Jenkins, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jenkins, Kentucky
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City
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Downtown Jenkins
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Location in Letcher County, Kentucky
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Letcher |
| Incorporated | January 9, 1912 |
| Named for | the director of a local coal company |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.88 sq mi (22.99 km2) |
| • Land | 8.85 sq mi (22.91 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,539 ft (469 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,902 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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1,830 |
| • Density | 215.04/sq mi (83.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
41537
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| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-40312 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0495200 |
Jenkins is a city located in Letcher County, Kentucky, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,902 people lived there. The city was named after George C. Jenkins, a director of the Consolidation Coal Company.
Contents
History of Jenkins
In 1911, the Consolidation Coal Company bought a large piece of land in Kentucky. This land included the area where Jenkins is now. The company planned to build a new town for its workers. They also wanted to extend a railroad line to the area. The town was named Jenkins after one of the company's directors.
Building the town needed many homes and other buildings. So, nine sawmills and two brickyards were set up. A special power generator was built to provide electricity. A temporary narrow-gauge railroad was also built over Pine Mountain. This railroad helped bring supplies to develop the new town.
Jenkins became an official city on January 9, 1912. The coal company even provided its own marshals to help keep law and order.
Baseball in Jenkins
From 1948 to 1951, Jenkins had its own minor league baseball team. They were called the Jenkins Cavaliers. The team played in the Mountain States League. Their home games were played at the Jenkins Athletic Field.
Changes in Coal Mining
In 1956, Consolidation Coal sold Jenkins to another company, Bethlehem Steel. Bethlehem Steel continued mining coal until 1988, when they closed the mine.
Women in Mining
In 1973, two women named Diana Baldwin and Anita Cherry were hired as miners in Jenkins. They are thought to be the first women to work underground in a coal mine in the United States. They were also the first female members of the United Mine Workers of America to work inside a mine.
Recent Flooding
In 2020, the area experienced floods. Water flowed over the Elkhorn Lake dam, which is near Jenkins.
Geography of Jenkins
Jenkins is in eastern Letcher County. Its southern border is the state line between Kentucky and Virginia. This border follows the top of Pine Mountain.
Two main roads, U.S. Route 23 and U.S. Route 119, pass through Jenkins. U.S. Route 23 goes north to Pikeville and south to Norton, Virginia. U.S. Route 119 goes southwest to Whitesburg, which is the county seat of Letcher County.
The city covers about 23 square kilometers (8.88 square miles). Most of this area is land. Jenkins is located in the valley of Elkhorn Creek. This creek flows into the Russell Fork, which is part of the Big Sandy River system. The Big Sandy River eventually flows north into the Ohio River.
People in Jenkins
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 4,707 | — | |
| 1930 | 8,495 | 80.5% | |
| 1940 | 9,428 | 11.0% | |
| 1950 | 6,921 | −26.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,202 | −53.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,552 | −20.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,271 | 28.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,751 | −15.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,401 | −12.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,203 | −8.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,902 | −13.7% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 1,830 | −16.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,401 people living in Jenkins. There were 968 households, and 671 families. The population density was about 281 people per square mile.
About 25.4% of the people in Jenkins were under 18 years old. About 14.7% were 65 years or older. The average age of people in Jenkins was 38 years.
Education in Jenkins
Jenkins has a lending library. It is a branch of the Letcher County Library system.
The city also has its own school district, called Jenkins Independent Schools. This district serves Jenkins and the nearby community of Burdine. The district operates two schools: Jenkins Middle High School and Burdine Elementary.
Arts and Culture in Jenkins
The David A. Zegeer Coal-Railroad Museum is located in Jenkins. It is housed in an old railroad building. The museum teaches visitors about the history of coal mining and railroads in the area.
Jenkins also hosts an annual event called Jenkins Homecoming Days. This festival usually takes place in August. It brings the community together for celebrations.
Notable People from Jenkins
Many interesting people have come from Jenkins, including:
- Kenny Baker – A famous fiddle player who was part of the Bluegrass Boys band.
- Matt Figger – A basketball coach at Austin Peay University.
- Darwin K. Kyle – A recipient of the Medal of Honor, a very brave award.
- Francis Gary Powers – A CIA pilot whose spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. His story was shown in the movie Bridge of Spies.
- Gary Stewart – A talented country musician and songwriter.
- Milt Ticco – An All-American basketball player for the University of Kentucky. He also played professionally in the early National Basketball League.
