Packard, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Packard, Kentucky
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 Packard, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Whitley |
| Elevation | 1,076 ft (328 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 514412 |
Packard is a fascinating ghost town located in Whitley County, Kentucky, in the United States. It's about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Williamsburg. A ghost town is a place where almost everyone has left, often because the main reason for the town's existence disappeared.
Packard began around 1900 as a mining camp. It was founded by the Thomas B. Mahan family. At its busiest, nearly 400 people lived there.
Contents
A Town Built on Coal
Packard was a coal town, meaning its main purpose was to support coal mining. The town and the Packard Coal Company were both named after Amelia Packard, a school teacher from Whitley County.
Life in Packard revolved around the coal mine. The town had a railway station on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, which was important for transporting coal. It also had its own post office, which opened on November 27, 1908.
Challenges for Miners
Life for miners in Packard could be tough. In 1917, a writer for a miners' newspaper described how there was only one store nearby, owned by the coal company. This meant prices for goods were very high. The town was also quite isolated, deep in a valley surrounded by large mountains.
Despite these challenges, official inspections in 1920 found the conditions in and around three Packard mines to be satisfactory.
Protecting the Mines
In 1922, there were some disagreements between the mine workers and the company. After a building at the mine called a tipple (used for loading coal) was burned, the governor sent two groups of the National Guard to Packard. The National Guard is a part of the U.S. armed forces that can be called upon to help in different situations, like protecting property or keeping peace.
Sometimes, coal companies would pay their workers with "company scrip" instead of regular money. This scrip could only be used at the company store, which meant workers had to buy everything from the company.
Famous Connection
A famous person was born in Packard! The well-known actress Patricia Neal was born there in 1926. She went on to have a long and successful career in movies and on stage.
The End of Packard
Packard remained a living town until the mid-1940s. By then, most of the coal in the area had been mined out. Without the coal, there was no longer a reason for the town to exist. People moved away to find work elsewhere, and Packard slowly became the abandoned place it is today.
