Pikeville, Kentucky

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City of Pikeville, Kentucky
—  City  —
Main Street in Pikeville

Seal
Nickname(s): "The City That Moves Mountains"
Motto: For Progress
Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Coordinates: 37°28′38″N 82°31′48″W / 37.47722°N 82.53°W / 37.47722; -82.53Coordinates: 37°28′38″N 82°31′48″W / 37.47722°N 82.53°W / 37.47722; -82.53
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Pike
Incorporated May 6, 1893
Government
 • Type Council/Manager
 • Mayor Franklin D. Justice II
 • City Manager Donovan Blackburn
Area
 • Total 15.4 sq mi (40.0 km2)
 • Land 15.4 sq mi (40.0 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 679 ft (207 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 6,903
 • Density 407.9/sq mi (157.5/km2)
  U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 Population Estimates
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 41501-41502
Area code(s) 606
FIPS code 21-60852
GNIS feature ID 0510155
Website www.cityofpikeville.com www.tourpikecounty.com

Pikeville is a city in Pike County, Kentucky. The population was 6,903 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pike County[1].

Contents

[edit] History

On March 25, 1822, the county's government officials decided to build a new county seat named Liberty, one and one-half mile below the mouth of the Russell Fork River. But some Pike County residents opposed the plan and wanted the county seat to be built at a different location. So the following year, the residents agreed on a location on farm of Elijah Adkins. The new county seat was originally known as Pike or Piketon, but in 1850 it was officially named Pikeville, after explorer Zebulon Pike. On May 6, 1893, Pikeville officially became a city with a charter granted by Kentucky governor John Young Brown.[2][3]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 6,295 people, 2,705 households, and 1,563 families residing in the city. The population density was 408.0 people per square mile (157.5/km²). There were 2,981 housing units at an average density of 193.2 per square mile (74.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.58% White, 2.64% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 2,705 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 39.0% 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 2.14 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 22.2% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,026, and the median income for a family was $36,792. Males had a median income of $42,298 versus $19,306 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,426. About 21.2% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.7% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Geography

Pikeville is located at 37°28′45″N 82°31′08″W / 37.47917°N 82.51889°W / 37.47917; -82.51889 (37.477094, -82.530111). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city covers a total land area of 15.4 square miles (40 km2). As of March, 2009, Pikeville set its new city limits to be 0.3 miles from its main county line. This significantly affected the city of Coal Run Village, which was previously on the city limit of Pikeville.

The city is located in the Appalachian Mountains, along the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. The downtown area is built in a narrow valley in a bend of the Levisa Fork that was bypassed in 1987 with the completion of the Pikeville Cut-Through, while places such as Weddington Square Plaza are built in a broader part of the river valley.

[edit] Climate

Climate data for Pikeville, Kentucky
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 82
(28)
93
(34)
90
(32)
96
(36)
99
(37)
104
(40)
105
(41)
107
(42)
104
(40)
98
(37)
88
(31)
82
(28)
107
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 44
(7)
50
(10)
60
(16)
71
(22)
79
(26)
86
(30)
89
(32)
89
(32)
82
(28)
71
(22)
59
(15)
49
(9)
69
(21)
Average low °F (°C) 24
(−4)
25
(−4)
33
(1)
40
(4)
50
(10)
60
(16)
65
(18)
63
(17)
57
(14)
43
(6)
34
(1)
28
(−2)
44
(7)
Record low °F (°C) −18
(−28)
−7
(−22)
−4
(−20)
21
(−6)
30
(−1)
37
(3)
45
(7)
42
(6)
33
(1)
17
(−8)
6
(−14)
−10
(−23)
−18
(−28)
Precipitation inches (mm) 3.72
(94.5)
3.25
(82.6)
3.85
(97.8)
3.66
(93)
3.96
(100.6)
4.09
(103.9)
4.20
(106.7)
4.20
(106.7)
3.27
(83.1)
2.89
(73.4)
3.10
(78.7)
3.58
(90.9)
43.77
(1,111.8)
Source: The Weather Channel.[5]

[edit] Education

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1870 140
1880 246 75.7%
1890 456 85.4%
1900 508 11.4%
1910 1,280 152.0%
1920 2,110 64.8%
1930 3,376 60.0%
1940 4,185 24.0%
1950 5,154 23.2%
1960 4,754 −7.8%
1970 5,205 9.5%
1980 4,756 −8.6%
1990 6,324 33.0%
2000 6,295 −0.5%
2010 6,903 9.7%

[edit] Elementary schools

  • Pikeville Elementary School
  • St. Francis of Assisi School
  • Christ Central School
  • Mullins Elementary School
  • Robinson Creek Elementary School
  • Dorton Elementary School
  • Johns Creek Elementary

[edit] High schools

Four high schools are served by the Pikeville post office, but only Pikeville High is located in the city of Pikeville.

[edit] Colleges

[edit] Entertainment

Hillbilly Days is an annual festival held in mid-April in Pikeville, Kentucky celebrating the best of Appalachian culture. The event began by local Shriners as a fundraiser to support the Shriners Children's Hospital. It has grown since its beginning in 1976 and now is the second largest festival held in the state of Kentucky. Artists and craftspeople showcase their talents and sell their works on display. Nationally renowned musicians as well as the best of the regional mountain musicians share six different stages located throughout the downtown area of Pikeville. Want-to-be hillbillies from across the nation compete to come up with the wildest Hillbilly outfit. The event has earned its name as the Mardi Gras of the Mountains. Fans of "mountain music" come from around the United States to hear this annual concentrated gathering of talent. Some refer to this event as the equivalent of a "Woodstock" for mountain music.The festival embraces the area's culture and past through company, music, and costume. The proceeds from the festival go to Shriners Hospitals for Children. [1]. The festival serves to honor and recognize the heritage of Appalachia, while poking fun at the stereotype associated with the region.

In the fall of 2005 the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center [2] opened in downtown Pikeville. The center, which seats 7,000, features numerous events including world renowned concerts and shows. The city is also home to the Pikeville Concert Association which secures renowned cultural events for the area. These events usually take place at Booth Auditorium on the campus of the University of Pikeville.

The Expo Center will be home to the East Kentucky Energy of the American Basketball Association starting in fall 2010, and starting in spring 2011 will be home to the Eastern Kentucky Drillers of the Ultimate Indoor Football League.

In the Summer of 2011, Jenny Wiley Theatre group announced their collaboration with the city of Pikeville to construct a 400 seat indoor professional theater in downtown Pikeville. This news is met with criticism among the residents of Prestonsburg, Kentucky where the Jenny Wiley Theatre group currently resides due to the loss of a cultural icon in Floyd County.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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