Monkey's Eyebrow, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monkey's Eyebrow
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 Monkey's Eyebrow
Location in Kentucky
Monkey's Eyebrow
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Ballard |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CST) |
| GNIS feature ID | 508626 |
Monkey's Eyebrow is a small, rural community in Ballard County, Kentucky, United States. It's not a big city, but an area without its own local government. This unique place is in the far northwestern part of Kentucky. It's often shown on highway maps for the western Kentucky area.
The community is part of the larger Paducah, KY-IL area. People often wonder how Monkey's Eyebrow got its very unusual name. There are a few interesting stories and theories about its origin.
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Exploring Monkey's Eyebrow
Long ago, there were actually two parts of Monkey's Eyebrow. People called them "Old Monkey" and "New Monkey." One part was at the top of a small hill, and the other was at the bottom. Both locations used to have stores where people could buy things. Today, however, there are no stores left in the community.
About 30 years ago, the local newspaper, the Advance Yeoman, wrote about the area. It said that Monkey's Eyebrow got its special name around the year 1900. A fun activity nearby is visiting the state-controlled Ballard County Wildlife Management Area. In the winter, many people enjoy goose hunting in Monkey's Eyebrow.
A common joke in this part of Kentucky is about giving directions to Paducah. People might say it's "halfway between Monkey's Eyebrow and Possum Trot." Possum Trot is another tiny community in Marshall County.
The community was also often mentioned on the local TV station, WPSD-TV. When the station signed off, it would say its broadcast tower was located in Monkey's Eyebrow. This tower is very tall, measuring 1,638-foot-tall (499 m).
How Monkey's Eyebrow Got Its Name
Monkey's Eyebrow is famous for its very unusual place name. Many people are curious about how it got such a strange and memorable name. There are a few different ideas about its origin.
Looking Like a Monkey's Head
One popular idea is that the area looks like a monkey's head. If you look at a map of Ballard County, or see the area from an airplane, some say it resembles a monkey. Monkey's Eyebrow is located exactly where the monkey's eyebrow would be on this "map monkey." Another similar theory suggests that if you stand on a nearby hill, the shape of the town below looks like a monkey's eyebrow.
The Story of the Unfriendly Neighbor
Another interesting story about the town's name dates back before 1900. It's said that a man living in the community didn't like his neighbors. He would travel to nearby Needmore to get his supplies. He did this instead of going to the local general store and blacksmith shop. This shop was built and owned by two men named John and Dodge Ray.
The story goes that this man thought the local store was "only fit for a bunch of monkeys." He also supposedly thought that the store owners, John and Dodge Ray, looked like monkeys. He even said their eyebrows resembled those of a monkey. Some versions of this story also add that the man thought the brush on Beeler Hill, located above the store, looked like monkey eyebrows.
Famous People from Monkey's Eyebrow
Even though it's a small community, a few notable people have connections to Monkey's Eyebrow.
- Kelsey Waldon is a country music singer. She grew up right here in Monkey's Eyebrow.
- Paul Watson is a musician. He was born in Monkey's Eyebrow.
