Coalfield, Kentucky

Coalfield is a city in Roxbury County, Kentucky. The population in 2000 was 44,929.

History
The establishment of Coalfield was sparked in 1839 with the establishment of the South Illinois Mine along the Elghery Railroad. Rural residents seeking better lifestyles migrated to the area, building farms near the coal mine. Many who moved to the area gained employment working in the mine, thus leaving their farms short-staffed and in bad shape.

Multiple civil war battles were fought in the fields of historical Coalfield. Confederate soldiers coming in through Kentucky used gasoline and matches to set fire to crop fields in order to weaken the infrastructure. It was done successfully, putting the Coalfield area in six years of famine, from 1862 to 1867.

It wasn't until 1914 that the area experienced any recovery. Factory investors began to utilize the coal mine by building a freight yard and many factories along the railroad. The demand for jobs allowed a town to develop around the industrial park. The living conditions were heavily improved over the surrounding rural area. The average household income in the town was $42,185 ($1,855 in 1910), versus a mere $14,494 ($637) in the farms.

During the 1930s, urban areas began developing around the railroad, and the city of Coalfield was established in 1938 with a population of 9,745. Further development eventually expanded the city during the 1950s, and subdivisions were built during the 60s and 70s, filling the valley. The population in 1970 was 34,918, and the 1976 estimate was 40,002.

In order to make improvements to the surrounding corporate, the city annexed most of the land in 1976, raising the population to just over 73,000. Due to the fact that there were many ordinances relating to urban areas that were still enforced in agricultural land, this outraged many, leading up to the 1977 Coalfield Riot which lasted through the month of March 1977.

Five civillians and two police officers were murdered in the riots. In addition, as many as 90 houses were arsonized, and another 300 burglarized. Fear, crime, unemployment and violence from the riots caused about 11,000 people to leave the city. This massive drop in population left approximately 9% raise in the abandonment rate, more than doubling it.

The population in 1980 was 60,094. The abandonment rate in 1980 was 16%. Approximately 62% of adults were high school graduates, compared to 87% in 1970. The median household income in 1980 was $24,981, a drop from 1970's $36,057.

The lack of desire to live in the rural areas of the city caused many farmers to move out. However, many were very poor, and could not afford the high costs of living in the urban areas of Coalfield. Trailer parks were constructed, especially around railroads. With these trailer parks came crime and litter of the rural areas. However, during the 1990s, the open land created by vacant farms allowed subdivision real estate to thrive.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,383 people, 29,188 households, and 14,522 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,418.3 per square mile.

The racial makeup of the city was 67.48% White, 21.08% African American, 4.17% Native American, 3.72% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 3.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,716, and the median income for a family was $38,018. The per capita income for the city was $15,646. About 14.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line.

The median income for a household in rural areas was $38,945; versus $30,088 in urban areas. Due to the large population of citizens in rural areas living in subdivisions versus farms and villages, the city of Coalfield has the third most affluent rural area in the county.

Crime
Coalfield has a high crime rate due to an increased number of assaults, thefts and robberies over the past thirty years.

The Coalfield Police Department includes 91 sworn officers and six neighborhood watch commissions. In 2000, the ratio of officers to citizens was 1 officer for every 717 people.

Coalfield's police department is one of the most well-paying departments in the country with the average officer making around $62,424 a year. However, superior officers only make $76,442 to $85,590; far below national standards