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Dorton, Kentucky facts for kids

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Dorton
Dorton post office
Dorton post office
Dorton is located in Kentucky
Dorton
Dorton
Location in Kentucky
Dorton is located in the United States
Dorton
Dorton
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Pike
Elevation
1,024 ft (312 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EST)
ZIP codes
41520
Area code(s) 606
GNIS feature ID 491021

Dorton is a small community in southern Pike County, Kentucky, in the United States. It's called an unincorporated community because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Dorton is also known as a coal town because coal mining was very important to its history and economy.

You can find Dorton along U.S. Route 23, which is also known as the Country Music Highway. This community is located where Dorton and Shelby Creeks meet. It's about 13 miles south of a bigger town called Pikeville.

History of Dorton

Dorton was named after a person named William P. Dorton. The community got its own post office a long time ago, on July 2, 1872. The very first person to run the post office was John Bumgardner.

Schools in Dorton

Dorton has its own elementary school, called Dorton Elementary School.

For older students, Dorton High School used to be in the community. However, it closed in 1990. Students from Dorton High School then joined with students from Virgie High School. Together, they formed a new school called Shelby Valley High School.

Most students who live in Dorton attend these schools:

  • Dorton Elementary School
  • Shelby Valley High School
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