Pathfork is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Harlan County, Kentucky, United States, located to the south bank of Wallins Creek. Its population was 379 as of the 2010 census.[3] The community's main roads are East Hwy 72, which connects from US 119, and travels to an end at Old RB Mines, however, 72 runs to Harlan via gravel road, and Ky 2005 an old gravel road that leads to Smith/Brownies Creek, south of Harlan, Kentucky.

Pathfork, Kentucky
View of eastern Pathfork above one of the mountains
View of eastern Pathfork above one of the mountains
Pathfork is located in Kentucky
Pathfork
Pathfork
Pathfork is located in the United States
Pathfork
Pathfork
Coordinates: 36°45′21″N 83°27′53″W / 36.75583°N 83.46472°W / 36.75583; -83.46472
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyHarlan
Area
 • Total1.25 sq mi (3.24 km2)
 • Land1.24 sq mi (3.22 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
1,240 ft (380 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total326
 • Density262.27/sq mi (101.26/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
40863
Area code606
GNIS feature ID489796[2]

Demographics

edit
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2020326
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

Overview

edit

The community used to rely heavily on coal mining, but the coal industry in Pathfork has faced significant challenges in recent years due to the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy sources. A small community park, known as Coal Miner's Memorial Park, was created to honor the community's ties to coal mining.

There are four churches in the community: Insull Holiness, Pathfork Holiness Church, Pathfork Baptist, and Blackstar Pentecostal Church.

References

edit
  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "Coldiron". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.