Furnace, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Furnace, Kentucky
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 Furnace, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
Furnace, Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Estill |
| Elevation | 1,257 ft (383 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 512266 |
Furnace is a small, unincorporated community located in Estill County, Kentucky, United States. An unincorporated community is a place that does not have its own local government, but is still a recognized area.
History of Furnace
Early Settlers and Iron Mining
When people first settled in this area, they discovered that the land was rich in iron ore. Iron ore is a type of rock that contains iron, which can be melted down and used to make many things.
Around 1830, a special factory called the Estill Steam Furnace was built here. This was a type of blast furnace, which is a huge oven used to melt iron ore at very high temperatures. It helped turn the raw ore into useful iron.
How Furnace Got Its Name
In 1857, a post office was opened in the community. It was named after the Estill Steam Furnace, which was very important to the area.
Later, in 1882, the name was shortened to just "Furnace." This simpler name stuck, and that's what the community is still called today. The post office continued to serve the community until it closed in 1975.
