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Moving to Lynch, Kentucky

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Lynch, Kentucky is located in Harlan County, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. The city has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot, humid summers. It has a rich history as one of the coal mining towns that was home to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). Lynch was also an important stop on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and was once home to the largest coal tipple in the world. Today, Lynch is still heavily dependent on coal mining as its main economy.

The city is served by several schools including Lynch Elementary School, Harlan County High School, and Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College. Each of these schools offer a variety of educational opportunities for students living in Lynch.

There are several landmarks throughout Lynch that give visitors insight into its past and present. The most notable landmark is the abandoned coal tipple that once served as an entrance to downtown Lynch. Other landmarks include Tanyard Branch Falls, which is a waterfall located near downtown, and The Big Four Bridge which spans across the Cumberland River connecting Harlan County to Bell County. Additionally, there are two museums located in town: The Coal Mining Museum of Appalachia and The Harlan County Heritage Museum which provides visitors with an inside look into Appalachia’s unique culture and history.

Population: 900. Estimated population in July 2024: 844 (-6.2% change)
Males: 407 (45.2%), Females: 493 (54.8%)

Harlan County

Zip code: 40855

Demographics

Median resident age: 43.3 years
Median household income: $17,609
Median house value: $28,800

Population by Race

Races in Lynch:

  • White Non-Hispanic (73.2%)
  • Black (24.9%)
  • Two or more races (1.4%)
  • American Indian (0.7%)

Ancestries: United States (23.2%), English (11.6%), Irish (7.0%), Italian (3.8%), German (3.6%), Dutch (1.7%).

Elevation: 1720 feet

Land area: 0.3 square miles

Map of Lynch, KY

Population by Education

Lynch, Kentucky is a small town located in Harlan County. The population of Lynch is estimated to be around 1,000 people. The majority of the population are white, making up about 88% according to the 2010 census. The remaining 12% of the population is made up of African Americans, Hispanics, and other ethnicities.

The average age in Lynch is 39 years old. There are many young families living in Lynch with children making up about 34% of the population. Most families have two or three children and many households are single-parent homes.

The median household income for Lynch is around $31,000 per year and most residents work in the coal mining industry or service industries such as tourism and hospitality. Unemployment rates remain high in the area due to changes in the coal industry over recent years, but there has been some growth in jobs related to tourism and hospitality which has helped to provide some economic stability for residents.

Education levels vary within Lynch with most adults having a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest degree earned. However, there are still some individuals who never finished high school or did not pursue higher education beyond that point due to financial constraints or other reasons.

Overall, Lynch has a strong sense of community and offers a unique way of life that many enjoy living within its borders. Despite the challenges that come from being a small town with limited resources, Lynch remains resilient and its people are proud of their hometown culture and traditions that have been passed down for generations.

For population 25 years and over in Lynch

  • High school or higher: 69.9%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.0%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 4.3%
  • Unemployed: 15.5%
  • Mean travel time to work: 25.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Lynch city

  • Never married: 21.1%
  • Now married: 48.2%
  • Separated: 1.7%
  • Widowed: 16.4%
  • Divorced: 12.6%

1.2% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -269 (-23.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Lynch:

  • WELMONT LONESOME PINE HOSPITAL (about 13 miles; BIG STONE GAP, VA)
  • WHITESBURG ARH HOSPITAL (about 13 miles; WHITESBURG, KY)
  • LEE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 17 miles; PENNINGTON GAP, VA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Lynch:

  • TRI-CITIES RGNL TN/VA (about 50 miles; BRISTOL/JOHNSON/KINGSPORT, TN; Abbreviation: TRI)
  • TRI-STATE/MILTON J. FERGUSON FIELD (about 100 miles; HUNTINGTON, WV; Abbreviation: HTS)
  • ASHEVILLE REGIONAL (about 109 miles; ASHEVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: AVL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Lynch:

  • LONESOME PINE (about 28 miles; WISE, VA; Abbreviation: LNP)
  • LEE COUNTY (about 30 miles; JONESVILLE, VA; Abbreviation: 0VG)
  • TUCKER-GUTHRIE MEMORIAL (about 32 miles; HARLAN, KY; Abbreviation: I35)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Lynch:

  • NORTHEAST STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 48 miles; BLOUNTVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,729)
  • WALTERS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 59 miles; MORRISTOWN, TN; Full-time enrollment: 3,893)
  • EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 60 miles; JOHNSON CITY, TN; Full-time enrollment: 9,498)
  • CARSON-NEWMAN COLLEGE (about 71 miles; JEFFERSON CITY, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,073)
  • SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 78 miles; RICHLANDS, VA; Full-time enrollment: 2,412)
  • MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY (about 92 miles; MOREHEAD, KY; Full-time enrollment: 6,866)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE (about 95 miles; ASHEVILLE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,759)

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