Corbin, Kentucky
| Corbin, Kentucky | |
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| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 36°56′30″N 84°5′44″W / 36.94167°N 84.09556°WCoordinates: 36°56′30″N 84°5′44″W / 36.94167°N 84.09556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| Counties | Whitley, Knox |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Willard McBurney |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.9 sq mi (20.6 km2) |
| • Land | 7.9 sq mi (20.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,079 ft (329 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 7,304 |
| • Density | 920.1/sq mi (355.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 40701-40702 |
| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-17362 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0511536 |
| Website | City Website |
Corbin is a city in Whitley and Knox counties in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. The urbanized area around Corbin extends into Laurel County; this area, known as North Corbin, is not incorporated into the city limits, due to a state law prohibiting cities from being in more than two counties. Much of the North Corbin area is served by the city's public services, however. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,304, with 21,132 living in the "urban cluster" that includes Corbin.
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History [edit]
The post office at the site was originally named Cummins for community founder Nelson Cummins. However, when it was discovered in 1885 that both Cummins and Lynn Camp were already in use as names for Kentucky post offices, postmaster James Eaton was asked to select another name. He chose Corbin, perhaps for James Corbin Floyd, a local minister. (In a copy of the Corbin-Times Tribune published in 1906, James Eaton is quoted as saying he named the town after Rev. James Corbin Floyd, who was "the finest man I know.") The town was incorporated under that name in 1905.
Corbin has a somewhat troubled racial past, including a race riot in 1919, and a sundown town policy until the late 20th century.[1]
Law and government [edit]
Corbin is a fourth-class city governed by a mayor and city commission. Willard McBurney is the current mayor. Suzie Razmus, Joe Shelton, Ed Tye, and Bruce Hodge are its four current Commissioners.[2]
Corbin is one of the few cities in Kentucky which lies in two counties—Whitley and Knox. Many built-up areas in neighboring Laurel County have a Corbin postal address, but lie outside of the city limits. This arrangement has created some problems with taxes, and also the census recordings. The city receives a portion of the occupational tax collected in Whitley County, but Knox County has refused to give Corbin a part of the tax collected there. On March 10, 2008, the City Commission voted to file a lawsuit against Knox County to receive a portion of the tax collected within city limits.[3]
Corbin is located in Kentucky's 5th Congressional District.
Geography [edit]
According to the United States Census Bureau, it has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.6|km|abbr=on}}²), with only a tiny fraction (0.044 square miles/0.11|km|abbr=on}}2, or 0.56%) consisting of water.
Corbin lies in the Cumberland Plateau region of Appalachia in southeastern Kentucky. The Pine Mountain Overthrust Fault, a geologic fault system located several miles to the east, produces occasional tremors, the most recent in 2008.
Climate [edit]
Corbin exhibits a humid subtropical climate, typical of southeastern Kentucky. The region experiences four distinct seasons, Winters are cool to cold, with mild periods. Summers are generally hot and humid, with variable spring and fall seasons. Precipitation is common year round, but more prevalent in the summer months. The climate of Corbin is somewhat moderated by the surrounding mountains.
| Climate data for Corbin, Kentucky | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) |
81 (27) |
87 (31) |
90 (32) |
91 (33) |
98 (37) |
101 (38) |
102 (39) |
97 (36) |
92 (33) |
82 (28) |
78 (26) |
102 (39) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
49 (9) |
58 (14) |
68 (20) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
86 (30) |
85 (29) |
79 (26) |
69 (21) |
58 (14) |
48 (9) |
66.8 (19.3) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 25 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
36 (2) |
43 (6) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
66 (19) |
64 (18) |
57 (14) |
44 (7) |
36 (2) |
29 (−2) |
45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−11 (−24) |
−12 (−24) |
19 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
34 (1) |
45 (7) |
44 (7) |
32 (0) |
18 (−8) |
2 (−17) |
−17 (−27) |
−25 (−32) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 4.01 (101.9) |
3.72 (94.5) |
4.61 (117.1) |
4.01 (101.9) |
4.69 (119.1) |
4.24 (107.7) |
4.39 (111.5) |
3.36 (85.3) |
3.37 (85.6) |
2.80 (71.1) |
3.90 (99.1) |
4.31 (109.5) |
47.41 (1,204.2) |
| Source: The Weather Channel.[4] | |||||||||||||
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,544 |
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| 1910 | 2,589 | 67.7% | |
| 1920 | 8,036 | 210.4% | |
| 1930 | 6,301 | −21.6% | |
| 1940 | 6,318 | 0.3% | |
| 1950 | 6,140 | −2.8% | |
| 1960 | 7,119 | 15.9% | |
| 1970 | 7,474 | 5.0% | |
| 1980 | 8,075 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,419 | −8.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,742 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 7,304 | −5.7% | |
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The Whitley County portion of Corbin is the smaller city of the Corbin-London CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Corbin (Whitley County) and the much larger London (Laurel County) micropolitan areas,[5][6] which had a combined population of 94,486 at the 2010 census.[7] The Knox County portion of Corbin lies outside the Corbin–London statistical area.
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 7,304 people, 3,093 households, and 1,903 families residing in the city. The population density was 920.1 people per square mile (355.3/km²). There were 3,507 housing units at an average density of 441.8 per square mile (170.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.41% White (96.69% non-Hispanic), 0.26% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. No Pacific Islanders lived in the city in 2010. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.19% of the population.
There were 3,093 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.5% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91.
The age distribution was 22.5% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.
Income data from the 2010 Census for Kentucky locations has not yet been released. As of the 2000 Census, the median income for a household in the city was $22,203, and the median income for a family was $32,784. Males had a median income of $27,323 versus $17,568 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,200. About 15.5% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy [edit]
Originally formed by L&N Railroad, rail transport was the backbone of the local economy in the first half of the twentieth century. While the railroad (presently CSX) continues to play an important role, the decline of the rail industry in the latter half of the twentieth century, as well as the loss of some manufacturing jobs due to globalization, has prompted the community to begin diversifying its economy.
Culture [edit]
- Each year in early August, Corbin hosts a festival called NIBROC (Corbin spelled backwards) featuring open-air concerts, carnival attractions, a beauty pageant, parade, and other events. The festival is featured, if anachronistically, in the play Last Train to Nibroc [1] by Arlene Hutton. (Though the play is set in the 1940s, the festival itself only dates to 1952.) Nibroc however does attract some classic musical acts. The festival has brought such legendary acts as Kansas, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, 38 Special, Foghat, Starship, Percy Sledge, The Turtles, and The Marshall Tucker Band just to name a few. These bands perform free to thousands of area residents.
- Despite being in dry counties (Knox and Whitley), the city of Corbin allows full retail alcohol sales, following a successful local option election on February 14, 2012. The city had previously voted in 2004 to allow sales of alcohol by the drink in larger restaurants.[8]
- Corbin is mentioned in the season 4 premiere of Justified. The town's name can been seen on the newspaper being delivered in the opening scene.
- In episode 10 of the American reality-documentary television series On the Road with Austin & Santino on Lifetime entitled "We Love a Parade," the fashion designers visit Corbin to custom design a dress for a local woman participating in the NIBROC parade.
Transportation [edit]
Corbin straddles Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 25 (which splits into 25E and 25W in North Corbin). The town is served by the CSX rail line.
Sites of interest [edit]
- Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, the site of a waterfall that regularly produces a moonbow,[citation needed] is 19 miles (31 km) to the southwest.
- Harland Sanders Café and Museum, the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken (though not sold as the KFC/Kentucky Fried Chicken brand at the time) is located in North Corbin. The restaurant and accompanying museum are popular with tour groups traveling along Interstate 75.
- The Arena at the David L. Williams Southeastern Kentucky Ag and Expo Complex, a multi-purpose venue on top of a hill across from the Baptist Regional Medical Center, near the Tri-County Cineplex
- Nearby Laurel River Lake, created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1974, is a popular recreational site for boating, fishing, water skiing, and scuba diving.
- Cumberland Gap and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park are about 50 miles (80 km) south of Corbin on U.S. Highway 25E at the Tennessee border.
Education [edit]
Corbin, like many communities of its size in southeastern Kentucky, has an independent school system (in Kentucky, a public school system not affiliated with a county; most such districts are associated with individual cities). The Corbin Independent School District includes:
- Corbin Preschool Center
- Corbin Primary (grades K-2)
- Corbin Elementary (grades 3-4)
- Corbin Intermediate (grades 5-6)
- Corbin Middle (grades 7-8)
- Corbin High (grades 9-12)
- Corbin Vocational
The community also places considerable emphasis on the success of its high school athletic teams. "Redhounds" games, especially football, are important social events for many within the community.
In 2004, Eastern Kentucky University opened an extension campus in Corbin.
The annual Battle for the Brass Lantern, a college football rivalry game between University of the Cumberlands and Union College, was played at Corbin High School's stadium in 2006 and 2007, as a neutral field roughly equidistant from the two campuses. The rivalry dates to 1905.[9]
Corbin is also home to Saint Camillus Academy, a private pre-K-8 school affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky. Established in 1908 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, the school has been successful as both a boarding school for national and international students and as a Montessori school. Its original schoolhouse, built in 1913, was demolished in summer 2008. The new school building is still situated atop a prominent hill overlooking the town, providing a striking backdrop to the streets of downtown Corbin.
Media [edit]
Newspapers [edit]
- The Times-Tribune, a daily afternoon newspaper
Radio [edit]
- WCTT AM 680, (Great 68)(Oldies)
- WKDP AM 1330
- WEKF FM 88.5, (Eastern Ky Univ. Affiliate)
- WVCT FM 91.5, (Gospel Eagle)(Southern Gospel)
- WKDP FM 99.5, (Country)
- WCTT FM 107.3, (T-107)(Adult Contemporary)
- WRHR-LPFM 95.3, (Also Known As Corbin's Own Red 95.3)(broadcast by the Corbin High School)
TV [edit]
- WVTN (Channel 22 Time Warner Cable) (religious)(broadcast from Corbin with local and regional churches and religious syndicated programs part of the radio station WVCT 91.5)
- RBS (Channel 18 Time Warner Cable) (Corbin school district information broadcasting the WRHR radio station red 95.3)
- YHC (Channel 21 on Time Warner Cable) (Broadcasts local and regional business infomercials and print on screen ads playing Contemporary Christian Music)
Notable people [edit]
- Colonel Harlan Sanders, entrepreneur and founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain
- Rodger Bird, American football player
- Ensley A. Carpenter, a doctor, who once lived in Corbin, whom the town of Carpenter, Kentucky was named after.
- Ted Cremer, American football player
- Debbie Dean, pop singer, first white solo artist signed to Motown Records.
- Roy Kidd, American football coach, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Arthur Lake, actor who played Dagwood Bumstead in the Blondie movies
- George McAfee, American football player
- Frank Selvy, Basketball Player
- B. F. Shelton, old-timey banjo player
- Mabel Martin Wyrick, Writer
References [edit]
- ^ <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7772527>
- ^ Shelton, Tye re-elected, Joe White loses seat » Elections » TheTimesTribune.com, Corbin, KY
- ^ Swindler, Samantha (2008-03-11). "Corbin to sue Knox County". Times-Tribune. p. 1A.
- ^ "MONTHLY AVERAGES for Corbin, KY". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
- ^ MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS[dead link], Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-08-01.
- ^ COMBINED STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENT CORE BASED STATISTICAL AREAS[dead link], Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-08-01.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Noble, Jeff (February 15, 2012). "Corbin says 'Yes'". The Times-Tribune (Corbin, Kentucky). Retrieved April 8, 2012.
- ^ Corbin/Williamsburg News Journal, Corbin, KY: Moving to Corbin; Battle of Lantern will be played at Campbell Field. By Jim McAllister. July 20, 2006.
External links [edit]
- City of Corbin
- Corbin Economic Development Agency
- Corbin Independent School District
- Corbin, Kentucky at the Open Directory Project
- Historical
- Genealogy of Rev. James Corbin Floyd
- "Kentucky Town Re-Examines Its Racial History", Weekend Edition Saturday, NPR, March 10, 2007
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