Sharkey, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharkey
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 Sharkey
Location in Kentucky
Sharkey
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Rowan |
| Elevation | 1,040 ft (320 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 515337 |
Sharkey is a small place in Rowan County, Kentucky, United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Sharkey is found where two roads, Kentucky Route 158 and Kentucky Route 801, meet.
How Sharkey Got Its Name
Have you ever wondered how towns get their names? For Sharkey, there's a fun local story! Long ago, the people in this area wanted to set up a post office. To do this, they needed a proper name for their community.
At the very same time, a cock fight was happening nearby. This was a popular event back then. Two roosters were fighting, and their names were "Sharkey" and "Shanghai." The people decided to name their new post office, and later the whole community, after the rooster that won the fight. Guess what? The rooster named Sharkey was the winner! That's how this small community got its unique name.
Life in Sharkey Today
Today, Sharkey is a quiet community. It has one church where people gather and one store for daily needs. In 1996, there were fewer than 150 homes, or "households," in Sharkey. Now, there are about 400 households, meaning more families live there.
A big reason for this growth is a new road connection. An exit from the interstate highway, called the "Farmers-Sharkey Exit," opened on Route 801. This made it much easier for people to get to and from Sharkey, helping the community grow and welcome new residents.
