Pikeville, Kentucky

City of Pikeville, Kentucky
City
Main Street in Pikeville

Seal
Nickname(s): "The City That Moves Mountains"
Motto(s): For Progress

Location of Pikeville in Pike County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 37°28′38″N 82°31′48″W / 37.47722°N 82.53000°W / 37.47722; -82.53000Coordinates: 37°28′38″N 82°31′48″W / 37.47722°N 82.53000°W / 37.47722; -82.53000
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Pike
Established 1824[1]
Incorporated 1848[1]
Named for Pike County, Kentucky
Government
 • Type Council/Manager
 • Mayor James A "Jimmy" Carter
 • City Manager Philip Elswick
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
 • Estimate (2016)[2] 7,106
 • Density 408/sq mi (157.5/km2)
  U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 Population Estimates
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes 41501-41502
Area code(s) 606 Exchanges: 218,432,433,437,502
FIPS code 21-60852
GNIS feature ID 0510155
Website

www.pikevilleky.gov www.whypikeville.com

www.visitpikeville.com

Pikeville (/ˈpaɪkvəl/) is a city in and the county seat of Pike County, Kentucky, United States.[3] During the 2010 U.S. Census, the population within Pikeville's city limits was 6,903. In Kentucky's current city classification system, Pikeville is a home rule-class city, a category that includes all of the state's more than 400 cities except for the two largest, Louisville and Lexington.[4]

History

The historic York House, built 1864
Aerial photo of Pikeville

On March 25, 1822, state officials decided to build a new county seat named "Liberty", 1.5 miles (2.4 km) below the mouth of the Russell Fork River. Public disapproval of the site led a new decision on December 24, 1823, to establish the county seat on land donated by local farmer Elijah Adkins.[5] This settlement was established as the town of Pike after the county in 1824.[1] This was changed in 1829 to Piketon[5] and the town was incorporated under that name in 1848.[1] In 1850, this was changed to the present Pikeville. Pikeville was host to a part of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, and patriarch Randall McCoy as well as his wife and daughter are buried on a hillside overlooking the town.[5][6][7]

A pack horse library was established for library services in the late 1930s and early 1940s.[8]

The National Civic League designated Pikeville as an All-American City in 1965.[9]

From 1973 to 1987, the Pikeville Cut-Through was constructed immediately west of downtown. The massive rock cut is one of the largest civil engineering projects in the western hemisphere, moving nearly 18,000,000 cubic yards (14,000,000 m3) of soil and rock.[10] The project alleviated traffic congestion in downtown and eliminated flooding by rerouting the Levisa Fork River.

The city has been a center of rapid development in Eastern Kentucky since the 1990s. Pikeville College (now the University of Pikeville) opened the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1997.[11] The university also opened the Kentucky College of Optometry, the first optometry school in Central Appalachia, in the fall of 2016.[12] In October 2005, the 7,000 seat, multi-purpose Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center opened in downtown.[13] Pikeville Medical Center has established itself as a regional healthcare center. In 2014, a new 11-story clinic and a 10-story parking structure was completed at a cost of $150 million. The hospital has also become a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.[14] In 2013, construction began on a shopping center known as Pikeville Commons. The first stores opened in the shopping center in October 2014.[15]

Late 2017 saw several announcements regarding tenants for the recently opened Kentucky Enterprise Industrial Park. Following an announcement on October 27, 2017, construction has begun on a 60,000 square foot manufacturing facility to be owned and operated by SilverLiner, whose primary business is expected to be the manufacture and assembly of tanks for tanker trucks.[16] They are expected to begin production in December of 2018. A second tenant in the park was announced on December 15, 2017 with an announcement by EnerBlu, Inc. that they would be investing nearly $400 million in Pikeville with the construction of a facility to manufacture advanced batteries for use in power grids, commercial and military transportation units, and other equipment. In addition, the manufacturing facility will assemble the batteries into proprietary equipment. It is anticipated that EnerBlu will supply approximately 875 jobs soon after construction of the facility is completed in 2020.[17]

In September of 2018, Pikeville's City government was named 2018 KLC City Government of the Year by the Kentucky League of Cities. This was the inaugural year for the award and was intended to recognize "a city that has done something transformational and our first ever recipient certainly demonstrates a city making a huge impact on its region."[18]

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), all land. As of March 2009, Pikeville set its new city limits to be 0.3 mile from its 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.

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
(6)
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)
Average 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.[19]

Demographics

Old Pike County Courthouse
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870140—
188024675.7%
189045685.4%
190050811.4%
19101,280152.0%
19202,11064.8%
19303,37660.0%
19404,18524.0%
19505,15423.2%
19604,754−7.8%
19705,2059.5%
19804,756−8.6%
19906,32433.0%
20006,295−0.5%
20106,9039.7%
Est. 20167,106[2]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
The Academy Building at the University of Pikeville

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 6,903 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 92.1% White, 2.7% Black, 0.1% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from some other race and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[21] 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 2,763 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.

In the city, the population was spread out with 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.

Education

Those schools located within the Pikeville city limits include an asterisk. The remainder are located within Pike County and are part of the Pike County Public School System, but outside of the city limits.

Elementary schools

  • *Pikeville Elementary School
  • *St. Francis of Assisi School
  • Christ Central School
  • Myra Christian Academy
  • Mullins Elementary School
  • Millard Elementary School
  • Dorton Elementary School
  • Johns Creek Elementary School
  • Elkhorn City Elementary School
  • Kimper Elementary School
  • Blackberry Elementary School
  • Feds Creek Elementary School
  • Northpoint Academy
  • Phelps Day Treatment Center
  • Phelps Elementary School
  • Shelby Valley Day Treatment Center
  • Belfry Elementary School
  • Valley Elementary School

Middle schools

  • *Pikeville Jr. High School
  • Belfry Middle School
  • Valley Middles School
  • Dorton Middle School
  • Phelps Middle School
  • Johns Creek School
  • Mullins Middle School
  • Elkhorn City Middle School
  • Feds Creek Middle School
  • Millard Middle School
  • Kimper Middle School

High schools

Five high schools are served by the Pikeville post office, but only Pikeville High is located within the city limits.

Colleges

Culture

Crowded Hambley Boulevard during Hillbilly Days 2013

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. Fans of "mountain music" come from around the United States to hear this annual concentrated gathering of talent. 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. 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 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.

In the Summer of 2014, Jenny Wiley Theatre opened a 200-seat indoor professional theater in downtown Pikeville.[23]

The Hatfield and McCoy River Trails, located on the Levisa Fork River, opened on April 26, 2014.[24] Construction of a new zipline complex began in September 2014 in Bob Amos Park. The project cost $500,000 and opened in April 2015.[25]

Alltech of Lexington completed construction of a distillery, brewery and visitors center known as Dueling Barrels Brewery & Distillery which opened in downtown in 2018.[26] The name was inspired by the Hatfield-McCoy Feud, and the tour includes story tellers describing those events in addition to an explanation of the brewing and distilling processes.

Sister cities

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Pikeville, Kentucky". Accessed 27 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ Noble, Jeff (April 30, 2014). "Corbin, other Tri-County cities now in Home Rule Class". The Times-Tribune. Corbin, KY. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Rennick, Robert. Kentucky Place Names, p. 233. University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1987. Accessed 27 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "Visit Pikeville". Accessed 16 July 2009.
  7. ↑ City of Pikeville. "Visitors Archived 2009-06-27 at the Wayback Machine.". Accessed 16 July 2009.
  8. ↑ "The Packhorse Library". The Courier-Journal. 17 February 1938. Retrieved 3 September 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Past Winners of All-American City Award Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine. National Civic League. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  10. ↑ Maddox, Connie. The Pikeville Cut-Through Project (brochure). Pikeville-Pike County Tourism. Retrieved on 2014-05-19
  11. ↑ History of Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine Archived 2010-05-31 at the Wayback Machine. Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. Retrieved on 2014-05-20.
  12. ↑ Kentucky College of Optometry welcomes inaugural class, University of Pikeville. Retrieved 2018-07-28,
  13. ↑ About Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  14. ↑ "Pikeville Medical Center in Kentucky Joins Mayo Clinic Care Network". Mayo Clinic. May 23, 2013. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  15. ↑ Thorton, Hillary (October 13, 2014). "First store in Pikeville Commons officially opens". WYMT-TV. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  16. ↑ McCauley, Cory. "City of Pikeville holds ribbon cutting for SilverLiner". Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  17. ↑ "EnerBlu to Create Nearly 1,000 Jobs with Operations in Pikeville and Lexington".
  18. ↑ News-Express, Special to the. "City of Pikeville named first-ever KLC City Government of the Year". Appalachian News-Express. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  19. ↑ "MONTHLY AVERAGES for Pikeville, KY". The Weather Channel. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  20. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  22. ↑ "History of PCSOM". Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  23. ↑ Jenny Wiley Theatre opens second location in Pikeville Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine. WKYT-TV. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
  24. ↑ "Hatfield-McCoy River Trails set to open". Appalachian News-Express. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Ziplines to be installed at Bob Amos Park". Lexington Herald-Leader. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Pikeville's first legal distillery has moonshine, stories worth telling". Lexington Herald-Leader. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Interactive City Directory Sister Cities International. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  28. ↑
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