Catlettsburg, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Boyd County, Kentucky
Boyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1860. Its are found at the northeastern edge of the state the near the Ohio River and Big Sandy River, nestled in the verdant rolling hills of Appalachia. The county seat is Catlettsburg. Its largest municipality is...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Boyd County. The city population was 1,960 at the 2000 census. The city's postal ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
serves a greater population of 10,029, which is a better reflection of the community's size. Catlettsburg is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Huntington-Ashland-Ironton metropolitan area is a United States metropolitan area that includes five counties in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. A July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 285,624. The MSA is nestled along the...
(MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. Since the early 1990s, the commercial sector has grown due to its proximity to Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
and its location along U.S. Route 23 and 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
, both major regional arteries which overlap in Catlettsburg and travel into the city of Ashland
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
to the north. Many commercial developments have developed on the south side along these routes. Randall Peterman is the current mayor. Peterman, a city councilman who was appointed mayor in September 2011 to succeed the resigning Pauline S. Hunt, will serve until a special election can be called.
Early history
Catlettsburg's history begins in the decades directly following the American Revolution. The American frontier was pushing westward, and many frontiersman passed through there on their western trek along the Ohio River. A United States Post Office was first opened there in 1808 as Mouth of Sandy, Va. In 1849, civil engineer James Fry, was commissioned to lay out the original town of Catlettsburg(the area from 24th to 26th streets, and from the former Front to present-day Walnut Streets). The lots were quickly sold, and the community was named after brothers Horatio and Alexander "Sawny" Catlett. They first settled here in in 1811 and resided at the location for at least 26 years. After establishing this settlement, the Catlett's operated a combination business here that consisted of a tavern, post office, trading post, and inn, all out of a log structure they built from virgin timber in 1811. Due to its location along the route of the American frontier, the Catlett's provided hospitality to such notable patrons as General Stonewall Jackson, Henry Clay, Felix Grundy and future U.S. President James Garfield. Catering to the ever growing river traffic, the Catlett business flourished and the present day town grew up around it. Unbelievably, the Catlett home built in 1811 is still standing two hundred years later, and has long been used as the "servants quarters" of Beechmoor Place, a large home located on Walnut Street(U.S. Routes 23 and 60). C.W. Culver bought the property in 1869 from the Catlett heirs and built a large home of the Georgian style on the right of the Catletts' original dwelling. In 1868, Col. Laban T. Moore bought the estate from C.W. Culver for $10,000($171,000 in 2011). Col. Moore was noted as a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and also had previously served as a captain in the Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He named his home Beechmoor, a derivation of his surname and that of a magnificent beech that stood on the fertile grounds at the time. Ownership of Beechmoor has remained in the Moore family since 1868. Beechmoor's eastern wing, being 200 years old and built by the Catlett's, is cited as the oldest known building in a 300 mile radius. Built of Kentucky's virgin Hemlock Maple(now virtually extinct), the exterior walls are between 9 and 12 inches thick. The main portion has a stone foundation, and is held up by the same virgin timber, each 64 feet (19.5 m) in diameter, and running the entire 42 feet (12.8 m) width of the house. Beechmoor's last full-time resident, Rebecca Patton, Col. L.T. Moore's granddaughter, was always dedicated to Beechmoor's preservation during her lifetime. In 1973, she had her lifelong home listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and made provisions to ensure the home would be maintained in the event of her demise. She died in 1986. Since then, it's been maintained by proceeds from a trust fund and rental property income. A paid caretaker lives on the property full time as of 2011. Several attempts have been made by local civic groups to acquire the property as a museum or civic use property due to its historical significance to the area but have not been successful as of this time due to the family of Miss Patton's desire to retain ownership.The Catlett name is still used on a tributary to the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, Catlett's Creek, which follows Kentucky Route 168 for many miles west of the city. Catlettsburg annexed two nearby communities on its borders in the late 19th Century: Hampton City to the south side and Sandy City to the north.
The spelling of the city's name was changed to Catlettsburg from the previous spelling of Catlett's Burg in approximately 1890, as the United States Post Office sought to improve postage delivery service by simplifying operations with the combined name.
Catlettsburg served as a Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
supply depot during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The First Presbyterian Church, 26th and Broadway, served as an army hospital during the war. The church building still serves the congregation of the Presbyterian church in Catlettsburg. The current church, built in 1875, is one of two truly gothic buildings still standing in the U.S. The church is of mid-to-late 19th century Grecian design, with most original fixtures in place. It is often used for wedding ceremonies because of its uniquely rare beauty.
The Catlettsburg National Bank building at the corner of Center and Division/26th Streets is also listed on the National Registry, but has not been restored by its owner Michael Cumpston at this time.
Beginning in the late 19th century and lasting until the early 1920s, Catlettsburg was the largest hardwood timber market in the world due to its location at the mouth of the Big Sandy River. Due to the profitability of harvesting such hardwoods, most all virgin timber that existed for several miles around Catlettsburg was felled during that time period. Very few trees of desirable breeds such as Oak were left standing once the boom was over, mostly to mark private property lines. One known exception to history's hardwood harvest is the existence of a very large healthy Oak, standing on a knob in the Hampton City section. With its origins dating around 1760, it measures 246 inches (6.2 m) in diameter, a rare survivor in a town that was once the largest timber market in the world. As it marks a property line, it escaped mankind's economic interests. It is the oldest known living tree of any breed within the city limits and for many, many miles surrounding the City. There is also a hemlock Maple tree(which measures over 350 inches in diameter) located on the same property, one of a very few that remain in North America as they were all but extinct due to their heavy usage in home construction from 1750-1925.
Rail transportation began to slowly replace the river's prominence as a mode of transportation as the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) railroad began construction of a bridge across the Big Sandy River linking Catlettsburg with Kenova, West Virginia in 1885. The bridge is still traversed by trains many times each day, as a part of CSX corp.'s (formerly C & O Railway) main operations. Known by railroad enthusiasts and historians from around the world, it is unique in design and historic value for its longevity. Used many times daily by CSX freight trains, it is also used by Amtrak's Cardinal passenger train, train numbers 50 and 51, which carries passengers from Chicago to New York City using this bridge.
The Chatteroi railroad preceded the C & O by a few years as the first rail line to travel through Catlettsburg's city limits as it followed the Big Sandy River north from the coal fields to Ashland.
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway built a passenger depot in Catlettsburg in 1906 and operated the facility for over 52 years until 1958 when passenger service was transferred to nearby Ashland. After closing the facility, C & O sold it to the city of Catlettsburg for $1.00. The city has maintained it and used it as a civic center since that time. In 2006, longtime Catlettsburg businessman and politician Russell Compton donated his own personal funds for the restoration of the train depot so it could be restored to its original appearance. Intensive restoration of the depot is now complete, featuring the original directional signage, etc. The facility was renamed the Russell Compton Community Center in 2007 in his honor. In 2010, Mr. Compton again displayed his dedication to the old depot by donating the necessary funds to restore an old C & O caboose to its original appearance. It is now parked on the side of the depot facility.
Modern history
At the turn of the 20th century, Catlettsburg was the largest hardwood timber market in the world, due to its location at the confluence of the Big SandyBig Sandy River (Ohio River)
The Big Sandy River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in western West Virginia and northeastern Kentucky in the United States. The river forms part of the boundary between the two states along its entire course...
and Ohio rivers. Its population has declined considerably since then, once nearing 10,000 residents, but still serves as a trade center for eastern Boyd County
Boyd County, Kentucky
Boyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1860. Its are found at the northeastern edge of the state the near the Ohio River and Big Sandy River, nestled in the verdant rolling hills of Appalachia. The county seat is Catlettsburg. Its largest municipality is...
and has a zip code population of 10,029, which is actually more reflective of the Catlettsburg community's size.
It is home to some of the oldest continually operating businesses in the area. Bowling's Feed and Hardware Store, Craycraft's Foodland Supermarket, Kentucky Farmers Bank have all been in business continually for over 60 years. Kilgore and Collier Funeral Home on Panola Street, is the oldest business in Boyd County, with over 130 years of continual operation in the same location. In October 1997, the Catlettsburg Youth/Family Area Resource group was established with a grant obtained from the hard work of the local 4-H director, Suellen Zornes. Its name was later changed to the Catlettsburg Development Club then became Catlettsburg Main Street Association. Since its inception, many improvements can be credited with the development of the flood wall
Flood wall
A flood wall is a primarily vertical artificial barrier designed to temporarily contain the waters of a river or other waterway which may rise to unusual levels during seasonal or extreme weather events...
murals and many other improvements throughout the city.
The flood wall and grass levies that surround downtown and most residential areas were constructed in 1951 to relieve the city of constant flood damage. Longtime Catlettsburg lawyer and then the city's attorney James Adkins Sr. traveled to Washington D.C. where he went before Congress with a desperate plea for flood protection assistance. A large portion of the City is located in a ten year flood plain, Mr. Adkins efforts along with other obvious factors prompted the U.S. Corps of Engineers to construct the flood wall and levy around the flood plain. As it was much needed at the time, the initial construction mandated the removal of over 500 residential homes which reduced the city's population by over 1,000 immediately. Since construction was complete, no major flooding has occurred in the area protected by the flood wall and levy.
The city has prospered in later years from its location on two Federal Highway routes: U.S. Route 23 and U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
, both of which has served as a benefactor to revenues in the city's general fund. Since the inception of the Federal Highway system in 1926, both routes have gone through the city limits, first using surface streets and now a four-lane highway directly west of the downtown business district. When the completion of the U.S. 23 widening project was completed in 1971, through traffic was then re-routed around downtown, the original business district suffered from decline. By the early 1990s, much of the business district had moved onto the newer four lane U.S. 23. At the project's inception, Catlettsburg officials were concerned with the future increased costs to the city for maintaining the former state roads. They requested that U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
remain on its original 1926 downtown route(from West Virginia bridge on 34th Street, then turning right on Oakland Avenue then onto Louisa Street and then Center Street to the last underpass). They also requested that the old U.S. 23 be re-designated as U.S. 23 business. Both wishes of the city were granted and U.S. 60 remained on the downtown routing. U.S. 23 became U.S. 23 Business. In November 1990, all U.S. 60/U.S. 23 business signage was removed from the original routes. From then on U.S. 60 follows 35th Street from the bridge, turns right onto U.S. 23 and follows it through the city limits to Ashland. When signage for U.S. 23 Business and U.S. 60 were finally removed from downtown, the entire stretch from 36th Street to the last underpass was signed as Ky. Route 3294. This decision was made by the Kentucky Department of Highways in 1987, when a new U.S. 60 bridge to Kenova, West Virginia
Kenova, West Virginia
Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. The name of the town comes from its unique position where the borders of Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia meet. Founded in 1859 but not incorporated until 1894, the town's early history and...
was completed across the Big Sandy River accessed from 35th Street instead of the old 34th Street approach. 34th Street, the road leading to the old bridge remains under maintenance of the state from the old bridge ramp to Court Street, formerly U.S. Route 60 until 1987, and the state continues to maintain it to this day but it is unsigned as a state highway.
The topography of this city is a combination of flat land along the rivers, then steep hillsides with rock cliffs to the western edge of the city limits. A few neighborhoods are located on the hilltops. The rugged terrain provides some breathtaking views from the hills overlooking town, but has also restricted residential housing growth within the city limits. Most of the undeveloped land in the city is steep hill sides and cliffs, which is not conducive to any significant development. Many historic buildings can be found in the city limits, mostly dating from the mid-to-late 19th century. The structural base of the city, mainly centered around the downtown area, was constructed during the hardwood boom of the late 19th century and is of brick/stone, or hardwood construction.
In addition to the re-designation of U.S. 23 and U.S. 60 in the 1970s and 1980s, the downtown business district received another decrease in traffic when the Federal Courthouse was relocated from downtown Catlettsburg to a new home in Ashland in 1985.
For 74 years (since 1911), it had used the upper floors of the Catlettsburg Post Office on 25th Street. The large stone building still has the description etched in stone-"U.S. Post Office and Courthouse". In 1998, a new U.S. Post Office was built on U.S. 23 south of downtown which gave another blow to the central business district. The population within the city limits has been in decline since 1930, mainly due to "urban sprawl" syndrome found in older cities across the U.S. Most significant housing construction has occurred outside the city limits since that time. The last annexation of land area occurred in the 1970s, when 10 homes in the Brumfield Estates addition were annexed into the city. With little annexation into the city limits, and business growth replacing many residential zones within the city, a decrease in population has occurred. The biggest declines in population occurred between 1960 and 1970 and 1980 and 1990. The biggest factor in this decline was the widening of U.S. 23 to a four lane highway which resulted in the removal of several hundred residential dwellings in the 1960s and 1970s. Then beginning in the mid-1980s, many residential zones were removed and replaced with commercial zones, thus removing residents again. The community of Catlettburg has remained the same size over the last 100 years, but the city of Catlettsburg has decreased in population since the 1930s.
About the area
Catlettsburg is located in the northeast corner of Kentucky at the confluenceConfluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of the Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
and Big Sandy
Big Sandy River (Ohio River)
The Big Sandy River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in western West Virginia and northeastern Kentucky in the United States. The river forms part of the boundary between the two states along its entire course...
rivers. It is considered part of the Kentucky, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
"Tri-state area
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Huntington-Ashland-Ironton metropolitan area is a United States metropolitan area that includes five counties in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. A July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 285,624. The MSA is nestled along the...
". The two most significant landmarks in Catlettsburg are the flood wall
Flood wall
A flood wall is a primarily vertical artificial barrier designed to temporarily contain the waters of a river or other waterway which may rise to unusual levels during seasonal or extreme weather events...
and the Catlettsburg Refinery
Catlettsburg Refinery
The Catlettsburg Refinery is the 29th largest American oil refinery. It is located in extreme northeastern Kentucky, at the intersection of Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 23 just outside the town of Catlettsburg, Kentucky and near the city of Huntington, West Virginia. The facility was built in 1922...
. The latter is owned by Marathon Petroleum Company
Marathon Petroleum Company
Marathon Petroleum Corporation is a U.S. based oil refining, marketing, and pipeline transport company. The company was formed as a subsidiary on September 1, 2005, from the former Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC, and is based in Findlay, Ohio...
(formerly Ashland, Inc.
Ashland, Inc.
Ashland Inc. is a Fortune 500 company which operates in more than 100 countries throughout the world. Presently based in Covington, Kentucky, in the United States, the company traces its roots back to Ashland, Kentucky .-History:...
, then Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC).
In 1937, a large snowfall and subsequent rainfall in the mountains of West Virginia swept massive amounts of water into the Ohio River. Catlettsburg was completely inundated with water from this runoff, and what would later be called the 1937 Flood
Ohio River flood of 1937
The Ohio River flood of 1937 took place in late January and February 1937. With damage stretching from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois, one million persons were left homeless, with 385 dead and property losses reaching $500 million...
convinced Ashland
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
, Ironton
Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
, Catlettsburg and Russell
Russell, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,645 people, 1,428 households, and 1,106 families residing in the city. The population density was 910.5 people per square mile . There were 1,584 housing units at an average density of 395.7 per square mile...
that they needed permanent flood protection.
The flood wall/levy was completed in 1951, constructed by Federal funds with assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Works Progress Administration.
Catlettsburg is home to the Catlettsburg Refinery, which is owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation. It was purchased in 1924 by Swiss Oil Corporation (then parent company of Ashland Inc.) and became fully owned by Marathon in 2005. The refinery sits on a 650 acres (2.6 km²) site, has a capacity of 212000 barrels (33,705,306.5 l) per calendar day and is staffed by more than 800 employees.
The ISO 9001-2000 approved refinery processes a wide range of sweet and sour crudes, both imported and domestic. The product mix includes gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, diesel fuel, kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
, jet fuel
Jet fuel
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced to a standardized international specification...
, asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
, propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
, propylene
Propylene
Propene, also known as propylene or methylethylene, is an unsaturated organic compound having the chemical formula C3H6. It has one double bond, and is the second simplest member of the alkene class of hydrocarbons, and it is also second in natural abundance.-Properties:At room temperature and...
, heavy oil (predominately slurry), cumene
Cumene
Cumene is the common name for isopropylbenzene, an organic compound that is an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a constituent of crude oil and refined fuels. It is a flammable colorless liquid that has a boiling point of 152 °C...
, toluene
Toluene
Toluene, formerly known as toluol, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, i.e., one in which a single hydrogen atom from the benzene molecule has been replaced by a univalent group, in this case CH3.It is an aromatic...
, xylene
Xylene
Xylene encompasses three isomers of dimethylbenzene. The isomers are distinguished by the designations ortho- , meta- , and para- , which specify to which carbon atoms the two methyl groups are attached...
, sulfur and dilute naphthalene oil. The refinery produces low sulfur gasoline and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD).
The facility has a rich tradition extending back to the 1920s. Ashland Refining Company purchased the 1000 oilbbl/d plant in 1924, when it was little more than a skimming operation from which a few products were distilled. Partially built to assist the World War II effort, the Catlettsburg Refinery is a landmark for what is commonly known as the “Tri-State area,” connecting Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio. With its strong commitment to technology, safety and its employees, the refinery soon became one of the most modern and efficient in the nation.
Geography
Catlettsburg is located 38°24′59"N 82°36′10"W (38.416273, -82.602762).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (22.42%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,960 people, 827 households, and 519 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,528.8 people per square mile (591.2/km²). There were 959 housing units at an average density of 748.0 per square mile (289.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.16% White, 1.12% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.05% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.10% of the population.
There were 827 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,167, and the median income for a family was $34,118. Males had a median income of $26,683 versus $24,107 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,682. About 15.1% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable inhabitants
- Nannie Scott HonshellNannie Kelly WrightNannie Kelly Wright, born Nannie Scott Honshell was the only known American female ironmaster. -Early life:...
, IronmasterIronmasterAn ironmaster is the manager – and usually owner – of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain....
was born here - Billy C. ClarkBilly C. ClarkBilly Curtis Clark December 19, 1928 – March 15, 2009) was an American author of 11 books and many poems and short stories, heavily influenced by his childhood growing up in poverty in Kentucky.-Biography:...
, nationally recognized author of numerous novels including Goodbye Kate, which had its rights sold to The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into... - Michael PolakovsMichael PolakovsMichael Polakovs , born in Riga, Latvia, was a circus clown who performed in the US under the name of Coco the Clown, a moniker that his father, Nicolai Poliakoff, had made famous in Europe....
, the clown who revamped the Ronald McDonaldRonald McDonaldRonald McDonald is a clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. In television commercials, the clown inhabits a fantasy world called McDonaldland, and has adventures with his friends Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird, and...
character, lived in this area. - Richard BoggsRichard BoggsRichard Pryde Boggs was a California neurologist who was sentenced to life in prison in 1990 for his part in an insurance scheme that involved murdering a man and then giving the victim another person's identity in order to collect a $1.5 million life insurance policy.-Setup:Boggs lured drunk...
, a celebrity stylist in the television, movie and stage industry. Work has been seen on the hit Lifetime Television series "Drop Dead DivaDrop Dead DivaDrop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television...
", Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns" and "House of Payne", as well as several movies. Celebrity clients have included Brooke ShieldsBrooke ShieldsBrooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
, Valerie HarperValerie HarperValerie Harper is an American actress, known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on the 1970s television show The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and for her starring roles on the sitcoms Rhoda and Valerie.-Early life and career:Harper was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Rockland County,...
, Vivica A. FoxVivica A. FoxVivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress and television producer. She is best known for her roles in the films Independence Day, Set It Off, Soul Food, Why Do Fools Fall In Love,Kill Bill and Juwanna Mann....
, Kris KristoffersonKris KristoffersonKristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
, Natasha HenstridgeNatasha HenstridgeNatasha T. Henstridge is a Canadian fashion model turned actress. Her most notable on-screen roles include Species, The Whole Nine Yards, It Had To Be You, Ghosts of Mars, She Spies, the TV series Eli Stone, and the Canadian TV mini-series Would Be Kings, for which she won the Gemini Award for...
, LeAnn RimesLeAnn RimesLeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
, Brooke ElliottBrooke ElliottBrooke Elliott is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role as Jane Bingum on Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva.- Life and career :...
and many others. His work has been featured in TV GuideTV GuideTV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, People, Philly News, Entertainment Tonight, The Beauty LaunchPad, Modern Salon.
Education
The Catlettsburg Independent School district was merged with the Boyd County School District in 1974. Until that time, the city had three elementary schools serving grades K-8 and one high school. After the merger, the Catlettsburg High School campus, which was fairly new (built in 1965), became Catlettsburg Junior High serving grades 7-9. Haney Elementary was closed and students then attended Yost Elementary. Hatfield Elementary remained open. At the close of the 1979-80 school year, Yost Elementary was closed and students were transferred to Hatfield, where a new school building replaced the former. It was then renamed Catlettsburg Elementary. At the time of its closing in 1980, Yost Elementary School was the oldest operating school building in the state of Kentucky and one of the oldest in the United States. It was first constructed in 1894 as the Catlettsburg Public School and served all twelve grades for many years before becoming a grade school. Students in grades 10-12 were transferred to Boyd County High School in 1974. At the end of the 1992-93 school year, the junior high was merged with Summit Junior High (now Boyd County Middle School). Since then, Catlettsburg Elementary is the only school within the city limits, and uses the campus of the former high school/ jr. high school at 3380 Court Street.The gymnasium of Catlettsburg Elementary was built many years before the school buildings that surround it. Part of the "New Deal", it was constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1935. The Catlettsburg High School was built onto it in 1965, and now serves as the elementary school's gymnasium which hosts many civic events such as the Catlettsburg Miss Flame Pageant that feeds into the Miss Kentucky Pageant and Miss America system.
In 1991, Ponderosa Elementary School began educating students when it was constructed at Ponderosa Estates. Both it and the private Calvary Christian School are located about 7 miles (11.3 km) southwest of the city limits.
External links
- Chamber of Commerce
- Catlettsburgkentucky.com
- Catlettsburg Refinery: http://www.mapllc.com/about/catlettsburg.html
- Calvary Christian School