The First Map 1784

"Daniel Boon", "Levi Todd", and "James Harrod" were called together to witness an introduction to the new best seller titled: "The Discovery, Settlement, and Present State of Kentucky", by John Filson.  This witness was dated May 12, 1784.  They state:

 (we) "...have carefully revifed it, and recommend it to the public as an exceeding good performance, containing as accurate a defeription of our country as we think can poffibly be given:...".

This text contained the first map published by Henry D. Pursell, and printed by T. Rook (Philadelphia) in the year 1784.  The following is taken from this map giving the title image:

It states that the map is drawn from actual observations.  The next figure shows a copy of the area around "Danville", 1784. 

This was certainly a central location in 1784.  The busiest place seems to be the "Lower Dutch" station, where at least six trails connect here.  Clark's Run, a branch of the Dick's River, comes just south Danville.  A careful inspection of the map indicates that Danville is represented as a "station" with a number of other "stations" surrounding it. [Clark's, Irvin's, Caldwall's...etc.]  Reed's is identified as a dwelling house and mill.  A number of dwelling houses are shown around the station labeled Danville.  It would be another three years before it became the town of Danville.

Upon Dry Ground - Sort of

There are 31 rivers, 800 creeks, 45 large lakes, 33 small lakes, and 87,000 farm ponds presently in the State of Kentucky. [Plus or minus here and there.]  Certainly not all these things existed when folks started their way into this area.  At least 4 major rivers had something to do with the water routes into the central area of the State.  The following figure shows roughly an outline of these 4 rivers and their relationship to this area that was to become Danville.

From the east, a branch of the Kentucky River, called "Dix" or "Dicks", comes the closest to the town lands of Danville.  From the northwest,  branches of the Salt River, one called "Chaplin", come close to the lands that were to become Danville.  Green River and Cumberland River finish the circle that surrounded this settlement area.  It would seem that these "town lands" would pretty much be in the center of things such that, heading almost any direction would place you on a water route out of town.   "Upon Dry Ground" I am thinking, sort of.