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Beattyville, Kentucky

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Beattyville, Kentucky
City
Location of Beattyville, Kentucky
Location of Beattyville, Kentucky
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyLee
Area
 • Total
2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
 • Land2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
669 ft (204 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
1,307
 • Density653.5/sq mi (251.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
41311
Area code606
FIPS code21-04546
GNIS feature ID0510486
Websitewww.beattyville.org

Beattyville is a home rule-class city[1] in Lee County, Kentucky, in the United States. The city was formally established by the state assembly as Beatty in 1851 and incorporated in 1872.[2] It was named for Samuel Beatty, a pioneer settler.[3]

The population was 1,307 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lee County.[4]

Geography

Beattyville is located at 37°34′38″N 83°42′35″W / 37.57722°N 83.70972°W / 37.57722; -83.70972 (37.577299, -83.709776).[5] It is also located at the confluence of the North, Middle and South Forks of the Kentucky River, which empties into the Ohio River at Carrollton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), of which 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) is land and 0.50% is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Beattyville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[6]

Demographics

Lee County Courthouse in Beattyville
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870123—
188014618.7%
1900696—
19101,36095.4%
19201,210−11.0%
1930906−25.1%
19401,01211.7%
19501,0423.0%
19601,0480.6%
1970923−11.9%
19801,06815.7%
19901,1315.9%
20001,1935.5%
20101,3079.6%
2015 (est.)1,244[7]−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,193 people, 509 households, and 294 families residing in the city. The population density was 599.6 people per square mile (231.5/km²). There were 561 housing units at an average density of 282.0 per square mile (108.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.42% African American, 0.42% Asian, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.

There were 509 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.8% were married couples living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 69.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 63.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $12,336, and the median income for a family was $21,181. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,850. About 39.1% of families and 41.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.7% of those under age 18 and 33.0% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010, Beattyville had the third-lowest median household income of all places in the United States with a population over 1,000.[10] It was the poorest majority white town.[11]

Education

Beattyville is served by the Lee County School District. Schools located within Beattyville proper include:

There is also a Board Of Education and Central Office Complex building. The schools have consistently ranked in the top half of all the schools in the state.

The Lee County Board of Education has announced plans to close Beattyville Elementary and transfer the students to Southside Elementary. To accommodate the influx of students, an expansion of the facilities at Southside will be required. The decision was not popular with residents of the community The Board of Education exhausted its bonding capacity to fund the addition to Southside, so it proposed a tax increase in 2013 to fund other repairs at other facilities. Residents of the county signed a petition to place the tax increase on the ballot. The school board decided to delay the implementation of the tax until 2014 so as not to have to pay approximately $20,000 to fund a special election. The school board passed the tax in 2014 and again, a petition was filed placing the matter on the ballot for the fall 2014 general election. The proposed tax increase was defeated by a large margin at the polls.

Two private schools serve the area as well: Beattyville Christian Academy and Grace Baptist Academy.

Higher education

Although there are no higher education opportunities in Beattyville or Lee County, a number of the state and national leaders of education exist within a 60-mile drive.[12]

Economy

Major employers in Beattyville and Lee County include:

  • Three Forks Regional Jail (multi-county jail serving the east-central area of Kentucky including Powell County, Wolfe County, Owsley County, and Breathitt County)
  • ACS, Affiliated Computer Systems (data and transaction processing)
  • Lee County Public Schools, the largest employer in Beattyville
  • Lee County Wood Products, (Sawmill)
  • Kentucky River Community Care (mental health facility serving the east Kentucky region)
  • People's Exchange Bank. Previously, the bank had its headquarters and two locations in Beattyville. The bank closed its downtown branch and moved its headquarters to Winchester, with only one branch remaining open.
  • Experience Works, Inc (non-profit organization and largest National grantee of Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) funds from the U.S. Department of Labor)
  • Lee County Care and Rehabilitation Center (nursing Facility with a 120-bed capacity)

The Lee Adjustment Center is a vacant, for-profit, medium security prison, with a capacity of 800 inmates, owned by Corrections Corporation of America. Vermont prisoners rioted in 2004 and were joined by Kentucky prisoners. Kentucky removed its last inmates in 2010, and Vermont did so in 2015.[13]

Woolly Worm Festival

Pyrrharctia isabella is the scientific name of the "Woolly Worm" celebrated in the festival

Since 1987, during the third weekend after the first Monday of October, the Main Street of Beattyville is closed to traffic, as the annual Woolly Worm Festival begins setting up. For Three-Days, Friday-"Opening Day", Saturday-"Parade Day", and Sunday "Closing Day" (Which also has a large carshow).

There are a large amount of musicians that perform almost constantly on one of two stages, dozens of booths offering a wide variety of merchandise, some interesting and delicious food, and helicopter tours of Beattyville/Lee County and "Woolly Worm Races", which is won by coaxing one of these "Hairy Caterpillars" up a string, the first one to reach the top wins, with the only rule being "No Touching", there is usually a cash prize for the winner.

Over 20 years later, The Woolly Worm Festival still remains a popular event, attracting a large number of tourists, and locals. Beattyville is just a few minutes from Natural Bridge State Resort Park, there is a "small-town atmosphere" in Beattyville, and the annual carshow are a few reasons thought to be why it is such a popular event.

Because of the festival, the Woolly Worm is usually associated with Beattyville, the "official" Woolly Worm Festival mascot is named "Woolly the Woolly Worm", he appears on some merchandise and flyers, and there is usually a round hay bale caricature of him beside a sign that says "Welcome To Beattyville."

The name "Woolly Worm" actually refers to the Woolly bear caterpillar.

Public services

The Beattyville/Lee County Volunteer Fire Department is headed by Chief Hargis Ross and the Beattyville City Police Department by Chief Greg Brandenburg. EMS are present at a combined city-county dispatch center on River Drive. Beattyville Waterworks and Beattyville Sewer are also located in the city hall building on Main Street.

Healthcare

View of Beattyville from Happy Top Park

Beattyville has no hospital. Nearby facilities are in Irvine (Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital), Jackson (Kentucky River Medical Center), Winchester (Clark Regional Medical Center), Richmond (Baptist Health Rickmond), Hazard (Hazard Appalachian Regional Medical Center), Manchester (Manchester Memorial Hospital), and Lexington, where healthcare services are abound.

Emergency medical services for Beattyville are provided by the Lee County Ambulance Service in Beattyville, they provide 24/7 Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support emergency services to all citizens and visitors of Lee County transporting primarily to Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital and KY River Medical Center as well as providing non-emergency transportation services and a wheelchair transport van.

Utilities

Beattyville is served by Kentucky Utilities, while much of Lee County is served by Jackson Energy, based in McKee, Kentucky that serves south-central Kentucky. Licking Valley RECC serves Northern Lee County. Natural Gas is served by Columbia Gas of Kentucky and Delta Natural Gas Company. Two Water Services exist, Beattyville Water Works, serving the city and most of the county and Southside Water Association serving the southern and east parts of Lee County.

WLJC-TV/DT

Main article: WLJC-TV

WLJC-TV/DT, a television and radio station is headquartered in Beattyville. The channel is a Christian programming channel and is an affiliate of TBN, the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The station is carried through numerous local cable stations, DISH Network and DirecTV. Coverage is carried as far north as Georgetown and Cynthiana, Bardstown to the west, Whitley City to the south, and Pikeville to the east. The station is owned by Hour of Harvest, Inc.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  2. ^ Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Beattyville, Kentucky". Accessed 15 Jul 2013.
  3. ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 461.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ^ Climate Summary for Beattyville, Kentucky
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "US Census". Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  11. ^ America's poorest white town: abandoned by coal, swallowed by drugs, The Guardian, Chris McGreal, November 12, 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Beattyville, Lee County – Community Profile". thinkkentucky.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  13. ^ Kentucky pulls inmates out of privately run prison, Business Week, Brett Barrouquere, June 22, 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  14. ^ "WLJC". wljc.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
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