Blackey, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blackey, Kentucky
City
Blackey Public Library
Location in Letcher County, Kentucky
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Letcher
Incorporated	January 27, 1915
Area
• Total	0.45 sq mi (1.16 km2)
• Land	0.44 sq mi (1.13 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	1,007 ft (307 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	109
• Density	249.43/sq mi (96.27/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	41804
Area code(s)	606
FIPS code	21-07012
GNIS feature ID	0507346

Blackey is a small community in Letcher County, Kentucky, in the United States. In 2010, about 120 people lived there. It is close to an older settlement called Indian Bottom. People believe Blackey was named after a local person known as Blackey Brown.

History of Blackey

The story of Blackey began in 1908. A local resident named Jim Brown was allowed to open a post office on Elk Creek. He decided to name the post office "Blackey" after his brother, Joseph "Blackey" Brown.

Because there was a lot of coal nearby, the Lexington and Eastern Railroad built a train line through Blackey in November 1912. Over the next 15 years, Blackey grew from a quiet mountain town into a busy modern city. It officially became a city on January 27, 1915.

In 1913, the Stuart Robinson School opened in Blackey. This was a special Presbyterian school that helped the community. It operated until 1957. In 1917, the Blackey Coal Company started. It was the first coal company in the area. The company built 30 houses and hired 80 miners.

Challenges and Changes

In May 1927, a terrible flash flood hit the city. In just one hour, the North Fork of the Kentucky River rose 18 feet (5.5 meters). This flood sadly killed 26 people in Letcher County.

Later that year, in December, a fire broke out. It destroyed most of the city's main business area. Then, in February 1928, another fire happened, destroying the rest of the town. Soon after, the Blackey State Bank closed. The Great Depression then ended the city's busy times.

Today, Blackey is home to just over 150 people. There are only a few old, empty buildings and some homes on Main Street. In recent years, the city has seen some new life. It now has a Head Start program, a new city water system, and a public library.

Geography of Blackey

Blackey is located in the western part of Letcher County. It sits in the valley of the North Fork of the Kentucky River.

Kentucky Route 7 goes through the town. This road leads west and northwest about 19 miles (31 km) to Jeff. It also goes northeast about 40 miles (64 km) to Wayland. Kentucky Route 588 goes south and east about 15 miles (24 km) to Whitesburg, which is the main town of Letcher County.

The city of Blackey covers a total area of about 0.45 square miles (1.2 square kilometers). A small part of this area, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 153 people living in Blackey. These people lived in 65 households, and 49 of these were families. The population density was about 315 people per square mile (121 people per square kilometer). There were 73 housing units in total.

Most of the people in Blackey were White (98.69%). About 23.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.35 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 17.0% were under 18 years old. About 12.4% were 65 years or older. The average age was 42 years.

Education

Blackey has a lending library. It is a branch of the Letcher County Library system.

Arts and Culture

Just across a small bridge in Blackey is the C. B. Caudill Store & History Center. It is run by Gaynell Begley. This building used to be a general store. Now, it is a center for history and community events.

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See also

In Spanish: Blackey (Kentucky) para niños