Kettle Island, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kettle Island, Kentucky
|
|
|---|---|
 Kettle Island, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Bell |
| Elevation | 1,122 ft (342 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
40958
|
| Area code(s) | 606 |
| GNIS feature ID | 495702 |
Kettle Island is a small place in Bell County, Kentucky, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that don't have their own local government like a city or town. Kettle Island was also known as a "coal town" because coal mining was very important there.
Contents
About Kettle Island
Kettle Island is a small community in Kentucky. It is located in Bell County. It is not a big city or town. Instead, it is an "unincorporated community." This means it is a place where people live and work. However, it does not have its own city hall or mayor.
Where is Kettle Island?
Kettle Island is found in the eastern part of Kentucky. It is about 5.35 miles (8.61 km) east-northeast of Pineville. You can find it near Kentucky Route 1630 and Kentucky Route 221.
What is a Coal Town?
Kettle Island was once known as a "coal town." This means that coal mining was a very important industry there. Many people in the community worked in the coal mines. The town grew because of the coal business.
Mail and Trains
Kettle Island has its own post office. It uses the ZIP code 40958. This post office first opened a long time ago, on March 15, 1912. The community also had a train station. This station was part of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Trains were important for moving coal and people.
How Kettle Island Got Its Name
There are two main ideas about how Kettle Island got its name. Both stories involve an "island" in a place called Straight Creek.
- One idea is that early settlers used a large kettle. They would do their laundry in this kettle on an island in the creek.
- Another idea is that hunters used an iron kettle. They placed it on the same island. It served as a landmark to help them find their way.
A Look Back in Time
Kettle Island has a history connected to the coal industry. In 1930, there was an event at the Pioneer Mine in Kettle Island. A mine explosion happened there. Sadly, 16 miners lost their lives. This was a difficult time for the community.
