Poverty, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Poverty, Kentucky
|
|
|---|---|
 Poverty, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
Poverty, Kentucky
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | McLean |
| Elevation | 400 ft (100 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 508866 |
Poverty is a small, quiet place in McLean County, Kentucky, United States. It's not a town with a mayor or a city council. Instead, it's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that aren't officially part of a city or town.
Contents
What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government. It's usually managed by the county it's in. These places often don't have clear boundaries like cities do.
Where is Poverty Located?
Poverty is found in McLean County, which is in the state of Kentucky. Kentucky is in the southeastern part of the United States. The community sits at an elevation of about 400 feet (122 meters) above sea level.
How Poverty Got Its Unusual Name
Poverty is famous for its very unusual name. Most places are named after important people, local features, or historical events. But Poverty got its name in a rather unique way.
The Story Behind the Name
A local doctor named William Short was the one who gave Poverty its name. He really didn't like some of his neighbors. These neighbors had formed a group they called "the Social Circle." Being a member of this group made them feel very important and special.
Dr. Short thought they were snobbish, meaning they acted like they were better than everyone else. So, he decided to name the community "Poverty" as a way to insult them. He wanted to suggest that their "high social status" was actually quite poor or lacking. It was a clever, if a bit mean, way to show his feelings!
