Wheelwright, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wheelwright, Kentucky
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Housing on South Main Street
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Location of Wheelwright in Floyd County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Floyd |
| Incorporated | February 6, 1917 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Commission |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.76 sq mi (4.57 km2) |
| • Land | 1.76 sq mi (4.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,237 ft (377 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 509 |
| • Density | 288.71/sq mi (111.45/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
41669
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| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-82272 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405727 |
Wheelwright is a small city located in Floyd County, Kentucky, United States. It is known as a "home rule-class city," which means it has the power to manage its own local government. In 2020, about 509 people lived in Wheelwright.
Contents
History of Wheelwright
Wheelwright was started in 1916 by the Elk Horn Coal Company. It was named after the company's president, Jere H. Wheelwright. This made it a "company town," where the company owned most of the homes and businesses.
After the coal mine closed, the Kentucky Housing Corporation bought the town. They fixed up the houses and sold them to the people living there. This helped the town continue to exist even after the mining stopped.
Geography and Location
Wheelwright is found at the southern end of Floyd County. It sits in a valley near a stream called Right Fork Otter Creek. The city covers an area of about 4.6 square kilometers (1.76 square miles), and all of it is land.
There is only one main road into and out of Wheelwright. This road crosses the Junction Bridge, which is in a nearby place called Bypro. This bridge is also known as "Wheelwright Junction." The original bridge was made of metal, but a new concrete one was built in 1959. Today, this bridge is called the Timothy Hall Memorial Bridge, named in honor of a former City Commissioner.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 506 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,822 | 260.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,027 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,037 | 0.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,518 | −25.5% | |
| 1970 | 793 | −47.8% | |
| 1980 | 865 | 9.1% | |
| 1990 | 721 | −16.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,042 | 44.5% | |
| 2010 | 780 | −25.1% | |
| 2020 | 509 | −34.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The number of people living in Wheelwright has changed a lot over the years. In 1950, the city had its largest population with 2,037 residents. By 2020, the population was 509 people.
In 2000, there were 1,042 people living in Wheelwright. Most households had families, and many had children under 18. The average age of people in the city was 29 years old.
Education in Wheelwright
Students in Wheelwright attend public schools run by Floyd County Schools. The main schools for children living in the city are:
- South Floyd Elementary School
- Floyd Central High School
Local Prison Facility
Wheelwright is also home to a correctional facility. This prison is now called the Southeast State Correctional Complex. It is managed by the Kentucky Department of Corrections. The facility was reopened in September 2020 for male prisoners.
Images for kids
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Housing on South Main Street
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Location of Wheelwright in Floyd County, Kentucky.
See also
In Spanish: Wheelwright (Kentucky) para niños
