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Burning Fork, Kentucky facts for kids

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Burning Fork, Kentucky
Burning Fork, Kentucky is located in Kentucky
Burning Fork, Kentucky
Burning Fork, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
Burning Fork, Kentucky is located in the United States
Burning Fork, Kentucky
Burning Fork, Kentucky
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Magoffin
Elevation
899 ft (274 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
41405
GNIS feature ID 507625

Burning Fork is a small, quiet place in Magoffin County, Kentucky, in the United States. It's not a city or a town with its own local government. Instead, it's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and people living together without a separate town council or mayor.

What is an Unincorporated Community?

An unincorporated community is a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own official local government. Unlike a city or town, it doesn't have a mayor or a city council. The services for these communities, like roads or police, are usually managed by the larger county government.

How are They Different?

Think of it like this: a city has its own rules and leaders just for that city. An unincorporated community follows the rules of the county it's in. This can sometimes mean fewer local taxes, but also fewer local services.

Where is Burning Fork Located?

Burning Fork is found in the eastern part of Kentucky, a state in the southeastern United States. Specifically, it's in Magoffin County. This area is known for its beautiful hills and natural landscapes.

Geographic Details

The community is located at a specific point on the map: 37 degrees, 44 minutes, 0 seconds North latitude and 83 degrees, 1 minute, 24 seconds West longitude. It sits at an elevation of about 899 feet (274 meters) above sea level.

Why is it Called Burning Fork?

The name "Burning Fork" has a very interesting story! It comes from a natural event that happened long ago. There was a natural gas vein, which is like a crack in the ground where natural gas comes out. This gas vein somehow caught fire.

The Natural Gas Fire

Imagine gas coming out of the ground and burning like a flame! This natural fire was a unique sight. It burned for many years, giving the area its special name. However, the fire eventually went out. By the year 1865, the flames were no longer visible.

Quick Facts About Burning Fork

Even though it's a small community, Burning Fork has some interesting facts. It uses the ZIP code 41405 for its mail. This helps the postal service deliver letters and packages to the right place.

Time Zone Information

Burning Fork is in the Eastern Time Zone. This means that during most of the year, its time is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5). During Daylight Saving Time in the summer, it shifts to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which is 4 hours behind UTC (UTC-4).

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