Pikeville, Kentucky

Pikeville is a city in Pike County, Kentucky. The population was 6,903 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pike County.

History
On March 25, 1822, the county's government officials decided to build a new county seat named Liberty, one and one-half mile below the mouth of the Russell Fork River. But some Pike County residents opposed the plan and wanted the county seat to be built at a different location. So the following year, the residents agreed on a location on farm of Elijah Adkins. The new county seat was originally known as Pike or Piketon, but in 1850 it was officially named Pikeville, after explorer Zebulon Pike. On May 6, 1893, Pikeville officially became a city with a charter granted by Kentucky governor John Young Brown.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,295 people, 2,705 households, and 1,563 families residing in the city. The population density was 408.0 people per square mile (157.5/km²). There were 2,981 housing units at an average density of 193.2 per square mile (74.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.58% White, 2.64% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 2,705 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 22.2% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,026, and the median income for a family was $36,792. Males had a median income of $42,298 versus $19,306 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,426. About 21.2% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.7% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

Geography
Pikeville is located at °N, °W (37.477094, -82.530111). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city covers a total land area of 15.4 square miles (40 km2). As of March, 2009, Pikeville set its new city limits to be 0.3 miles from its main county line. This significantly affected the city of Coal Run Village, which was previously on the city limit of Pikeville.

The city is located in the Appalachian Mountains, along the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. The downtown area is built in a narrow valley in a bend of the Levisa Fork that was bypassed in 1987 with the completion of the Pikeville Cut-Through, while places such as Weddington Square Plaza are built in a broader part of the river valley.

Elementary schools

 * Pikeville Elementary School
 * St. Francis of Assisi School
 * Christ Central School
 * Mullins Elementary School
 * Robinson Creek Elementary School
 * Dorton Elementary School
 * Johns Creek Elementary

High schools
Three high schools are served by the Pikeville post office, but only Pikeville High is located in the city of Pikeville.
 * Pikeville High School — part of the Pikeville Independent Schools, whose district covers the city proper
 * Pike County Central High School — part of the Pike County School System
 * Shelby Valley High School — part of the Pike County School System

Colleges

 * University of Pikeville, a private 4-year institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, is located in Pikeville. The college is one of the smallest in the nation to have an osteopathic medicine program as part of its curriculum. Founded in May 1996, the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine is one of three medical schools in the state of Kentucky, along with the M.D.-awarding medical schools at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville.
 * National College
 * Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Entertainment
In the month of April is one of the state's largest festivals: Hillbilly Days. The festival embraces the area's culture and past through company, music, and costume. The proceeds from the festival go to Shriners Hospitals for Children. . The festival serves to honor and recognize the heritage of Appalachia, while poking fun at the stereotype associated with the region.

In the fall of 2005 the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center opened in downtown Pikeville. The center, which seats 7,000, features numerous events including world renowned concerts and shows. The city is also home to the Pikeville Concert Association which secures renowned cultural events for the area. These events usually take place at Booth Auditorium on the campus of Pikeville College.

The Expo Center will be home to the East Kentucky Energy of the American Basketball Association starting in fall 2010, and starting in spring 2011 will be home to the Eastern Kentucky Drillers of the Ultimate Indoor Football League.

Notable residents

 * Woody Blackburn, professional golfer and PGA Tour winner.
 * Robert Damron, professional golfer and PGA Tour winner.
 * Patty Loveless, country music singer Born In Elkhorn City.
 * Dwight Yoakam, born in Pikeville on October 23, 1956, country music singer-songwriter.
 * Paul E. Patton, Governor of Kentucky 1995-2003.
 * Mark Reynolds, baseball player for Baltimore Orioles.
 * Will T. Scott, Deputy Chief Justice, Kentucky Supreme Court, 2004–present.
 * Stephen Cochran, American Country music singer and songwriter
 * Jonny Venters, baseball player for Atlanta Braves.