Whitesburg, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitesburg, Kentucky
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Downtown Whitesburg
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Location in Letcher County, Kentucky
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Letcher |
| Incorporated | March 6, 1876 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.20 sq mi (8.30 km2) |
| • Land | 3.13 sq mi (8.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,171 ft (357 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,773 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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1,711  |
| • Density | 554.1/sq mi (213.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
41858
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| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-82776 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0506678 |
Whitesburg is a city in Kentucky, United States. It is the main town and county seat of Letcher County. In 2020, about 1,773 people lived there. The city was named after John D. White. He was a state politician who helped create Letcher County.
Contents
History of Whitesburg
Whitesburg was started in 1842. Stephen Hiram Hogg gave land to build the county seat there. It was first called Summit City. Later, it was renamed for John D. White. He was the one who introduced the bill to make Letcher County a real place in the state government.
Geography of Whitesburg
Whitesburg is in the middle of Letcher County. It is located in the valley of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. The city is about 5 miles west of the Kentucky and Virginia border.
Kentucky Route 15 goes through Whitesburg. It leads northwest about 31 miles to Hazard. This route ends in Whitesburg at U.S. Route 119. US 119 goes northeast about 11 miles to U.S. Route 23 at Jenkins. It also goes southwest over Pine Mountain about 20 miles to Cumberland.
The United States Census Bureau says Whitesburg covers about 3.2 square miles. Most of this area, about 3.13 square miles, is land. The rest, about 0.07 square miles, is water.
Whitesburg's Climate
Whitesburg is in a special weather zone. It has parts of both a warm, wet climate and a climate with all four seasons. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy. July is the warmest month, with highs around 85°F and lows around 64°F.
Winters are usually cool or cold, and it snows sometimes. January is the coldest month, with highs around 44°F and lows around 24°F. May gets the most rain, with about 5.83 inches on average. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 97°F in 1998. The coldest was -15°F in 1996.
| Climate data for Whitesburg, Kentucky | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
76 (24) |
84 (29) |
88 (31) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
96 (36) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
91 (33) |
83 (28) |
75 (24) |
97 (36) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
49 (9) |
58 (14) |
67 (19) |
75 (24) |
82 (28) |
85 (29) |
85 (29) |
80 (27) |
69 (21) |
59 (15) |
47 (8) |
67 (19) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24 (−4) |
27 (−3) |
33 (1) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
60 (16) |
64 (18) |
63 (17) |
55 (13) |
43 (6) |
34 (1) |
27 (−3) |
44 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −12 (−24) |
−15 (−26) |
−2 (−19) |
19 (−7) |
30 (−1) |
42 (6) |
51 (11) |
48 (9) |
36 (2) |
24 (−4) |
11 (−12) |
1 (−17) |
−15 (−26) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 4.61 (117) |
4.34 (110) |
4.95 (126) |
4.65 (118) |
5.83 (148) |
3.86 (98) |
4.31 (109) |
3.89 (99) |
3.95 (100) |
3.45 (88) |
4.00 (102) |
4.52 (115) |
52.36 (1,330) |
| Source: The Weather Channel. | |||||||||||||
Population of Whitesburg
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 194 | — | |
| 1910 | 321 | 65.5% | |
| 1920 | 706 | 119.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,804 | 155.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,616 | −10.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,393 | −13.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,774 | 27.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,137 | −35.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,525 | 34.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,636 | 7.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,600 | −2.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,139 | 33.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,773 | −17.1% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 1,711 | −20.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, the city had 1,600 people living in 642 households. About 27% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in the city was 45 years old.
Later, a survey found that the actual population was closer to 3,100 residents. This is because some people living in the city's Housing Project and the Letcher Manor Nursing Home were not counted in the official census.
Education in Whitesburg
Whitesburg has a lending library. It is a part of the Letcher County Library system.
The main office for Letcher County Public Schools is in Whitesburg. The school district runs seven schools. This includes one high school, an alternative education center, and a technology center.
Whitesburg has two schools within its city limits: Whitesburg Elementary and Whitesburg Middle. Letcher County Central High School is just outside the city, in the nearby community of Ermine.
Media in Whitesburg
Whitesburg's main newspaper is The Mountain Eagle. It was started in 1907. The Gish family has owned this weekly paper since 1956. The Eagle has won many awards. It is known for its reporting on strip mining and its effects on the environment. It also covers education and political corruption.
Whitesburg's oldest radio station is WTCW-AM/WXKQ-FM. It is located about 5 miles outside the city, near Mayking. The public radio station for Whitesburg, WMMT, is located at Appalshop in downtown Whitesburg.
Arts and Culture in Whitesburg
Whitesburg is home to Appalshop. This is a group that helps people share stories and teach others about the Appalachian region.
- Country Music Highway Road Rally - This event is for old cars. It starts in Greenup, Kentucky, and goes all the way along U.S. 23 in Kentucky. It finishes in Whitesburg. It happens in October when the leaves change color. Many people come to see the sights. Every county along the route has at least one country music artist from there.
- Cowan Creek Mountain Music School - This school offers week-long classes. You can learn banjo, guitar, fiddle, square dance, storytelling, and singing. It takes place in late June in Cowan and Whitesburg. Both kids and adults can join.
- Letcher County Marching Invitational - On the last Saturday of October, the Letcher County Central High School Marching Band hosts a competition. Marching bands from Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee come to compete.
- Riverside Days - This is a three-day event held at Riverside Park in Whitesburg. It features country music stars, local performers, bluegrass, gospel, and rock music. There are also food and craft booths, rides, and games.
- The Mountain Heritage Festival - This fall festival happens every year on the last weekend of September. It includes talent shows, concerts, arts and crafts, food, a parade, and a window display contest.
Notable People from Whitesburg
- Margaret Katherine Banks - She was the 26th president of Texas A&M University.
- Harry M. Caudill - An author, historian, lawyer, and environmentalist.
- Jessamyn Duke - A former martial arts fighter and professional wrestler.
- Emery L. Frazier - A former mayor and Chief Clerk of the U.S. Senate.
- Tom Gish - The publisher of The Mountain Eagle newspaper.
- Goebel Ritter - A player for the New York Knicks basketball team.
- Lee Sexton - A traditional Appalachian banjo musician.
- Robb Webb - A well-known voice artist.
See also
In Spanish: Whitesburg (Kentucky) para niños
