The Unique History of Jenkins Kentucky – Kentucky Tennessee Living

Jenkins street 1925 — Jenkins Kentucky 1925

The Unique History of Jenkins Kentucky… 1910-1925.
Located in Letcher County on the Virginian border along US 23. Lies a sleepy little coal camp town. At first glance, Jenkins Kentucky looks like any other coal camp town.

Yet, because of its history, topography, and geology. Jenkins is a very unique place, for quite a few reasons. But, the most unique thing about Jenkins Kentucky. Is that in January 1910, it did not exist.

Jenkins early Construction 1911
Photo Appalachian Learning Labratory Alice Lloyd College

But within 15 years it would be transformed. What began as an isolated valley with a few log houses. Was soon to become a modern city of 10,000 people.

This amazing story begins 133 years ago…

With a “Tent City” in John Wright’s Cow pasture.

Construction Camp 9-1910 — Construction camp, Elkhorn Creek Sept 1910

The History of Jenkins Kentucky

A Brief History of Jenkins Ky
In the fall of 1910, the Consolidation Coal Company, (known as Consol), purchased one hundred thousand acres of coal lands in Letcher County
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Jenkins History part 1
The most unique thing about Jenkins Ky is that in January 1910 it did not exist.
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Jenkins History part 2
The story of Richard Broas standing in the Elkhorn creek in Pike County examining a piece of coal is likely to have occurred in Sept 1883.
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Jenkins History part 3
The Consolidation Coal Company had purchased 100,000 acres of land that was the greatest coal find in the country. It was also cut off from the rest of the industrial world
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Jenkins History part 4
The town of Jenkins was so picturesque that a newspaper from Ashland Kentucky said about Lakeside “The clubhouse and lakefront look more like a summer resort than a mining camp.”
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