Royalton, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Royalton, Kentucky
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 Royalton, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
Royalton, Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Magoffin |
| Elevation | 879 ft (268 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
41464
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| Area code(s) | 606 |
| GNIS feature ID | 502439 |
Royalton is a small, unincorporated community in Magoffin County, Kentucky, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a recognized place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Royalton is located along Route 7, southeast of Salyersville. Salyersville is the main town and county seat of Magoffin County. Royalton sits about 879 feet (268 meters) above sea level. Even though it's a small community, it used to have its own post office with the ZIP code 41464.
History
Royalton has an interesting past, especially because of its connection to the lumber and coal industries.
How Royalton Started
Royalton began as a "company town." This means a company built the town mainly for its workers and their families. The Dawkins Lumber Company from Ashland, Kentucky, started Royalton on August 1, 1920. They built a large mill there to process wood. The company received money from the Royal Bank of Canada to help them get started. That's actually where Royalton got its name!
The Railroad and Coal
To move all the lumber, the Dawkins Lumber Company built a special railroad line. It was called the Dawkins Line. After the lumber business moved away, the coal industry became very important in Royalton. A coal "tipple" was built, which is a structure used to load coal onto trains.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway started using the Dawkins Line in 1930 to transport coal. Later, CSX used it too. However, the coal industry eventually moved on from Royalton. The Dawkins Line railroad was sold to R.J. Corman in 2002. It was then closed down in 2004.
After the railroad closed, the old train tracks and land were turned into something new. It became the Dawkins Line Rail Trail, which is a path for walking and biking. This trail opened in 2013.
The Post Office
The Royalton post office first opened on September 20, 1920. For many years, it served the community. However, in 2011, the post office was closed. This was part of a larger plan by the U.S. Postal Service to close thousands of post offices across the country. They did this to save money.
