Cannel City, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cannel City, Kentucky
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 Cannel City, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
Cannel City, Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Morgan |
| Elevation | 892 ft (272 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
41408
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| GNIS feature ID | 488881 |
Cannel City is a small community located in Morgan County, Kentucky, in the United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of the larger county area. You can find Cannel City along Route 191. It is south of West Liberty, which is the main town in Morgan County.
Contents
A Look Back at Cannel City's History
Cannel City wasn't always a quiet place. It used to be a very busy and important community. Its history is closely tied to the coal mining industry and the railway that served it.
The Rise of a Coal Town
In the early 1900s, Cannel City was a booming place. This was because of the valuable cannel coal found in the area. Cannel coal is a special type of coal that burns very brightly. The Cannel Coal Company operated a mine here. This mine brought many jobs and people to the community.
The Ohio and Kentucky Railway
A big change happened in 1901 when the Ohio and Kentucky railway tracks were built. These tracks ran right through Cannel City. The railway was super important because it helped transport the mined coal. It also brought supplies and people to the growing community.
Life in Busy Cannel City
During its busiest years, Cannel City was a lively place. It had many buildings and services that you might expect in a small town.
What Cannel City Had
The community was home to several grocery stores where people could buy food. There was also a hardware store for tools and supplies. A post office helped people send and receive mail. The town even had its own bank and a blacksmith shop. For visitors, there was an elegant hotel called The DeLancy.
A Well for the Trains
An interesting piece of history still stands today. A well, over 100 years old, was used by the trains. Steam engines needed a lot of water to run. This well provided the water for the trains to fill their engines.
Bigger Than the County Seat?
At one point, Cannel City was actually larger than West Liberty. West Liberty is the main town in Morgan County. Cannel City had more people and more buildings. This shows just how important the coal mine and railway were to its growth.
The Decline of Cannel City
Sadly, the good times didn't last forever for Cannel City. The resources that made it thrive eventually ran out.
Coal and Timber Depletion
The main reason for the decline was that the Cannel Coal Company's resources became depleted. This means they had mined almost all the coal. At the same time, the forestry resources of the Licking River also played out. The trees were all cut down. Without coal and timber, the main industries of the area disappeared.
The Last Train Ride
With no more coal to transport, the railway's purpose ended. On November 1, 1933, the very last train trip was made on the Ohio and Kentucky Junction Railroad-Cannel City Line. After that, the tracks were removed. A train depot, which was once at the end of Highway 134, is now gone. It used to be where Highway 134 meets Highway 191 today.
Cannel City Today
Even after the mine closed and the railway left, Cannel City continued to exist. It became a much smaller community. However, it still managed to survive through tough times. Today, Cannel City remains a quiet, unincorporated community in Morgan County, Kentucky.
