Editing Morehead, Kentucky (section)

===20th century===
[[File:Hope Pregnancy Care Center on Main Street in Morehead.jpg|thumb|Main Street in Morehead]]
The industry improved in the early 20th century. It was considered an important shipping center in the region, and the city of [[Chesapeake, Ohio]] even carried out developments on the road system of Morehead. Its abundance of lumber, [[fire clay]], farm products and gas made it an active center of industry, of which was mainly oriented towards agriculture. The close proximity of the [[Licking River (Kentucky)|Licking River]] helped ensure the population would flourish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069675/1910-07-20/ed-1/seq-14/#date1=1836&index=0&rows=20|title=Home of colleges, churches and culture--is a flourishing little city of 1800 and the county seat of Rowan County--rapidly advancing in commerce and industry.|publisher=The Mt. Sterling advocate|date=20 July 1910|access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> In the 1920s, the city refocused its efforts towards fire clay extraction amidst the dwindling prices of timber. One of the first transcontinental auto trails in the US, the [[Midland Trail]], was connected to Morehead in 1929.<ref name="kenc">{{cite book|author1=John E. Kleber |author2=Thomas D. Clark |author3=Lowell H. Harrison |author4=James C. Klotter |title=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|location=Lexington|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|chapter=Morehead|year=1992|isbn=9780813159010}}</ref>

In July 1939, a number of business and hotels located on Mainstreet were caught in a raging fire following [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebrations which went awry.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13535119/|title=Hotel at Morehead is Razed by Flames|date=5 July 1939|work=Portsmouth Daily Times|access-date=3 September 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The town's [[Pack Horse Library Project|pack horse library]] center was burned down as well.<ref name=":0" /> Only 24 hours afterwards, the town was badly affected by flash flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyforward.com/morehead-remembers-kentuckys-worst-flash-flood-on-75th-anniversary-of-deadly-event/|title=Morehead remembers 'Kentucky's worst flash flood' on 75th anniversary of deadly event|publisher=kyforward.com|date=26 June 2014|access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> At least 25 people died, and thousands had to receive vaccinations for [[Typhoid fever]]. The property costs incurred by the flooding were estimated at $1,000,000, while the damage inflicted on crops and farms caused an economic loss of about $500,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gendisasters.com/kentucky/19647/morehead-ky-other-areas-flash-flooding-july-1939|title=Morehead, KY (Other Areas), Flash Flooding, July 1939|publisher=gendisasters.com|access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Morehead State parking lot view.jpg|thumb|View of [[Morehead State University]]]]
In the early 1960s, efforts were underway to establish a local hospital. An agreement was eventually reached with the Sisters of Notre Dame in [[Covington, Kentucky]] in which the sisters would assume responsibility for operating the proposed hospital. In July 1963, St Claire's Medical Center was opened with a 41-bed capacity.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Jeanette M, Bolt D |title=A success story in rural Kentucky|journal=Health Progress|date=September 1988|volume=69|issue=7|pages=53–9|pmid=10288937}}</ref> Transport in and out of the city was greatly improved in 1969 after the completion of [[Interstate 64]] to the north.<ref name="kenc"/>

After the logging and extraction industries lost momentum in eastern Kentucky during the mid-1900s, the city invested heavily in developing Morehead State University as a means to secure economic growth.<ref name="kenc"/> Morehead also sought to capitalize on tourism by ameliorating its natural attractions. Hiking trails were created through [[Cave Run Lake]] in the 1960s and 1970s,<ref name="hikingt">{{cite web|url=http://www.themoreheadnews.com/sports/local_sports/forest-service-seeks-comments-hosts-open-house-on-cave-run/article_7dcff2af-2e6f-5cc1-bcba-6dab5058ac68.html|title=Forest Service seeks comments, hosts open house on Cave Run Trails project|publisher=The Morehead News|date=13 November 2009|access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref> and in 1974, tourism was further boosted when Cave Run Lake was impounded by the city.<ref name="courier"/> By 1990, Morehead State University had become the largest employer in the city.<ref name="kenc"/>