Lynch in Harlan County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

History of Lynch

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017

1. History of Lynch Marker

Inscription.
To build the town and mine support facilities Bog Looney Creek was rerouted and over one mile was walled with local quarried native sandstone.

Among the structures chronicled here, the coal company constructed six miles of concrete paved streets, fifty miles of water lines, power lines, and one of the largest company stores in the world. Also included were a hospital, 120 room hotel, bank, post office, and elementary and high schools. One thousand homes were served by out houses, and each connected to a central sewage system disposal plant.

At its peak city had over 10,000 residents at one time.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 36° 57.953′ N, 82° 55.116′ W. Marker is in Lynch, Kentucky, in Harlan County. Marker is on West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the Portal 31 Exhibition Mine grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Portal 31 Circle, Lynch KY 40855, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. No. 31 Mine Shop (here, next to this marker); Winifrede Mine Conveyor (a few steps from this marker); Power House (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Restaurant Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Mine Ventilating Fan (within shouting distance of this marker); Lamp House No. 2 (within shouting distance of this marker); Lynch Firehouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); No. 31 Mine Portals (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lynch.

More about this marker. This is a large, painted metal, "billboard-style" marker.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Portal 31 Exhibition Mine, Lynch, Kentucky

Also see . . . Decline of the town that coal built. Lynch, Kentucky was built in 1917 by US Steel Corporation, which owned and ran the 'Cadillac' of coal mining towns. At its height, the town had 10,000 residents and 4,000 employees working in the mines and at least 38 nationalities represented. But as coal declined, so did Lynch, though US Steel stayed involved in the town until it sold its mines in 1984. Lynch continued to get worse and today the town has only 649 residents and is barely making it financially. As the town turns 100 this year, residents are doing all they can to keep their town afloat. (Submitted on August 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

History of Lynch Marker (<i>wide view; Main Street (Kentucky 160) in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017

2. History of Lynch Marker (wide view; Main Street (Kentucky 160) in background)

Big Looney Creek (<i>across Main Street from marker; showing sandstone walls</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017

3. Big Looney Creek (across Main Street from marker; showing sandstone walls)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017

4. Big Looney Creek (across Main Street from marker; showing sandstone walls)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 319 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.