Corbin, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Corbin, Kentucky
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City
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Downtown Corbin, Kentucky, from North Kentucky Street, looking South down Main Street
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Location of Corbin in Whitley County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Kentucky | ||||
| Counties | Whitley, Knox, Laurel | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Mayor-commission | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 7.99 sq mi (20.70 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 7.95 sq mi (20.59 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 1,119 ft (341 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,856 | ||||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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9,012 | ||||
| • Density | 988.42/sq mi (381.64/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP codes |
40701-40702
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| Area code(s) | 606 | ||||
| FIPS code | 21-17362 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 2404128 | ||||
| Website | corbin-ky.gov | ||||
Corbin is a city in southeastern Kentucky, United States. It is located across three different counties: Whitley, Knox, and Laurel. In 2020, about 7,856 people lived there.
Corbin is easy to reach because it's right on Interstate 75 and US Route 25W. It's located almost exactly halfway between the cities of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Lexington, Kentucky.
Contents
- Exploring Corbin's Past: A Look at its History
- Understanding Corbin's Location: Geography and Climate
- Corbin's People: Demographics and Community Life
- Corbin's Economy: From Railroads to New Industries
- Corbin's Culture: Festivals, Food, and Fun
- Learning in Corbin: Schools and Education
- Getting Around Corbin: Transportation
- Places to Visit: Sites of Interest in and Around Corbin
- Corbin in the News: Media Outlets
- Famous Faces from Corbin: Notable People
- See also
Exploring Corbin's Past: A Look at its History
The first settlement in this area was called Lynn Camp Station. Later, the first post office was named Cummins, after its founder, Nelson Cummins. In 1885, it was found that both "Cummins" and "Lynn Camp" were already used for other post offices in Kentucky. So, the postmaster, James Eaton, chose a new name: Corbin. He named it after a local minister, Rev. James Corbin Floyd. The town officially became a city in 1905.
Corbin's history includes a difficult time in October 1919. During this event, many of the town's black residents were forced to leave. For many years after, the town had a policy that made it difficult for black residents to live there. In 2019, the city leaders officially recognized this past event. They made a statement acknowledging the riot and the town's former policies. This shows the community's effort to learn from its history.
For a long time, parts of Corbin in Laurel County were not officially part of the city. This was because of a state law that said cities could only be in two counties. However, a new law in 2021 changed this. It allowed cities to add land in a third county if they already provided services there. In March 2022, Corbin officially added property in Laurel County to its city limits.
Understanding Corbin's Location: Geography and Climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, Corbin covers about 7.9 square miles (20.7 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area, about 0.044 square miles (0.11 square kilometers), is water.
Corbin is located in the Cumberland Plateau region. This area is part of the larger Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Kentucky. Interstate 75 and U.S. Route 25W both pass through the city. I-75 connects Corbin north to Lexington (about 89 miles) and south to Knoxville (about 86 miles). U.S. 25W goes through the center of town. It leads north to London (about 14 miles) and south to Williamsburg (about 21 miles).
A geologic fault system, called the Pine Mountain Overthrust Fault, is a few miles east of Corbin. This fault can cause small tremors sometimes. The most recent one happened in 2008.
Corbin's Weather: A Humid Subtropical Climate
Corbin has a humid subtropical climate, which is common in southeastern Kentucky. This means the area experiences all four seasons. Winters are usually cool or cold, but sometimes they have mild days. Summers are generally hot and humid. Spring and fall seasons can vary. It rains throughout the year, but more rain falls in the summer months. The mountains around Corbin help to make its climate a bit milder.
| Climate data for Corbin, Kentucky | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) |
81 (27) |
87 (31) |
90 (32) |
91 (33) |
106 (41) |
101 (38) |
102 (39) |
97 (36) |
92 (33) |
82 (28) |
78 (26) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
49 (9) |
58 (14) |
68 (20) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
86 (30) |
85 (29) |
79 (26) |
69 (21) |
58 (14) |
48 (9) |
66.8 (19.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
36 (2) |
43 (6) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
66 (19) |
64 (18) |
57 (14) |
44 (7) |
36 (2) |
29 (−2) |
45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−11 (−24) |
−12 (−24) |
19 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
34 (1) |
45 (7) |
44 (7) |
32 (0) |
18 (−8) |
2 (−17) |
−17 (−27) |
−25 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.01 (102) |
3.72 (94) |
4.61 (117) |
4.01 (102) |
4.69 (119) |
4.24 (108) |
4.39 (112) |
3.36 (85) |
3.37 (86) |
2.80 (71) |
3.90 (99) |
4.31 (109) |
47.41 (1,204) |
| Source: The Weather Channel. | |||||||||||||
Corbin's People: Demographics and Community Life
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,544 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,589 | 67.7% | |
| 1920 | 3,406 | 31.6% | |
| 1930 | 8,036 | 135.9% | |
| 1940 | 7,893 | −1.8% | |
| 1950 | 7,744 | −1.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,119 | −8.1% | |
| 1970 | 7,474 | 5.0% | |
| 1980 | 8,075 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,419 | −8.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,742 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 7,304 | −5.7% | |
| 2020 | 7,856 | 7.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 7,856 | 7.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Corbin is part of a larger area called the Corbin, Kentucky micropolitan area. This area includes Corbin and nearby communities. In 2010, the total population of this combined area was about 94,486 people.
In 2010, there were 7,304 people living in Corbin. There were 3,093 households, and 1,903 families. The population density was about 920 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Corbin (97.41%) were White. Other groups included African American (0.26%), Native American (0.31%), and Asian (0.64%). About 1.19% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 29.8% of households had children under 18. Many households (41.3%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.27 people, and the average family had 2.91 people. The median age in Corbin was 41.6 years old.
Corbin's Economy: From Railroads to New Industries
For a long time, the L&N Railroad was very important to Corbin's economy. It helped the city grow in the first half of the 20th century. Today, the railroad (now CSX) is still important. However, as the rail industry changed and some manufacturing jobs were lost, Corbin has been working to bring in new types of businesses and jobs. This helps to make the local economy stronger and more varied.
Corbin's Culture: Festivals, Food, and Fun
Every year in early August, Corbin hosts a special festival called NIBROC. This name is "Corbin" spelled backward! The festival features outdoor concerts, carnival rides, a beauty pageant, and a parade. It's a big event for the community. NIBROC often has free performances by popular music groups.
Corbin is famous for its connection to Kentucky Fried Chicken. The chain's very first restaurant was opened here in 1930 by Colonel Harland Sanders. You can still visit the Harland Sanders Café and Museum in North Corbin. It's a popular stop for tourists traveling on Interstate 75.
Learning in Corbin: Schools and Education
Corbin has its own independent school system. This means it's a public school system that is not part of the county's schools. The district started in 1916. The community and schools focus a lot on student success in academics and sports. The Corbin "Redhound" sports teams are very important social events in the community.
The Corbin Independent School District includes:
- Corbin Preschool Center
- Corbin Primary (grades K-3)
- Corbin Elementary (grades 4–5)
- Corbin Middle (grades 6–8)
- Corbin High (grades 9–12)
- Corbin School Of Innovation
In 2004, Eastern Kentucky University opened a campus in Corbin. This gives local students more options for higher education.
Corbin also has a lending library, the Corbin Public Library.
Getting Around Corbin: Transportation
Corbin is located right on Interstate 75. It is also served by U.S. Highway 25, which splits into US 25E and US 25W in North Corbin. The city also has a CSX rail line, which is important for moving goods.
Places to Visit: Sites of Interest in and Around Corbin
- Cumberland Falls State Resort Park: This park is about 19 miles southwest of Corbin. It's home to a beautiful waterfall called Cumberland Falls. This waterfall is special because it's one of the few in the Western Hemisphere that regularly creates a moonbow (a rainbow made by moonlight).
- Harland Sanders Café and Museum: Located in North Corbin, this is where Kentucky Fried Chicken first started. The restaurant and museum are popular with tourists.
- The Arena at the Southeastern Kentucky Ag and Expo Complex: This is a large multi-purpose building used for various events. It also houses the Corbin Tourism office.
- Nearby Laurel River Lake: This lake was created in 1974 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It's a great place for fun activities like boating, fishing, water skiing, and scuba diving.
- Cumberland Gap and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: These historic sites are about 50 miles south of Corbin. They are important places in American history.
Corbin in the News: Media Outlets
Newspapers
- The Times-Tribune: A newspaper published on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- News Journal: A weekly newspaper that covers Corbin and the Whitley County, Kentucky area.
Radio
- WCTT AM 680 (Great 68; Oldies music)
- WKDP AM 1330
- WEKF FM 88.5 (Eastern Kentucky University's radio station)
- WVCT FM 91.5 (Gospel Eagle; Southern Gospel music)
- WKDP FM 99.5 (Country music)
- WCTT FM 107.3 (T-107; Adult Contemporary music)
- WRHR-LPFM 95.3 (also known as Corbin's Own Red 95.3; broadcast by Corbin High School)
TV
- WVTN (Channel 22 Time Warner Cable): A religious channel from Corbin.
- RBS (Channel 18 Time Warner Cable): Provides information about the Corbin school district.
- YHC (Channel 21 on Time Warner Cable): Shows local business ads and plays Contemporary Christian Music.
Famous Faces from Corbin: Notable People
- Rodger Bird: A football player.
- Ted Cremer: A football player.
- Debbie Dean: A pop singer.
- Richie Farmer: A former basketball player.
- Silas House: A writer.
- Roy Kidd: A retired football coach and member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was born, raised, and lives in Corbin.
- Arthur Lake: An actor known for playing Dagwood Bumstead.
- Ronni Lundy: A food and music writer.
- George McAfee: A football player and NFL Hall of Fame inductee.
- Dan Neal: A football player.
- Colonel Harland Sanders: The founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
- Frank Selvy: A basketball player.
- B. F. Shelton: An old-time banjo player.
- Jarrett Stidham: A quarterback who played for Baylor University, Auburn University, and the New England Patriots.
- Trent Taylor: An NFL wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals. He lived in Corbin as a child.
- Mabel Martin Wyrick: A writer.
- Mary Weddle: A professional baseball player.
See also
In Spanish: Corbin (Kentucky) para niños
