Editing Middlesboro, Kentucky (section)

===Athens of the Mountains===
{{anchor|late 20th century}}
By the 1950s, Middlesboro had a population of roughly 15,000 residents. Their strong support for the arts led to the city being called "the Athens of the Mountains". It was one of the few cities in the [[Eastern Mountain Coal Fields|Eastern Coal Fields]] to boast a grand [[opera house]] and it hosted one of the finest school districts in the state.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} The first [[shopping mall]] was built in the city during the 1960s. The city was named an "[[All Kentucky City]]"{{clarify|date=August 2013}} in 1964, '65, '66, '67, and '69, a huge honor for such a small city.{{why|date=August 2013}} The [[Cumberland Gap National Historical Park]] was also established during this time.

During the 1970s, the area's coal industry revived and the city prospered again. A grand centennial celebration was held in 1990 that included a [[ball (dance)|ball]], air show, and beauty pageant, as well as the dedication of a new city park. The [[Cumberland Gap Tunnel]] was opened in 1996.<ref name=tunnel>National Park Service. "[http://www.nps.gov/archive/cuga/tunnel.htm Cumberland Gap Tunnel]". Accessed 17 August 2010.</ref>{{Relevance inline|date=August 2013}}