Catlettsburg, Kentucky

Catlettsburg is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States. It is the county seat of Boyd County. The city population was 1,960 at the 2000 census. However, the city's postal zip code serves a greater population of 10,029. Catlettsburg is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. Since 1990, the city has prospered due to its proximity to Interstate 64 and its location along U.S. Route 23 and 60, both major regional arteries which overlap in Catlettsburg and travel into the city of Ashland. Many commercial developments have developed on the southern end of the city along these routes.

History

Early history

A post office was opened at this location in 1808 as "Mouth of Sandy". The settlement was incorporated as a city in 1848 as Catlettsburg, named after local landowner Horatio Catlett. The Catlett name still appears on a water tributary to the Ohio River, Catlett's Creek, which is followed out of town by Kentucky Route 168 to the west.

The original Catlett home, built as a log cabin in 1808, is still standing on a wooded hillside at 2600 Walnut Street. It was later remodeled by the wealthy Patton family and named "Beechmore". Slave quarters were later added to the palatial estate.

Catlettsburg served as a Union Army supply depot during the Civil War. The First Presbyterian Church also served as an Army hospital during the war.

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 Sandy 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 and has a zip code population of 10,029, which is more reflective of the community's size.

Long time businesses in the city still operating today are Bowling's Feed and Hardware (65 years), Craycraft's Foodland Market (57 years), Merdie Boggs (45 years), Kentucky Farmers Bank, and the Kilgore and Collier Funeral Home (135 years). In 1997, the Catlettsburg Youth and Family area resource group was founded by local 4-H director Suellen Brown Zornes. The name was later changed to the Catlettsburg Development Club and later Main Street. It can be credited with the development of the flood wall murals and many other improvements throughout the city. The flood wall was built in 1951 to relieve the city of constant flooding and claimed many neighborhoods, reducing the city's population.

U.S. Route 23 was widened and re-routed around the central business district in 1969, which further caused the downtown area to decline. U.S. Route 60 remained as the major thoroughfare downtown until November 1990, when it was rerouted along the US-23 corridor. A new bridge was completed in 1987 to Kenova, West Virginia, across the Big Sandy River.

The topography of the city is a combination of low-lying narrow flat lands and steep rock cliffs, which has hindered the city's growth, but serves as a scenic addition to the city. Historic buildings dating from various eras compose the structural base of the city, mainly centered in the downtown area.

The downtown business district received other blows in addition to the highway re-routings, first when the federal courthouse was relocated to Ashland in 1985, and then when the U.S. Post Office was relocated to a new facility on U.S. 23, reducing traffic counts downtown.

About the area

Catlettsburg is located in the northeast corner of Kentucky at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers. It is considered part of the Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio "Tri-state area". The two most significant landmarks in Catlettsburg are the flood wall and the Catlettsburg Refinery. The latter is owned by Marathon Petroleum Company (formerly Ashland, Inc., then Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC). The refinery is somewhat unique within the company because it produces a wide variety of petroleum products. Many MAP refineries, such as the one in Garyville, Louisiana, produce only two or three.

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 convinced Ashland, Ironton, Catlettsburg and Russell that they needed permanent flood protection.

Geography

Catlettsburg is located (38.416273, -82.602762).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.3 km²), of which, 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (22.42%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,960 people, 827 households, and 519 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,528.8 people per square mile (591.2/km²). There were 959 housing units at an average density of 748.0/sq mi (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, 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 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 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

• Billy C. Clark, nationally recognized author of numerous novels including Goodbye Kate, which had its rights sold to The Walt Disney Company

Education

Catlettsburg Elementary School is the only school within the city limits, and is a member of the Boyd County Public School System.

Cavalry Christian School is a Private School, However not located within the city limits, shares the Postal Address and ZIP Code of Catlettsburg.

See also

• List of cities and towns along the Ohio River

References

External links

• Chamber of Commerce
• Catlettsburgkentucky.com
• Catlettsburg Refinery: http://www.mapllc.com/about/catlettsburg.html