Hyden, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Hyden is a city in Leslie County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The population was 365 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Leslie County
. It is located at the junction of U.S. Route 421
and Kentucky Route 80, along the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River
.
The area was first settled around 1817 by the John Sizemore family of North Carolina. The town was established in 1878 and incorporated in 1882, and was named after John Hyden, a state senator of the time who helped form Leslie County. The mountainous terrain made the region difficult to access except by river, which was no longer the dominant form of transportation by the late 19th century, hindering growth.
Hyden briefly came to national attention when the Hurricane Creek mine disaster
occurred in late 1970, five miles from Hyden.
In July 1978, during the C. Allen Muncy campaign Richard Nixon
came to Hyden to make his first public speech since resigning from the presidency during the Watergate
crisis. Hyden was picked because Nixon wanted a town that he had been heavily supported in in his Presidential runs; he wasn't let down as he received a hero's welcome in Hyden.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 204 people, 95 households, and 58 families residing in the city. The population density
was 256.0 people per square mile (98.5/km²). There were 112 housing units at an average density of 140.6 per square mile (54.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.51% White and 0.49% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 95 households out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples
living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the city, the population was spread out with 15.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 74.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,429, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $24,792 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,966. About 3.2% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 24.4% of those sixty five or over.
Leslie County, Kentucky
Leslie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 12,401. Its county seat is Hyden. The county is named for Preston H. Leslie, Governor of Kentucky...
, 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...
. The population was 365 at the 2010 census. It 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 Leslie County
Leslie County, Kentucky
Leslie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 12,401. Its county seat is Hyden. The county is named for Preston H. Leslie, Governor of Kentucky...
. It is located at the junction of U.S. Route 421
U.S. Route 421
U.S. Route 421 is a spur route of U.S. 21. It runs for from Michigan City, Indiana, at U.S. 20, to Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The highway goes through the cities of Indianapolis, Indiana, Lexington, Kentucky, Boone, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina and...
and Kentucky Route 80, along the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River
Kentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the...
.
The area was first settled around 1817 by the John Sizemore family of North Carolina. The town was established in 1878 and incorporated in 1882, and was named after John Hyden, a state senator of the time who helped form Leslie County. The mountainous terrain made the region difficult to access except by river, which was no longer the dominant form of transportation by the late 19th century, hindering growth.
Hyden briefly came to national attention when the Hurricane Creek mine disaster
Hurricane Creek mine disaster
The Hurricane Creek mine disaster occurred five miles from Hyden, Kentucky on December 30, 1970, shortly after noon, and resulted in the deaths of 38 men. As was often pointed out in coverage of the disaster, it occurred a year to the day after the passage of the Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of...
occurred in late 1970, five miles from Hyden.
In July 1978, during the C. Allen Muncy campaign Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
came to Hyden to make his first public speech since resigning from the presidency during the Watergate
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
crisis. Hyden was picked because Nixon wanted a town that he had been heavily supported in in his Presidential runs; he wasn't let down as he received a hero's welcome in Hyden.
Geography
Hyden is located at 37°9′48"N 83°22′30"W (37.163456, -83.375065).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
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 204 people, 95 households, and 58 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 256.0 people per square mile (98.5/km²). There were 112 housing units at an average density of 140.6 per square mile (54.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.51% White and 0.49% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 95 households out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% 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, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the city, the population was spread out with 15.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 74.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,429, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $24,792 versus $31,250 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 $13,966. About 3.2% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 24.4% of those sixty five or over.
Notable residents
- Tim CouchTim CouchTimothy Scott "Tim" Couch is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Kentucky...
- NFL QuarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... - The Osborne BrothersOsborne BrothersThe Osborne Brothers, Sonny Osborne and Bobby Osborne , were an influential and popular bluegrass act during the 1960s and 1970s...
- bluegrass musicians - John HensleyJohn HensleyJohn Carter Hensley II is an American actor. His film appearances have included Peoples, Fifty Pills, Teeth, and Shutter.-Filmography:-External links:*...
- actor - Ryan AdamsRyan AdamsDavid Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
- lived as a child - Willie SandlinWillie SandlinWillie Sandlin was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.-Biography:...
- World War I Congressional Medal of Honor recipient