Elkhorn City, Kentucky

City in Kentucky, United States

Elkhorn City, Kentucky

City

Former high school

Nickname:

"Gateway to the Breaks"

Location of Elkhorn City in Pike County, Kentucky.

Coordinates: 37°19′13″N 82°21′08″W﻿ / ﻿37.32028°N 82.35222°W﻿ / 37.32028; -82.35222
Country| United States
State| Kentucky
County| Pike
Incorporated| November 4, 1912
Government

• Type| Mayor-Council
• Current Mayor| Nathan Bryant
• Former Mayor| Mike Taylor
Area

[1]

• Total

| 7.72 sq mi (19.99 km2)
• Land| 7.72 sq mi (19.99 km2)
• Water| 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation

[2]

| 1,693 ft (516 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 1,035
• Density| 134.07/sq mi (51.76/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code|

41522

Area code| 606
FIPS code| 21-24382
GNIS feature ID| 2403554[2]
Website| http://www.elkhorncity.org/

Elkhorn City is a home rule-class city in Pike County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 1,035 at the 2020 census. The city is located in proximity to the Breaks Interstate Park.

## History

[edit]

Elkhorn City was first settled by William Ramey of North Carolina c. 1810. However, in 1767–1768, Daniel Boone took his first steps in what is now Kentucky near present-day Elkhorn City on a hunting expedition.[3]

It was originally named "Elkhorn", after an elk's horn that was found on the banks of the nearby creek (also named Elkhorn.[4]) Because there was already a town named "Elk Horn" in Taylor County, the town had to be renamed in order to avoid confusion. On October 16, 1882, the post office was renamed "Praise" for "Camp Praise-the-Lord", a tent colony that was established by evangelist George O. Barnes for a revival there in August 1881. In 1907, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway established a station in Praise that was named "Elkhorn City". Although Elkhorn City was incorporated as a city on November 4, 1912, the local post office was not renamed Elkhorn City until September 1, 1952, after local pressure for a uniform name.[5]

The neighboring settlement of Cedarville merged with Elkhorn City in 2009.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all land.

Elkhorn City is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky. The city has many geographic wonders that make it one of the major tourism destinations in Kentucky. First and foremost of these natural wonders is the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River which flows through the center of the city. It is well known for as a whitewater rafting destination, featuring Class II-VI rapids.[7]

Elkhorn City is also geographically located at the northernmost point of the Pine Mountain along with the northern terminus of Pine Mountain Trail.[8] Once completed, the trail will extend from the Breaks Interstate Park to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park along the ridge of Pine Mountain.[9]

Elkhorn City is the easternmost incorporated municipality in Kentucky. Freeburn and Phelps are technically farther east, but both are considered CDPs.

### Climate

[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Elkhorn City has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[10]

Climate data for Elkhorn City, Kentucky

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 78
(26)  | 83
(28)  | 89
(32)  | 92
(33)  | 98
(37)  | 100
(38)  | 101
(38)  | 100
(38)  | 102
(39)  | 90
(32)  | 85
(29)  | 80
(27)  | 102
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 42
(6)  | 47
(8)  | 56
(13)  | 66
(19)  | 73
(23)  | 80
(27)  | 83
(28)  | 82
(28)  | 77
(25)  | 67
(19)  | 57
(14)  | 45
(7)  | 65
(18)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 23
(−5)  | 26
(−3)  | 32
(0)  | 40
(4)  | 49
(9)  | 59
(15)  | 63
(17)  | 62
(17)  | 55
(13)  | 43
(6)  | 33
(1)  | 26
(−3)  | 43
(6)
Record low °F (°C)  | −14
(−26)  | −12
(−24)  | −3
(−19)  | 21
(−6)  | 25
(−4)  | 40
(4)  | 40
(4)  | 45
(7)  | 34
(1)  | 19
(−7)  | 9
(−13)  | −11
(−24)  | −14
(−26)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 3.19
(81)  | 3.20
(81)  | 3.43
(87)  | 4.06
(103)  | 4.89
(124)  | 4.50
(114)  | 5.20
(132)  | 3.86
(98)  | 3.14
(80)  | 2.82
(72)  | 2.91
(74)  | 3.27
(83)  | 44.47
(1,129)
Source: The Weather Channel.[11]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 100| | —
1900| 87| | −13.0%
1910| 94| | 8.0%
1920| 821| | 773.4%
1930| 996| | 21.3%
1940| 1,030| | 3.4%
1950| 1,349| | 31.0%
1960| 1,085| | −19.6%
1970| 1,081| | −0.4%
1980| 1,446| | 33.8%
1990| 813| | −43.8%
2000| 1,060| | 30.4%
2010| 982| | −7.4%
2020| 1,035| | 5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 982 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 99.0% White, 0.3% Black, 0.2% from some other race and 0.3% from two or more races. 0.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 1,060 people, 437 households, and 295 families living in the city. The population density was 525.5 inhabitants per square mile (202.9/km2). There were 506 housing units at an average density of 250.8 per square mile (96.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.34% White, 0.09% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 437 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,963, and the median income for a family was $27,237. Males had a median income of $30,139 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,323. About 18.0% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

[edit]

Elkhorn City has a lending library, a branch of the Pike County Public Library.[14]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Patty Loveless, country music singer
* Robert H. Reed, United States Air Force General.

## See also

[edit]

* Elkhorn City Railroad Museum

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elkhorn City, Kentucky
3. ^ Historical Marker Society of America. "Daniel Boone's First Steps in Kentucky (2203)". Accessed 7 December 2010.
4. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 91\. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
5. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1988). "Place Names". Kentucky Place Names. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-0179-4. Retrieved on 2010-04-09
6. ^ "Geographic Boundary Change Notes". Population Division, United States Census Bureau. January 1, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
7. ^ Fork River Rafting Trips[permanent dead link‍] Retrieved on 2010-12-07
8. ^ Hiking/Mountain Biking in Elkhorn City Archived April 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2010-12-07
9. ^ Pine Mountain Trail Conference Archived 2011-02-02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2010-12-07
10. ^ Climate Summary for Elkhorn City, Kentucky
11. ^ "Monthly Averages for Elkhorn City, KY". The Weather Channel. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. ^ "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Pike County Tourism
* Breaks Interstate Park
* Elkhorn City Railroad Museum
* Russell Fork River
* Elkhorn City Area Observer

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