Editing Elkhorn City, Kentucky

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Elkhorn City, Kentucky
|settlement_type          = [[list of Kentucky cities|City]]
|nickname                 = "Gateway to the Breaks"
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Elkhorn City High School.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Former high school
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Pike County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Elkhorn City Highlighted 2124382.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Elkhorn City in Pike County, Kentucky.

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kentucky]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kentucky|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-Council]]
|leader_title             = Current Mayor
|leader_name              = Nathan Bryant
|leader_title1            = Former Mayor
|leader_name1             = Mike Taylor
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = November 4, 1912

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_21.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 18, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 7.72
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.72
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1035
|population_density_sq_mi = 134.07

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1693
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|19|13|N|82|21|08|W|region:US-KY|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 41522
|area_code                = [[Area code 606|606]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 21-24382
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2403554<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403554}}</ref>
|website                  = https://www.cityofelkhorncity.com/
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|area_total_km2 = 19.99
|area_land_km2 = 19.99
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|population_density_km2 = 51.76
}}
'''Elkhorn City''' is a [[List of cities in Kentucky|home rule-class city]] in [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike County]], [[Kentucky]], in the United States. The population was 1,035 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The city is located in proximity to the [[Breaks Interstate Park]].

==History==
Elkhorn City was first settled by William Ramey of [[North Carolina]] {{circa|lk=no|1810}}. However, in 1767–1768, [[Daniel Boone]] took his first steps in what is now Kentucky near present-day Elkhorn City on a hunting expedition.<ref>Historical Marker Society of America. "[http://www.historicmarkers.com/home/2999-pike/81765-daniel-boones-first-steps-in-kentucky Daniel Boone's First Steps in Kentucky (2203)]". Accessed 7 December 2010.</ref>

It was originally named "Elkhorn", after an [[elk]]'s horn that was found on the banks of the nearby creek (also named Elkhorn.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&q=cannon+ky&pg=PA91 | title=Kentucky Place Names | publisher=University Press of Kentucky | year=1987 | access-date=2013-04-28 | author=Rennick, Robert M. | pages=91| isbn=0813126312 }}</ref>) Because there was already a town named "[[Elk Horn, Kentucky|Elk Horn]]" in [[Taylor County, Kentucky|Taylor County]], the town had to be renamed in order to avoid confusion. On October 16, 1882, the [[post office]] was renamed "Praise" for "Camp Praise-the-Lord", a tent colony that was established by [[Evangelism|evangelist]] George O. Barnes for a [[revival meeting|revival]] there in August 1881. In 1907, the [[Chesapeake and Ohio Railway]] established a station in Praise that was named "Elkhorn City". Although Elkhorn City was incorporated as a city on November 4, 1912, the local post office was not renamed Elkhorn City until September 1, 1952, after local pressure for a uniform name.<ref name=kye>{{cite book |author=Rennick, Robert M. |title=''Kentucky Place Names'' |year=1988 |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=[[Lexington, Kentucky]] |isbn=0-8131-0179-4 |chapter=Place Names}} Retrieved on 2010-04-09</ref>

The neighboring settlement of [[Cedarville, Kentucky|Cedarville]] merged with Elkhorn City in 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov/geo/www/bndrychanges/boundary_changes.html | title = Geographic Boundary Change Notes | publisher = Population Division, [[United States Census Bureau]] | date = January 1, 2012 | access-date = September 20, 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.0|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Elkhorn City is nestled in the foothills of the [[Appalachian Mountains]] of [[Eastern Mountain Coal Fields|Eastern Kentucky]]. The city has many geographic wonders that make it one of the major tourism destinations in Kentucky. First and foremost of these natural wonders is the [[Russell Fork River|Russell Fork]] of the [[Big Sandy River (Ohio River)|Big Sandy River]] which flows through the center of the city. It is well known for as a [[Rafting|whitewater rafting]] destination, featuring Class II-VI rapids.<ref>[http://www.rafting.com/kentucky/big-sandy-river/Russell Fork River Rafting Trips]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Retrieved on 2010-12-07</ref>

Elkhorn City is also geographically located at the northernmost point of the [[Pine Mountain (Appalachian Mountains)|Pine Mountain]] along with the northern terminus of [[Pine Mountain Trail State Park|Pine Mountain Trail]].<ref>[http://www.elkhorncity.org/node/98 Hiking/Mountain Biking in Elkhorn City] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429173028/http://www.elkhorncity.org/node/98 |date=April 29, 2010 }} Retrieved on 2010-12-07</ref> Once completed, the trail will extend from the [[Breaks Interstate Park]] to [[Cumberland Gap National Historical Park]] along the ridge of Pine Mountain.<ref>[http://www.pinemountaintrail.com/index.html Pine Mountain Trail Conference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202053344/http://www.pinemountaintrail.com/index.html |date=2011-02-02 }} Retrieved on 2010-12-07</ref>

Elkhorn City is the easternmost incorporated municipality in Kentucky. [[Freeburn, Kentucky|Freeburn]] and [[Phelps, Kentucky|Phelps]] are technically farther east, but both are considered CDPs.

===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, Elkhorn City has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=825251&cityname=Elkhorn+City%2C+Kentucky%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Elkhorn City, Kentucky]</ref>

{{Weather box 
|location = Elkhorn City, Kentucky
|width=auto
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 78
|Feb record high F = 83
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 85
|Dec record high F = 80
|year record high F = 102
|Jan high F = 42
|Feb high F = 47
|Mar high F = 56
|Apr high F = 66
|May high F = 73
|Jun high F = 80
|Jul high F = 83
|Aug high F = 82
|Sep high F = 77
|Oct high F = 67
|Nov high F = 57
|Dec high F = 45
|year high F= 
|Jan low F = 23
|Feb low F = 26
|Mar low F = 32
|Apr low F = 40
|May low F = 49
|Jun low F = 59
|Jul low F = 63
|Aug low F = 62
|Sep low F = 55
|Oct low F = 43
|Nov low F = 33
|Dec low F = 26
|year low F=
|Jan record low F = -14
|Feb record low F = -12
|Mar record low F = -3
|Apr record low F = 21
|May record low F = 25 
|Jun record low F = 40
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 45
|Sep record low F = 34 
|Oct record low F = 19
|Nov record low F = 9
|Dec record low F = -11
|year record low F=
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.19
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.20
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.43
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.06
|May precipitation inch = 4.89 
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.50
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.20
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.86
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.14
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.82
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.91
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.27
|year precipitation inch=
|source 1 = [[The Weather Channel (United States)|The Weather Channel]].<ref name=climate>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USKY0866
|title=Monthly Averages for Elkhorn City, KY |publisher=[[The Weather Channel (United States)|The Weather Channel]]|access-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref>
|date=May 2014
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 100
|1900= 87
|1910= 94
|1920= 821
|1930= 996
|1940= 1030
|1950= 1349
|1960= 1085
|1970= 1081
|1980= 1446
|1990= 813
|2000= 1060
|2010= 982
|2020= 1035
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 982 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 99.0% White, 0.3% Black, 0.2% from some other race and 0.3% from two or more races. 0.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,060 people, 437 households, and 295 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|525.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 506 housing units at an average density of {{convert|250.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 99.34% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.28% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 437 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,963, and the median income for a family was $27,237. Males had a median income of $30,139 versus $18,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,323. About 18.0% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Elkhorn City has a [[public library|lending library]], a branch of the Pike County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111202017/https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 January 2019 | title=Kentucky Public Library Directory | publisher=Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives | access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Patty Loveless]], [[country music]] singer
* [[Robert H. Reed]], [[United States Air Force]]

==See also==
*[[Elkhorn City Railroad Museum]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tourpikecounty.com/index.php?n=2&id=2 Pike County Tourism]
* [http://www.breakspark.com/ Breaks Interstate Park]
* [http://elkhorncityrrm.tripod.com/ Elkhorn City Railroad Museum]
* [http://russellfork.info/ Russell Fork River]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130713180730/http://ecaobserver.com/ Elkhorn City Area Observer]

{{Pike County, Kentucky}}
{{Eastern Mountain Coal Fields (Kentucky)}}
{{Kentucky}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Pike County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1912]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in Kentucky]]