David, Kentucky

David is an unincorporated community and coal town in Floyd County, Kentucky, United States along County Route 404. Located in the Appalachian Mountains, it lies approximately 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Lexington. The town was named for David L. Francis, president of Princess Elkhorn Coal Company which originally built and owned the town.[1] It bears the postal ZIP code 41616. The U.S. Census of 2000 recorded a population of 435.[2]

David, Kentucky
Unincorporated community
David
Location within the Commonwealth of Kentucky
David
David (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°35′58″N 82°53′27″W
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyFloyd
Elevation
709 ft (216 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total435
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
41616
Area code(s)606
GNIS feature ID490621

Although it was formerly a company town, it was in many ways a model coal community with many amenities not typical of the region at the time including a swimming pool, central water and sewer, and cable TV service. The company also supported a children's choir which toured nationally. When Princess-Elkhorn sold the community in the late 1960s, many of these amenities fell into disrepair and the housing stock deteriorated from over 100 units to slightly more than 30. The town rallied around a hepatitis outbreak and ended up purchasing the entire town from the investor who owned it. The mechanism for this purchase was the creation of the David Community Development Corporation, which went on to secure funding for a new water and sewer system, a fire station, a new park and several dozen new homes.

The David School is featured in the six-hour documentary film Country Boys which was broadcast in Frontline on PBS, about two residents, Chris and Cody, and their life in a poor, rural mountain town.

References
  1. Rennick, Robert M. (1988). "Place Names". Kentucky Place Names. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-0179-4. Retrieved on 2010-12-14
  2. Zip Code Tabulation Area 41616 Archived 2020-02-16 at Archive.today U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2010-12-14
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