Cumberland, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,611 people, 1,076 households, and 723 families residing in the city. The population density
was 570.5 people per square mile (220.1/km²). There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 281.4 per square mile (108.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.60% White
, 5.09% African American
, 0.50% Native American
, 0.04% Asian
, 0.04% from other races
, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 1,076 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples
living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $15,929, and the median income for a family was $22,365. Males had a median income of $34,327 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,835. About 31.5% of families and 38.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.3% of those under age 18 and 19.5% of those age 65 or over.
, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System
.
, which features a lake, gift shop, camp sites putt-putt golf, paddleboating, picnic facilities, primitive camping, hiking trials, and an amphitheatre
. The park is also home to natural rock formations including Raven Rock and Log Rock. The park also is home to two overlooks that provide scenic views of the Appalachian Mountains
.
in Cumberland. The festival includes live demonstrations of Appalachian methods and traditions. The most recent of festivals is the annual Black Bear Festival which is in honor of the popular black bears at Kingdom Come State Park
Kingdom Come State Park is operated by park manager Ricky C. Fuller.
Southeast Community and Technical College - Cumberland campus holds a free of charge, annual concert featuring local talent. The event is called Crawdad-O-Ween and is held each Halloween in Cumberland.
Census
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 2,611 people, 1,076 households, and 723 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 570.5 people per square mile (220.1/km²). There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 281.4 per square mile (108.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.60% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 5.09% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.50% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.04% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.04% 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 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 1,076 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% 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, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $15,929, and the median income for a family was $22,365. Males had a median income of $34,327 versus $13,750 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 $9,835. About 31.5% of families and 38.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.3% of those under age 18 and 19.5% of those age 65 or over.
Higher Educational Institutions
Cumberland is home to the main campus of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeSoutheast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College , located in Cumberland, Kentucky, USA, is one of 16 two-year, open-admissions colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System . It was founded in 1960 as the Southeast Center of the University of Kentucky...
, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System
Kentucky Community and Technical College System
Headquartered in Versailles, Kentucky, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System comprises 16 colleges with over 68 campuses. Programs offered include associate degrees, pre-baccalaureate education to transfer to a public 4-year institution; adult education, continuing and developmental...
.
Libraries
Cumberland is home to Rebecca Caudill Public Library. The library was first established in 1965 in an old store building located on Myers St. in Cumberland, Kentucky. It was funded by the State Department of Libraries. When the library was opened it was named in honor of a local author, Rebecca Caudill. In 1972, the Cumberland Branch moved to a newly constructed building, located on Main St., funded by state library funds. In 1995, an addition to this construction was completed. Project funds were provided by an LSCA Grant through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, the Harlan County Library District and gifts. Rebecca Caudill Public Library is a branch of the Harlan County Public Libraries.Attractions and Parks
Cumberland is home to Kingdom Come State ParkKingdom Come State Park
Kingdom Come State Park is in Kentucky's state park system. It is located in Harlan County near the city of Cumberland and is situated atop Pine Mountain, and boasts both Raven Rock and Log Rock.-Natural Formations:...
, which features a lake, gift shop, camp sites putt-putt golf, paddleboating, picnic facilities, primitive camping, hiking trials, and an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
. The park is also home to natural rock formations including Raven Rock and Log Rock. The park also is home to two overlooks that provide scenic views of the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
.
Festivals
Cumberland is home to the annual Kingdom Come Swappin' Meetin', a festival honoring Appalachian history, folklore, and products. The festival is held on the campus of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeSoutheast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College , located in Cumberland, Kentucky, USA, is one of 16 two-year, open-admissions colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System . It was founded in 1960 as the Southeast Center of the University of Kentucky...
in Cumberland. The festival includes live demonstrations of Appalachian methods and traditions. The most recent of festivals is the annual Black Bear Festival which is in honor of the popular black bears at Kingdom Come State Park
Kingdom Come State Park is operated by park manager Ricky C. Fuller.
Southeast Community and Technical College - Cumberland campus holds a free of charge, annual concert featuring local talent. The event is called Crawdad-O-Ween and is held each Halloween in Cumberland.
Further reading
- Caudill, Harry M.Harry M. CaudillHarry M. Caudill was an American author, historian, lawyer, legislator, and environmentalist from Letcher County, in the coalfields of southeastern Kentucky.-Biography:...
, Night Comes to the CumberlandsNight Comes to the CumberlandsNight Comes to the Cumberlands is a book by Harry Caudill that brought attention to poverty in Appalachia and is credited with making the Appalachian area a focus of the United State government's "War on Poverty"...
(1963). ISBN 0-316-13212-8