Prestonsburg, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prestonsburg, Kentucky
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Front Street
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| Nickname(s):
"Star City of Eastern Kentucky"
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Location of Prestonsburg in Floyd County, Kentucky.
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 Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Kentucky | ||
| County | Floyd | ||
| Established | January 2, 1818 | ||
| Incorporated | March 9, 1867 | ||
| Named for | John Preston, a local landowner | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor-Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 14.75 sq mi (38.20 km2) | ||
| • Land | 14.55 sq mi (37.68 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,681 | ||
| • Estimate
(2022)
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3,791  |
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| • Density | 253.0/sq mi (97.70/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
41653
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| Area code(s) | 606 | ||
| FIPS code | 21-62940 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2404571 | ||
Prestonsburg is a friendly city in Kentucky, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Floyd County. You can find it in the eastern part of Kentucky, nestled in the valley of the Big Sandy River. In 2020, about 3,681 people called Prestonsburg home.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Prestonsburg Started
The land where Prestonsburg now stands was part of a huge grant in the early 1700s. This land was given to the family of John Preston's wife, Elizabeth Patton. The idea was to help the British settle beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains. But, conflicts with French and Native American groups slowed things down.
The first settler, John Spurlock, arrived in 1791. He planned the town of "Preston's Station" in 1797. It became the county seat of Floyd County in 1799. The town was officially established in 1818. Its post office was first called "Floyd Court House." Later, in the 1820s, it was renamed "Prestonsburg."
Important Moments in History
On January 10, 1862, a big battle happened near Prestonsburg. It was the largest Civil War battle in Eastern Kentucky. This event took place at what is now the Middle Creek National Battlefield.
In the late 1930s, Prestonsburg had a special program. It was called the Pack Horse Library Project. Brave librarians on horseback delivered books to people living in the mountains. This helped many rural residents get access to reading materials.
Culture and Fun
The Country Music Highway
U.S. Route 23 runs right through Prestonsburg. This road is famously known as "The Country Music Highway." It celebrates the amazing music history of the region. Many famous country music stars come from the Big Sandy Valley. These include Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, Wynonna Judd, Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T. Hall, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, and Patty Loveless.
Dwight Yoakam even mentions Prestonsburg in his song "Readin', Rightin', Rt. 23." The song is about coal miners hoping for a better life. They traveled up U.S. Route 23 to find jobs in northern factories.
Arts, History, and Science
Prestonsburg is home to the Mountain Arts Center. This center hosts many music concerts. It is also where the Kentucky Opry performs. The Middle Creek National Battlefield is a historic site. It marks the location of a major Civil War battle in Eastern Kentucky.
You can also visit the Samuel May House in Prestonsburg. It is the oldest known brick home in the Big Sandy Valley. Samuel May built it in 1817. During the Civil War, it was used by Confederate forces. They used it to recruit soldiers. The house has been restored and is now a living history museum.
The Jenny Wiley Theatre used to be in Prestonsburg. It offered plays and musicals all year long. Performances took place at the outdoor Jenny Wiley Amphitheater and the Mountain Arts Center. The theatre entertained people for over 40 years.
Prestonsburg also has the East Kentucky Science Center. It opened in 2004. This center has one of the most advanced planetariums in the country. It is a great place to learn about space and science.
Where is Prestonsburg?
Prestonsburg is in the northern part of Floyd County. It sits along the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. It is about 13 miles south of Paintsville. It is also about 25 miles northwest of Pikeville. The city covers an area of about 14.75 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Weather in Prestonsburg
Prestonsburg has a climate with warm summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Prestonsburg, Kentucky | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) |
83 (28) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
101 (38) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
99 (37) |
89 (32) |
87 (31) |
82 (28) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
49 (9) |
60 (16) |
70 (21) |
78 (26) |
86 (30) |
89 (32) |
88 (31) |
81 (27) |
71 (22) |
59 (15) |
48 (9) |
69 (20) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24 (−4) |
26 (−3) |
34 (1) |
41 (5) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
66 (19) |
65 (18) |
57 (14) |
43 (6) |
34 (1) |
27 (−3) |
44 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−16 (−27) |
−4 (−20) |
20 (−7) |
29 (−2) |
36 (2) |
46 (8) |
47 (8) |
35 (2) |
21 (−6) |
13 (−11) |
−10 (−23) |
−26 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.31 (84) |
3.20 (81) |
3.95 (100) |
3.55 (90) |
4.54 (115) |
4.24 (108) |
4.51 (115) |
3.88 (99) |
3.43 (87) |
2.97 (75) |
3.44 (87) |
3.60 (91) |
44.62 (1,133) |
| Source: The Weather Channel. | |||||||||||||
People of Prestonsburg
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 84 | — | |
| 1870 | 179 | — | |
| 1880 | 265 | 48.0% | |
| 1890 | 305 | 15.1% | |
| 1900 | 409 | 34.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,120 | 173.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,667 | 48.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,105 | 26.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,328 | 10.6% | |
| 1950 | 3,585 | 54.0% | |
| 1960 | 3,133 | −12.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,422 | 9.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,011 | 17.2% | |
| 1990 | 3,558 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,612 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 3,255 | −9.9% | |
| 2020 | 3,681 | 13.1% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 3,791 | 16.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,612 people living in Prestonsburg. There were 1,563 households. About 26.4% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in the city was 41 years old.
Learning and Schools
Schools in Prestonsburg are managed by Floyd County Schools.
- Prestonsburg Elementary School
- James D. Adams Middle School
- Prestonsburg High School
- Big Sandy Community & Technical College
Prestonsburg also has a public library. It is a branch of the Floyd County Public Library.
Fun Places to Visit
- Archer Park
- Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
- Sugarcamp Mountain Trails
- The Passage Trail
Famous People from Prestonsburg
Many notable people have connections to Prestonsburg:
- Allison Ball, who served as the Kentucky State Treasurer.
- Bert Combs, who was the 50th Governor of Kentucky.
- Boyd Holbrook, a well-known actor and fashion model.
- Greg Stumbo, a former speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
- Janet Stumbo, a former Justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court.
- John W. Langley, a former US Congressman.
- Andrew J. May, another former US Congressman.
- Leslie Kendrick, the Dean of the University of Virginia Law School.
- Harris S. Howard, a former Judge for the Kentucky Court Of Appeals.
- Harry Hale Ranier, a former NASCAR Owner/Winner Daytona 500.
- Francis A. Hopkins, a former US Congressman.
- William Leonidas Mayo, who founded Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1889.
- Green Haywood Hackworth, a former judge at the International Court of Justice.
