Editing Jenkins, Kentucky

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Jenkins, Kentucky
| settlement_type    = [[list of Kentucky cities|City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| named_for          = the director of a [[Consolidation Coal Company|local coal company]]

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = Jenkins city hall downtown.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Downtown Jenkins
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Letcher County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Jenkins Highlighted 2140312.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in Letcher County, Kentucky
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- 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  = [[Letcher County, Kentucky|Letcher]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-Council]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Todd DePriest
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = January 9, 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_km2     = 22.99
| area_land_km2      = 22.91
| area_water_km2     = 0.08
| area_total_sq_mi   = 8.88
| area_land_sq_mi    = 8.85
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1902
| population_density_km2 = 83.03
<!-- 2018 est. -->| population_density_sq_mi = 215.04

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 469
| elevation_ft       = 1539
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|10|48|N|82|37|56|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 41537
| area_code          = [[Area code 606|606]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 21-40312
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0495200
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-21.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date= May 26, 2023}}</ref>
| population_est     = 1830
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofjenkins.org}}
}}

'''Jenkins''' is a [[list of Kentucky cities|home rule-class city]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.klc.org/UserFiles/files/ClassificationReformFACT(3).pdf |title=Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform |publisher=Kentucky League of Cities |access-date=December 30, 2014}}</ref> in [[Letcher County, Kentucky|Letcher County]], [[Kentucky]], United States. The population was 2,203 as of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2140312&tid=DECENNIALSF12010.P1| title=Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Jenkins city, Kentucky| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=data.census.gov| access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Jenkins-kentucky-1935.jpg|thumb|left|210px|Coal camp houses in Jenkins during the [[Great Depression]]]]
In autumn of 1911, the [[Consolidation Coal Company]] purchased the current location of Jenkins as part of a {{convert|100000|acre|adj=on}} tract of land in [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike]], Letcher, and [[Floyd County, Kentucky|Floyd]] [[list of Ky counties|counties]] from the [[Northern Coal and Coke Company]]. After the acquisition was finalized, plans were made to extend the [[Lexington and Eastern Railroad]] from [[Jackson, Kentucky|Jackson]] to a town named [[McRoberts, Kentucky|McRoberts]]. The plans also included the establishment of the town of Jenkins for George C. Jenkins, one of the Consolidation Coal Company's directors.<ref name="history">[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Kentucky/Letcher/Jenkins/_Texts/HJK/C*.html#A History of Jenkins, Kentucky] Retrieved on 2010-2-7</ref>

Because of the need of hundreds of homes and other structures, nine sawmills and two brickyards were erected. A dynamo was built to temporarily generate power for the houses. Next, a temporary narrow-gauge railroad was built over [[Pine Mountain (Appalachian Mountains)|Pine Mountain]] from [[Glamorgan, Virginia]], in order to carry supplies to further the development of the town.<ref name="history"/> Jenkins's city government was established as soon as the businesses and land were put up for sale. The company even went as far to supply the town with its own marshals to enforce the law.<ref name="history"/> Jenkins was finally incorporated as a sixth-class city on January 9, 1912.<ref name=sos>Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Jenkins, Kentucky". Accessed 1 August 2013.</ref>

Jenkins was home to [[minor league baseball]] from 1948 to 1951. The [[Jenkins Cavaliers]] played as members of the [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] level [[Mountain States League (1948–1954)|Mountain States League]]. Jenkins played home games at the Jenkins Athletic Field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1261|title=Jenkins Athletic Field in Jenkins, KY history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

In 1956, Consolidation Coal sold Jenkins to [[Bethlehem Steel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitakerbank.com/2074/mirror/a_community_jenkins.htm|title=Home > About Us > Our Communities > Jenkins}}</ref> Bethlehem Steel closed the mine in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0458-3035| last = Hastings| first = Deborah| title = A Kentucky Town Shaped by Hard Lives, Hard Men| work = Los Angeles Times| access-date = 2017-09-30| date = 2000-01-23| url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-23-mn-56734-story.html}}</ref>

[[Diana Baldwin]] and [[Anita Cherry]], hired as miners in 1973, are believed to have been the first women to work in an underground coal mine in the United States. They were the first female members of [[United Mine Workers of America]] to work inside a mine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Armstrong |first1=Holly |title=A Brief History of Women in Mining |url=https://blog.dol.gov/2022/03/22/a-brief-history-of-women-in-mining |work=DOL Blog |publisher=U.S. Department of Labor |date=22 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Klemesrud |first1=Judy |title=In Coal Mine No. 29, Two Women Work Alongside the Men |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/18/archives/in-coal-mine-no-29-two-women-work-alongside-the-men-kin-tried-to.html |work=The New York Times |date=18 May 1974 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Two Women Make History as Kentucky Miners |date=26 December 1973 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |page=21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WvNOAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Anita+Cherry%22&pg=PA11&article_id=7479,4167861 }}</ref> Cherry and Baldwin were hired by the Beth-Elkhorn Coal Company in Jenkins.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baisden |first1=Harry I. |date=6 September 1974 |title=Two Women Break Sex Bar in Modern Coal Mine |newspaper=The Evening News |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OAdHAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Anita+Cherry%22&pg=PA10&article_id=950,911016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Gearhart |first1=Dona G. |date=1995 |title='Surely, a wench can choose her own work!' Women coal miners in Paonia, Colorado, 1976-1987 |publisher=University of Nevada, Las Vegas |doi=10.25669/83uw-c7cr }}</ref>

During the [[Southeast Kentucky floods of 2020]], water spilled over the top of the Elkhorn Lake dam above Jenkins, which is considered one of Kentucky's most dangerous. About 30 percent of Jenkins is vulnerable to flooding in the event of a dam break, and the town lacks a comprehensive emergency plan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://ohiovalleyresource.org/2020/02/07/states-of-emergencies-declared-amid-eastern-kentucky-floods/|title=States of Emergencies Declared Amid Eastern Kentucky Floods|last=Boles|first=Sydney|date=2020-02-07|website=Ohio Valley ReSource|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wfpl.org/kycir-at-kentuckys-most-dangerous-dams-locals-arent-prepared-for-disaster/|title=At Dangerous Kentucky Dams, Locals Aren't Prepared For Disaster|last=McGlade|first=Caitlin|date=2019-08-06|website=89.3 WFPL News Louisville|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elkhornlakeproject.org/|title=Home|date=2018|website=Elkhorn Lake Project - A Kentucky River Area Development District Health Impact Assessment|language=en|access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref>

==Geography==
Jenkins is located in eastern Letcher County at {{coord|37|10|48|N|82|37|56|W|type:city}} (37.179914, -82.632148).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Its southern border is the Kentucky–[[Virginia]] state line, following the crest of [[Pine Mountain (Appalachian Mountains)|Pine Mountain]].

[[U.S. Route 23]] passes through Jenkins, leading north {{convert|29|mi}} to [[Pikeville, Kentucky|Pikeville]] and south over Pine Mountain {{convert|21|mi}} to [[Norton, Virginia]]. [[U.S. Route 119]] leads southwest from Jenkins {{convert|12|mi}} to [[Whitesburg, Kentucky|Whitesburg]], the Letcher [[county seat]], and north with US 23 to Pikeville.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|23.0|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|22.9|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.1|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 0.34%, are water.<ref name=Gazetteer>{{cite web| url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_21.txt| title=U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Kentucky| website=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division| access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> The city is in the valley of Elkhorn Creek, a northeast-flowing tributary of the [[Russell Fork]], part of the [[Levisa Fork]]–[[Big Sandy River (Ohio River)|Big Sandy River]] watershed flowing north to the [[Ohio River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1920 = 4707
| 1930 = 8495
| 1940 = 9428
| 1950 = 6921
| 1960 = 3202
| 1970 = 2552
| 1980 = 3271
| 1990 = 2751
| 2000 = 2401
| 2010 = 2203
| 2020 = 1902
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 1830
| estref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-21.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date= May 26, 2023}}</ref>
| 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 [[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 2,401 people, 968 households, and 671 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|281.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,122 housing units at an average density of {{convert|131.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.96% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.08% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.33% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 0.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.29% of the population.

There were 968 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,143, and the median income for a family was $25,985. Males had a median income of $31,087 versus $21,333 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $11,358. About 24.6% of families and 29.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 43.3% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Jenkins has a [[public library|lending library]], a branch of the Letcher County 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=5 June 2019}}</ref>

Jenkins Independent Schools operates in the city. The district includes Jenkins and the nearby community of [[Burdine, Kentucky|Burdine]]. The district operates two schools, Jenkins Middle High School and Burdine Elementary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jenkins Independent Schools |url=https://www.jenkins.k12.ky.us/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=www.jenkins.k12.ky.us |language=en}}</ref> The current superintendent is Damian Johnson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Damian |title=Jenkins Independent superintendent focuses on engagement during Family Friendly Schools certification |url=https://www.kentuckyteacher.org/leadership/guest-columns/2023/08/jenkins-independent-superintendent-focuses-on-engagement-during-family-friendly-schools-certification/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Kentucky Teacher |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
The [[David A. Zegeer Coal-Railroad Museum]] is housed in town in a historic railroad depot.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.coaleducation.org/zegeer/ | title=Homepage | publisher=David A. Zegeer Coal-Railroad Museum | access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>

Jenkins Homecoming Days is an annual festival usually celebrated in August.

==Notable people==
*[[Kenny Baker (fiddler)|Kenny Baker]], [[fiddle]] player and member of Bluegrass Boys
*[[Matt Figger]], basketball head coach at [[Austin Peay Governors men's basketball|Austin Peay University]]
*[[Darwin K. Kyle]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
*[[Francis Gary Powers]], [[aviator|pilot]] whose [[CIA]] [[Lockheed U-2|U-2 spy plane]] was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission over [[Soviet Union]] airspace; dramatized in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s film ''[[Bridge of Spies (film)|Bridge of Spies]]''
*[[Gary Stewart (singer)|Gary Stewart]], [[country music]]ian and [[songwriter]]
*[[Milt Ticco]], All-American basketball player at [[University of Kentucky]] and early professional in [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]]

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

==External links==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Kentucky/Letcher/Jenkins/home.html Thayer's Gazetteer: Jenkins, Kentucky]
* [http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=kyead;cc=kyead;q1=jenkins;rgn=main;view=text;didno=kukav2001av01 The Guide to the Jenkins, Kentucky Photographic collection, 1911–1930] housed at the University of Kentucky Archives.

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Jenkins, Kentucky|*]]
[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Letcher County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1912]]
[[Category:Company towns in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in Kentucky]]