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Middlesboro, Kentucky

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Middlesboro, Kentucky
City
Aerial view of Middlesboro
Aerial view of Middlesboro
Motto(s): 
"Fac et Spera" translation: Do and Hope
Location of Middlesboro, Kentucky
Location of Middlesboro, Kentucky
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyBell
IncorporatedMarch 14, 1890
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorBill Kelley
Area
 • Total
7.6 sq mi (19.8 km2)
 • Land7.6 sq mi (19.8 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
1,154 ft (352 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
12,384
 • Density1,359.1/sq mi (524.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
40965
Area code606
FIPS code21-51924
GNIS feature ID498153

Middlesboro, also spelled Middlesborough, is a city in Bell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 10,384 at the 2000 census.[1] The estimated July 1, 2009 population of the city is 14,835.[2] The entire micropolitan area has a population of 69,060 (as of 2000 census)[3] which includes all of Bell County. It is the principal city of the Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area. Middlesboro is the largest city in Southeast Kentucky.[4]

The city was incorporated in 1890 as "Middlesborough", named after the town of Middlesbrough, England. The U.S. Post Office began using the spelling "Middlesboro" in 1894.[5] Both spellings are used interchangeably; for example, the city's school district uses the Middlesboro spelling,[6] as does the Kentucky Secretary of State's Land Office.[7]

The city is located on the Kentucky side of the Cumberland Gap near the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

As the coal industry has declined over the last several years, the area has been increasingly hoping for a growth in tourism, primarily from the nearby national park. Pine Mountain State Resort Park is also located in nearby Pineville.

The town is home to the Middlesboro Country Club. Founded in 1889, the 9-hole course is one of the oldest golf courses in the country. The club also claims to be the oldest continuously played course in the nation. Pianist Ben Harney originated ragtime music in Middlesboro in the early 1890s, inspired by the fusion of African-American and local music styles heard in the community's saloons.[8]

Geologists believe that the Middlesboro basin between Pine Mountain and the Cumberland Mountains is the remains of an ancient meteorite crater, which would give the town the rare distinction of being one of the few cities in the world completely built inside a crater. The crater is one of three known astroblemes in the state.

Middlesboro was recently featured on the History Channel's "How The States Got Their Shapes" on an episode titled Forces of Nature. The city also featured in one of the BBC's " Wonders of the Solar System" episodes. [9]

History

Welcome sign

In 1674 the first known white man passed through the area, Gabriel Arthur. He was followed by the explorers Dr. Thomas Walker in 1750 and Daniel Boone in 1769.[10] It was not until 1886 that the story of Middlesborough began. In that year a businessman from Knoxville, Tennessee made his first trip to the region. Alexander Alan Arthur was the son of a Scotsman, though he spent much of his early life in Montreal. He saw great promise in the region and after surveying the land he went to Asheville, North Carolina in an attempt to raise funds to begin development of the city he envisioned. The wealthy of America's Gilded Age had mansions around Asheville, and while Arthur was successful in garnering support from the sons of the these families, the patriarchs were not as eager. Not to be dissuaded, Arthur traveled to England to raise funds.[10]

Arthur, after the land was surveyed again, was able to raise substantial funds to begin his grand city. All looked well at first and development was rapid. Just south of the Cumberland Gap, in the area of Lincoln Memorial University today, a grand resort hotel had been built. The Four Seasons Hotel contained some 700 rooms, including a 200-room spa and sanitarium. $1.5 million was spent to build and furnish the hotel in 1892.[10] However, fires and poor quality iron ore left the project's coffers empty with nothing to refill them (which steel production was meant to do). An 1890 fire and the 1893 U.S. stock market decline further mired the dream of Alexander Arthur.[10]

View of Middlesboro from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

The city continued to have troubles and triumphs as it changed and grew. Like the rest of America, it was affected greatly with the Great Depression but quickly recovered, installing the first electric street cars of any municipality west of Washington, D.C. to help tourists and locals alike traverse the bustling city in Appalachia. The 1930s was an era when Middlesboro saw a rapid change. Then known as "Little Las Vegas," the town had no shortage of slot machines, saloons, and brothels.[11] The city kept changing with the decades and in the 1950s had a population of roughly 15,000 residents. The nickname "The Athens of the Mountains" was given to the city due to its large support for the arts. Middlesboro was one of the few cities in Eastern Kentucky to boast a grand opera house and one of the finest school districts in the state. The first shopping mall was built in the city sometime during the 1960s. The 1970s decade brought a revival in the coal industry and the city once again prospered. Middlesboro began looking forward to turning 100 years old in the late 1980s and held a grand centennial celebration in 1990 that included a ball, air show, beauty pageant, an establishment of a new city park, along with many other things to help celebrate the huge milestone. The city started to prepare for the future and looked for new ways to prosper with the opening of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel in 1996.[12]

Currently, Middlesboro is investing in downtown revitalization to help create new business and give the city a better image. In 2004, Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc. (DDM) was formed to promote and lead the revamping of the historic downtown area. Since its inception, Discover Downtown Middlesboro has helped numerous businesses receive a face-lift and has restored the historic Fountain Square in downtown. The organization also helps to create awareness of the city's grand and regal past. Numerous large-scaled sepia murals are placed throughout downtown, paying homage to the founder of Middlesboro, his wife, and other historic points in the past history of Middlesboro. DDM also hosts numerous events for the community and the tri-state area that are free to the public, one of the most popular includes the Downtown Ducky Dash and Block Party. DDM oversees all projects that take place within the downtown area and has plans to create brick stamped crosswalks at Fountain Square. Ultimately, they plan to make the historic downtown area more pedestrian-friendly with more benches, bike racks, planters, and streetscape improvements in the works.

In June 2011 a severe flash flood damaged many homes and businesses in Middlesboro. Following a rainfall of 8.5" in 48 hours, the waterways could not cope with the deluge. Two area residents perished in the flood, and dozens were left homeless. The downtown area was one of the hardest hit areas in the city. At one point during the rain event, enough water was present throughout the entire downtown area that vehicles were completely submerged. For many hours after the flood, travel in and around the city was very difficult due to large amounts of standing water in the basin that Middlesboro is built in. A few days afterwards, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear toured the area and declared it a state of disaster.

In April 2012, Middlesboro became the first city in the United States to have a community-wide organic garden, which features 60 raised-bed gardens that will be used to grow food for people in the community. Some beds are even handicapped accessible. The beds will be given out on a first come, first served basis. The food that is grown in the beds will help to reduce costs for families in need, and can be donated to people in need or sold to local restaurants. The community organic garden was made possible through the City of Middlesboro, Bell County Health Department, and several donors and volunteers.

Geography

Middlesboro is located at 36°36′37″N 83°43′24″W / 36.61028°N 83.72333°W / 36.61028; -83.72333 (36.610146, -83.723230)Template:GR. The city sits just inside the Cumberland Gap, along U.S. Route 25E, and is believed to have been built inside a meteorite crater.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.6 square miles (20 km2), all of it land. U.S. 25E provides four-lane connection to Interstate 75 at Corbin, 45 miles to the northwest. With the recently completed renovations on U.S. 25E, travelers now have four-lane connection to Interstate 81 at Morristown, Tennessee, 45 miles to the south.

Climate

Middlesboro distinctly experiences all four seasons, with vivid fall foliage and snow in the winter. Average high is 87 °F in July, the warmest month, with the average lows of 24 °F occurring in January, the coolest month. The highest recorded temperature was 112 °F in July 1930. The lowest recorded temperature was -18 °F in January 1985. Average annual precipitation is 42.8 inches (1,090 mm), with the wettest month being March, averaging 5.25 inches (133 mm).

Climate data for Middlesboro, Kentucky
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25) 		79
(26) 		93
(34) 		93
(34) 		100
(38) 		102
(39) 		112
(44) 		105
(41) 		104
(40) 		94
(34) 		82
(28) 		78
(26) 		112
(44)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 45
(7) 		50
(10) 		58
(14) 		68
(20) 		76
(24) 		83
(28) 		87
(31) 		86
(30) 		80
(27) 		69
(21) 		58
(14) 		48
(9) 		67
(19)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 24
(−4) 		26
(−3) 		33
(1) 		39
(4) 		48
(9) 		58
(14) 		62
(17) 		62
(17) 		56
(13) 		43
(6) 		34
(1) 		27
(−3) 		43
(6)
Record low °F (°C) −18
(−28) 		−14
(−26) 		−4
(−20) 		20
(−7) 		26
(−3) 		34
(1) 		42
(6) 		40
(4) 		30
(−1) 		16
(−9) 		3
(−16) 		−11
(−24) 		−18
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.86
(123) 		3.91
(99) 		5.25
(133) 		3.91
(99) 		5.08
(129) 		4.63
(118) 		4.35
(110) 		4.41
(112) 		2.97
(75) 		3.13
(80) 		4.35
(110) 		4.44
(113) 		51.29
(1,303)
Source: The Weather Channel.[13]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18903,271—
19004,16227.2%
19107,30575.5%
19208,04110.1%
193010,85034.9%
194011,7778.5%
195014,48223.0%
196012,607−12.9%
197011,878−5.8%
198012,2513.1%
199011,328−7.5%
200010,384−8.3%
2009 (est.)9,835[2]
U.S. Census Bureau[14]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 10,384 people, 4,443 households, and 2,927 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,359.1 people per square mile (524.8/km²). There were 4,955 housing units at an average density of 648.5 per square mile (250.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.84% White, 4.90% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.79% of the population.

There were 4,443 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,565, and the median income for a family was $25,016. Males had a median income of $23,285 versus $19,040 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,189. About 24.4% of families and 28.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.2% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Cumberland Gap Tunnel

The city's main thoroughfare is U.S. 25E. The U.S. 25E Tunnel (a.k.a. the Cumberland Gap Tunnel) is a .87-mile (1.40 km) tunnel that travels underneath the famous Cumberland Gap. The northern terminus is located in Middlesboro and the southern terminus is in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.[12] Middlesboro is one of the few cities in Kentucky that was not built on or near a significant waterway, so it is not reachable by water. The only major body of water near the city is Fern Lake, a small lake that sits on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. A man-made waterway called Yellow Creek Canal flows through the heart of the city. It is built and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Middlesboro is served by the Middlesboro-Bell County Airport, which is a single runway, general aviation airport. The airport was established in 1944, however, the first recorded flight into the city was in 1912. It serves as the home for 45 aircraft and more than 16,000 operations annually. The Middlesboro-Bell County Airport was also the home of the famed P-38 Lightning, Glacier Girl. The aircraft was restored on site at the airport, where she made her first maiden flight in October 2002. The airport has recently undergone a major renovation, including the addition of a brand new terminal that features public restrooms, lounge, kitchen, and a radio room that can be used for up-to-date weather information. Other renovations/additions include a jet fuel tank, which will allow more air traffic to use the facility. In the near future, the airport plans to widen and expand the current runway and taxiway, plus add new hangars for aircraft, new runway lighting, and an Aircraft Weather Observation System (AWOS). The Middlesboro-Bell County Airport is one of ten airports to receive this new system. The closest major airport to Middlesboro is the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is 75.5 miles (121.5 km) or about 1 hour 40 minutes away.

Unlike many other American cities, Middlesboro does not have a traditionally named Main Street. The city's equivalent street is named Cumberland Avenue, which runs through Middlesboro's historic downtown district. Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc. (DDM) is a non-profit downtown revitalization effort charged with the restoration of the downtown area. DDM has been around since 2004 and since then, has restored Middlesboro's famed Fountain Square, completed many historical murals in town, started and formed a farmer's market, updated signage in the downtown area, and received grants for new plantings for the numerous planters that line Cumberland Avenue. Many of the streets which run parallel to Cumberland Avenue (east-west) are named for peerages and locales in Britain, while perpendicular (north-south) streets are named numerically. U.S. 25E is also known as 12th street, with higher numbers found as one moves west.

Twin town

Middlesboro is twinned with:

Notable residents

See also

Jacob Schneider- known for his good looks, is considered the most charming person in Middlesboro since it's creation.

References

  1. ^ American Factfinder Retrieved on 2010-03-11
  2. ^ a b Annual Estimates of Resident Population for Incorporated Cities in Kentucky: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2010-07-08
  3. ^ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (CBSA-EST2009-01)" (CSV). 2009 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  4. ^ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0. Retrieved on 2010-06-29
  5. ^ University of Kentucky Atlas Retrieved on 2010-03-11
  6. ^ Middlesboro Independent Schools Retrieved on 2010-03-11
  7. ^ Kentucky Secretary of State's Land Office Retrieved on 2010-03-11
  8. ^ cityofmiddlesboro.org Retrieved on 2010-03-11
  9. ^ Woodward, Stephen (August 2009). "BBC comes to the 'Crater'". Middlesboro, KY, USA: Middlesboro Daily News. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d History of Middlesboro, Kentucky Retrieved on 2010-03-11
  11. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (January 11, 2010). "Midway College to Open Pharmacy School in Ky". ABC News. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  12. ^ a b Cumberland Gap Tunnel National Park Service. Retrieved on 2010-08-17
  13. ^ "Monthly Averages for Middlesboro, KY". The Weather Channel. Retrieved March 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Historical Census Data Retrieved on 2010-1-8
  15. ^ "LGA Database of twinning towns (list printout pending database redevelopment)". Retrieved 2009-07-02.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Middlesboro,_Kentucky&oldid=490504157"