Elkhorn City, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elkhorn City, Kentucky
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City
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Former high school
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| Nickname(s):
"Gateway to the Breaks"
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Location of Elkhorn City in Pike County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Pike |
| Incorporated | November 4, 1912 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.72 sq mi (19.99 km2) |
| • Land | 7.72 sq mi (19.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,693 ft (516 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,035 |
| • Density | 134.07/sq mi (51.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
41522
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| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-24382 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403554 |
| Website | http://www.elkhorncity.org/ |
Elkhorn City is a small city in Pike County, Kentucky. In 2020, about 1,035 people lived there. It's known for being very close to the beautiful Breaks Interstate Park.
Contents
History of Elkhorn City
Elkhorn City was first settled around 1810 by William Ramey from North Carolina. However, the famous explorer Daniel Boone explored this area even earlier, in 1767–1768. He took his first steps in what is now Kentucky near Elkhorn City during a hunting trip.
How Elkhorn City Got Its Name
The town was first called "Elkhorn." This name came from an elk's horn found near a creek, which was also named Elkhorn. But there was already another town called "Elk Horn" in Taylor County. To avoid confusion, the town needed a new name.
In 1882, the post office was renamed "Praise." This name came from "Camp Praise-the-Lord." This was a tent camp set up by a religious speaker named George O. Barnes for a special meeting in 1881.
In 1907, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway built a train station in Praise. They named this station "Elkhorn City." Even though Elkhorn City officially became a city on November 4, 1912, the local post office kept the name "Praise" until 1952. After people in the town asked for a change, the post office finally became "Elkhorn City" too.
In 2009, the nearby town of Cedarville joined with Elkhorn City.
Geography and Nature
Elkhorn City is located in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky. It's a place with many amazing natural features. These features make it a popular spot for tourists in Kentucky.
Rivers and Outdoor Adventures
The Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River flows right through the middle of Elkhorn City. This river is famous for whitewater rafting. It has rapids that range from easy (Class II) to very challenging (Class VI).
Pine Mountain Trail
Elkhorn City is also at the northern end of Pine Mountain. It's also the start of the Pine Mountain Trail. When this trail is finished, it will stretch all the way from the Breaks Interstate Park to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. It follows the top of Pine Mountain.
Elkhorn City is the easternmost city in Kentucky. Other places like Freeburn and Phelps are further east, but they are not officially cities.
Climate
The weather in Elkhorn City has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
| Climate data for Elkhorn City, Kentucky | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
83 (28) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
101 (38) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
90 (32) |
85 (29) |
80 (27) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42 (6) |
47 (8) |
56 (13) |
66 (19) |
73 (23) |
80 (27) |
83 (28) |
82 (28) |
77 (25) |
67 (19) |
57 (14) |
45 (7) |
65 (18) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23 (−5) |
26 (−3) |
32 (0) |
40 (4) |
49 (9) |
59 (15) |
63 (17) |
62 (17) |
55 (13) |
43 (6) |
33 (1) |
26 (−3) |
43 (6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) |
−12 (−24) |
−3 (−19) |
21 (−6) |
25 (−4) |
40 (4) |
40 (4) |
45 (7) |
34 (1) |
19 (−7) |
9 (−13) |
−11 (−24) |
−14 (−26) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.19 (81) |
3.20 (81) |
3.43 (87) |
4.06 (103) |
4.89 (124) |
4.50 (114) |
5.20 (132) |
3.86 (98) |
3.14 (80) |
2.82 (72) |
2.91 (74) |
3.27 (83) |
44.47 (1,129) |
| Source: The Weather Channel. | |||||||||||||
People of Elkhorn City
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 100 | — | |
| 1900 | 87 | −13.0% | |
| 1910 | 94 | 8.0% | |
| 1920 | 821 | 773.4% | |
| 1930 | 996 | 21.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,030 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,349 | 31.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,085 | −19.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,081 | −0.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,446 | 33.8% | |
| 1990 | 813 | −43.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,060 | 30.4% | |
| 2010 | 982 | −7.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,035 | 5.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 982 people living in Elkhorn City. Most of the people (99.0%) were White. A small number were Black (0.3%), from other races (0.2%), or from two or more races (0.3%). About 0.2% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, there were 1,060 people and 437 households. About 26% of households had children under 18. Many households (49.2%) were married couples. The average household had 2.22 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 18.6% were under 18. About 24.8% were 65 or older. The average age in the city was 45 years old.
Education
Elkhorn City has a lending library. It is a part of the Pike County Public Library system.
Notable People
- Patty Loveless, a famous country music singer
- Robert H. Reed, a General in the United States Air Force
