Pathfork, Kentucky

Pathfork, Kentucky
Census-designated place
View of eastern Pathfork above one of the mountains
Pathfork Pathfork
Coordinates: 36°45′21″N 83°27′53″W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Harlan
Area
• Total	1.253 sq mi (3.25 km2)
• Land	1.243 sq mi (3.22 km2)
• Water	0.010 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	1,240 ft (380 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	379
• Density	300/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	40863
Area code	606
GNIS feature ID	489796

Pathfork is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Harlan County, Kentucky, United States, located to the south bank of Wallins Creek. Its population was 379 as of the 2010 census. The community's main roads are East Hwy 72, which connects from US 119, and travels to an end at Old RB Mines, however, 72 runs to Harlan via gravel road,and Ky 2005 an old gravel road that leads to Smith/Brownies Creek, south of Harlan, Kentucky.

Overview

The community used to rely heavily on coal mining. But many coal mines now have been shut down causing a reduction in the production of coal. The recent recession in the coal market brought about by over regulation of the E.P.A., and the cheaper cost of natural gas, has caused high unemployment rates in this small community as well as Harlan County, Kentucky and throughout the United States. A small community park, known as Coal Miner's Memorial Park, was created to honor the community's ties to coal mining.

There are four churches in the community: Insull Holiness, Pathfork Holiness Church, Pathfork Baptist and Blackstar Pentecostal Church.