Earlington, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earlington, Kentucky
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Loch Mary Reservoir in Earlington
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Location of Earlington in Hopkins County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Hopkins |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.94 sq mi (7.62 km2) |
| • Land | 2.82 sq mi (7.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2) |
| Elevation | 423 ft (129 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,257 |
| • Density | 445.59/sq mi (172.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
42410
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| Area code(s) | 270 & 364 |
| FIPS code | 21-23230 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0491420 |
Earlington is a small city in Hopkins County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is known for its history as a coal mining town. In 2020, about 1,257 people lived there.
Contents
History of Earlington
Earlington was started in 1870 by the St. Bernard Coal Company. It was named a year later after John Baylis Earle. He was the person who first started digging at Hopkins County's first commercial coal mine. Earle was a lawyer who helped grow the coal industry in the area.
Soon after the town began, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad finished its line to Earlington. This railroad became the main way to transport coal. Earlington quickly grew as a major coal center. It also became important for the L&N railroad's operations.
Early Development and John B. Atkinson
Much of Earlington's early growth is thanks to John B. Atkinson. He was the second president of the St. Bernard Coal Company. Atkinson moved to Kentucky in 1871 to manage the mining work in Earlington. He later became the company president.
Because Atkinson used to be a teacher, he cared a lot about schools in Earlington. The St. Bernard company paid for new, modern buildings for both grade schools and high schools. The town also offered homes, a library, an arboretum (a place with many different trees), and churches. Earlington was also one of the first towns in the region to have electricity. This was unusual for Western Kentucky at the time.
Changes Over Time
Earlington grew quickly for its first 40 years. Many black coal miners worked there. Around World War I, larger companies took over many smaller mining operations. This meant that money and decisions moved away from local control. This change affected Earlington and other mining towns. Also, machines started doing many mining jobs, which meant fewer workers were needed.
Another big change for Earlington was when the L&N railroad station closed in the 1960s. Like many coal towns, Earlington's population has gone down a lot over the last 100 years. This happened especially after the mines closed in the 1980s. Today, Earlington is a quiet town. It mainly provides services to local people and to travelers on I-69 and US 41.
Education in Earlington
Until the mid-1970s, Earlington had its own school system. It served students from elementary grades all the way through high school. In 1967, the Earlington Yellowjackets basketball team won the state "Sweet 16" tournament. This was a big deal because most winners were from much larger cities. Earlington is still one of the smallest schools to ever win this tournament in modern times. The team's coach, Bob Fox, was from Earlington. He was later added to the KHSAA Hall of Fame.
School System Merger
Later, the city school board decided to join with the Hopkins County School System. This decision caused some disagreement in the community. Half of the students went to South Hopkins High School, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south. The other half went to West Hopkins High School, about 8 miles (13 km) west. The dividing line for where students went was the railroad tracks that run through town.
Earlington also had a private school. This school was run by Immaculate Conception, the only Roman Catholic church in Earlington. It was the oldest Catholic church in Hopkins County. The school operated off and on from the 1890s until the 1970s. It closed because the building was in bad condition. The school taught students from kindergarten to sixth grade. The old school building has since been torn down.
Geography
Earlington is located next to Madisonville to the north. Madisonville is the county seat (the main city of the county). U.S. Route 41 (Hopkinsville Road) goes through the middle of Earlington. This road leads north 4 miles (6.4 km) to Madisonville and southeast 7 miles (11 km) to Nortonville.
The United States Census Bureau says that Earlington has a total area of about 2.94 square miles (7.62 km2). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 907 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,748 | 92.7% | |
| 1900 | 3,012 | 72.3% | |
| 1910 | 3,931 | 30.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,652 | −7.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,309 | −9.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,858 | −13.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,753 | −3.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,786 | 1.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,321 | −16.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,011 | −13.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,833 | −8.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,649 | −10.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,413 | −14.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,257 | −11.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,649 people living in Earlington. There were 681 households and 439 families. The population density was about 493 people per square mile (190 per km2). The average household had about 2.42 people. The average family had about 3.03 people.
About 26.1% of the people were under 18 years old. About 17.2% were 65 years or older. The average age was 37 years.
Notable People
- Lee T. Todd Jr., former President of the University of Kentucky
See also
In Spanish: Earlington (Kentucky) para niños
