalachian Kentucky.
Without new industries replacing mining and agriculture, you’d find local businesses faltering and poverty levels climbing well above U.S. averages.
The few remaining employers couldn’t sustain the workforce, leading to widespread underemployment. As schools, hospitals, and stores shuttered, the cycle of decline accelerated, making economic recovery increasingly challenging for those who stayed behind.
Present-Day Upper Squabble: A Forgotten Place
Today’s Upper Squabble stands frozen in time, bearing silent witness to Kentucky’s shifting economic tides.
Like a weathered photograph, Upper Squabble captures the fading echoes of Kentucky’s economic transformation.
You’ll find little more than weathered remnants of abandoned infrastructure, as nature steadily reclaims what was once a bustling community. Similar to how historical race tracks have vanished across America, the surrounding Perry County landscape tells the story of both decline and ecological recovery, with native flora and fauna thriving in the absence of human activity. Modern biodiversity databases help track the return of wildlife to abandoned places like Upper Squabble.
You won’t discover any preserved buildings or historical markers here – just overgrown paths and aging mine spoils near Squabble Creek.
The site’s isolation reflects broader regional challenges, evidenced by Perry County’s modest $25,294 median household income and 4.8% unemployment rate. While the ghost town itself offers few visible remnants, its quiet existence serves as a reflection of Appalachia’s evolving narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Remaining Structures or Ruins in Upper Squabble Today?
Like many flooded ghost towns, you won’t find documented remaining structures in Upper Squabble today. No verified ruins of historical significance exist, though natural reclamation and recent floods may hide scattered foundations.
What Natural Disasters or Events Contributed to Upper Squabble’s Abandonment?
Regional flooding events likely drove abandonment, though you’ll find no definitive records. While earthquakes weren’t documented, devastating floods in 1913 and 1937 suggest Upper Squabble faced similar destructive forces.
Did Upper Squabble Have a School, Church, or Post Office?
Like shadows fading into mist, you won’t find any documented evidence of a school, church, or post office in the settlement’s history – these community pillars remain conspicuously absent from historical records.
Were There Any Notable Crimes or Incidents in Upper Squabble’s History?
You won’t find documented crimes in public records, though local legends hint at unsolved mysteries including unexplained screams and an unconfirmed 1950s disappearance near the old schoolhouse.
What Happened to the Property Deeds of Upper Squabble’s Abandoned Lands?
Like dust scattered in the wind, you’ll find deed transfers for Upper Squabble’s lands fell into Perry County’s records system, though ownership disputes and incomplete documentation make tracing specific parcels challenging.
References
- https://thoughtcatalog.com/seamus-coffey/2015/08/theres-a-town-in-kentucky-that-you-wont-ever-be-able-to-find-on-a-map-and-for-good-reason/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Squabble
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9gOmfCuKLs
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuffletown
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/kentucky/ghost-town-ky
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Upper_Squabble
- https://www.freakyfoottours.com/us/kentucky/
- https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Perry_County
- https://www.wikiwand.com/en/map/Upper_Squabble
- https://topoquest.com/place-detail.php?id=2557246
