Fleming-Neon, Kentucky: Difference between revisions

 

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”’Fleming-Neon”’ also known as ”’Neon”’, is a [[List of cities in Kentucky|home rule-class city]] in [[Letcher County, Kentucky|Letcher County]], [[Kentucky]], in the United States. The population was 770 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name=”Census 2010″>{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2127846&tid=DECENNIALSF12010.P1| title=Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Fleming-Neon city, Kentucky| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=data.census.gov| access-date=February 11, 2020}}</ref> down from 840 at the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].

”’Fleming-Neon”’ also known as ”’Neon”’, is a [[List of cities in Kentucky|home rule-class city]] in [[Letcher County, Kentucky|Letcher County]], [[Kentucky]], in the United States. The population was 770 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name=”Census 2010″>{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2127846&tid=DECENNIALSF12010.P1| title=Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Fleming-Neon city, Kentucky| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=data.census.gov| access-date=February 11, 2020}}</ref> down from 840 at the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].

==History==

==History==

The area that became Neon was originally known as ”’Chip”’, which served as a ”’lumber yard”’ and storage site for yellow poplar.<ref>{{Cite book |last=The Jenkins Area Jaycees, and Elizabeth Wassum Dramcyzk. Edited by Shanna Yonts and Lanna Dixon |title=The History Of Jenkins, Kentucky |location=Jenkins, Ky |publication-date=1973 |pages=Interview with Roy Fleming}}</ref> A post office operated under the name “Chip” from ”’1902 until 1915”’.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1903 |title=Post Offices Established: Chip, Letcher County. |work=The Postal Bulletin}}</ref> Unlike many surrounding “company towns,” Neon was developed by the ”’Letcher Coal and Development Company”’ (also known as the Letcher County Coal and Improvement Company), a local enterprise founded by businessmen from Whitesburg.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1914 |title=New Coal Company |work=The Courier-Journal |pages=3}}</ref> In ”’1910”’, James H. Frazier purchased the 31-acre site from Robert Younts for $3,100.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 14, 1910 |title=High Priced Land |work=The Big Sandy News |pages=1}}</ref>

The city was established by the [[Elkhorn Coal Corporation]] which moved into the area in 1913. ”’Fleming”’ was the location of the mine and was named for its first president, [[George W. Fleming]].<ref name=ren>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&pg=PA103 | title=Kentucky Place Names | publisher=University Press of Kentucky | year=1987 | access-date=2013-04-28 | author=Rennick, Robert M. | pages=103| isbn=0813126312 }}</ref> A city named “Chip” existed near the community that became Fleming; it was quickly built up and served as a trading center for the nearby coal towns. The train that hauled the coal out of Fleming would make stops in ”’Neon”’. Local tradition holds that the conductor would holler instructions to people climbing aboard the train to “Knee On” and this was corrupted into the present name, replacing Chip. In 1977, the two towns were merged into Fleming-Neon during their municipal incorporation by the [[Kentucky General Assembly|General Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyAtlas/ky-fleming-neon.html |title = Fleming-Neon, Kentucky}}</ref>

The developers marketed the town as the ”'”hub””’ of the Boone’s Fork coal fields, selling building and residence lots through public auctions starting in ”’February 1914”’.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 29, 1914 |title=Lots For Sale! |work=The Mountain Eagle}}</ref> Following a period of noted lawlessness, the town was ”’formally incorporated in August 1916”’ by order of Judge John F. Butler.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 1, 1916 |title=After Judge John F. Butler made an order incorporating the new town of Neon… |work=The Big Sandy News |pages=3}}</ref>

”'<u>The Naming of Neon</u>”’

Local folklore long maintained that the name “Neon” originated from a train conductor shouting “Knee On” to passengers boarding via a stump.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Maryland H. |date=May 27, 1948 |title=How Neon Got Its Name |work=The Mountain Eagle}}</ref> However, primary source records ”’debunk this myth”’, as the name “Neon” appeared in newspaper reports as early as ”’November 15, 1912”’—before the first passenger train reached the town.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 21, 1912 |title=Opening of Stations: Neon |work=The Hazard Herald |pages=1}}</ref> Furthermore, all contemporary locomotives and passenger cars were equipped with standard steps. A more plausible theory suggests the name was derived from the ”’Greek word neon”’, meaning ”'”new,””’ reflecting its status as a newly developed town.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-05 |title=Definition of NEON |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neon |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref>

”'<u>Development of Fleming</u>”’

”’Fleming”’ was established in ”’1913”’ as a ”'”model city””’ by the ”’Mineral Fuel Company”’ (later part of the Elkhorn Coal Corporation). Named for company president ”’George W. Fleming”’,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wright |first=Jeremy Paul |title=The History of Fleming-Neon |year=2023 |isbn=979-8-71-893643-8 |pages=55}}</ref> the town was built to house thousands of workers for the nearby mines. By late 1913, Fleming was a booming industrial center with a population of approximately ”’2,500 people”’.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 21, 1913 |title=New Industrial City to Rise Phoenix Like |work=The Courier-Journal |pages=4}}</ref>

”'<u>Consolidation and Modern Era</u>”’

For decades, Neon and Fleming operated as separate municipalities separated only by the L&N Railroad tracks. In ”’May 1977”’, residents of both towns voted to ”’merge their governments”’ to qualify for increased federal revenue sharing and program benefits.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 9, 1977 |title=Merger means new mayor |work=The Mountain Eagle |pages=1}}</ref> ”’James Howard Seals”’ was elected the first mayor of the unified City of Fleming-Neon in November 1977.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1977 |title=Election Results |work=The Mountain Eagle |pages=21}}</ref>

==Geography==

==Geography==

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==Education==

==Education==

Fleming-Neon High School served as the high school for the area for about 80 years. It was built in 1925 by the Elkhorn Coal Corporation to provide an educational system for the children of the coal miners. The school’s mascot was a pirate, and the school colors were purple and gold. The original building was destroyed by fire on the night of February 11, 1958. Classes were held in the evenings in the Fleming-Neon Elementary School building until a new building was constructed in the same location as the old building. Classes resumed on the hill until June 6, 2005. The graduating class of 2005 was the last for Fleming-Neon High School due to consolidation with two other county schools, Whitesburg High School and Letcher High School, to form Letcher County Central High School.<ref>http://www.piratehistory.friendpages.com–17:19{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, 3 July 2009 (UTC)</ref>

Fleming-Neon High School served as the high school for the area for about 80 years. It was built in 1925 . The school’s mascot was a , and the school colors were purple and gold. The original building was destroyed by fire on the night of February 11, 1958. Classes were held in the evenings in the Fleming-Neon Elementary School building until a new building was constructed in the same location as the old building. Classes resumed on the hill until June 6, 2005. The graduating class of 2005 was the last for Fleming-Neon High School due to consolidation with two other county schools, Whitesburg High School and Letcher High School, to form Letcher County Central High School.<ref>http://www.piratehistory.friendpages.com–17:19{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, 3 July 2009 (UTC)</ref>

==Notable people==

==Notable people==

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* [[Johnny Cox]], [[Chicago Zephyrs]] professional basketball player

* [[Johnny Cox]], [[Chicago Zephyrs]] professional basketball player

* [[Hoover Dawahare]], businessman and politician

* [[Hoover Dawahare]], businessman and politician

* [[Clay Stapleton|Clayton Stapleton]]”’,”’ A former Fleming High student-athlete who became a prominent head football coach and athletic director at Iowa State and Florida State.

==References==

==References==

City in Kentucky, United States

Fleming-Neon also known as Neon, is a home rule-class city in Letcher County, Kentucky, in the United States. Formed by the 1977 merger of two distinct communities: the privately developed town of Neon and the coal company town of Fleming. ^[2] The population was 770 at the 2010 census,^[3] down from 840 at the 2000 census.

The area that became Neon was originally known as Chip, which served as a lumber yard and storage site for yellow poplar.^[4] A post office operated under the name “Chip” from 1902 until 1915.^[5] Unlike many surrounding “company towns,” Neon was developed by the Letcher Coal and Development Company (also known as the Letcher County Coal and Improvement Company), a local enterprise founded by businessmen from Whitesburg.^[6] In 1910, James H. Frazier purchased the 31-acre site from Robert Younts for $3,100.^[7]

The developers marketed the town as the “hub” of the Boone’s Fork coal fields, selling building and residence lots through public auctions starting in February 1914.^[8] Following a period of noted lawlessness, the town was formally incorporated in August 1916 by order of Judge John F. Butler.^[9]

The Naming of Neon

Local folklore long maintained that the name “Neon” originated from a train conductor shouting “Knee On” to passengers boarding via a stump.^[10] However, primary source records debunk this myth, as the name “Neon” appeared in newspaper reports as early as November 15, 1912—before the first passenger train reached the town.^[11] Furthermore, all contemporary locomotives and passenger cars were equipped with standard steps. A more plausible theory suggests the name was derived from the Greek word neon, meaning “new,” reflecting its status as a newly developed town.^[12]

Development of Fleming

Fleming was established in 1913 as a “model city” by the Mineral Fuel Company (later part of the Elkhorn Coal Corporation). Named for company president George W. Fleming,^[13] the town was built to house thousands of workers for the nearby mines. By late 1913, Fleming was a booming industrial center with a population of approximately 2,500 people.^[14]

Consolidation and Modern Era

For decades, Neon and Fleming operated as separate municipalities separated only by the L&N Railroad tracks. In May 1977, residents of both towns voted to merge their governments to qualify for increased federal revenue sharing and program benefits.^[15] James Howard Seals was elected the first mayor of the unified City of Fleming-Neon in November 1977.^[16]

Fleming-Neon is located in eastern Letcher County at 37°11′40″N 82°42′21″W / 37.19444°N 82.70583°W / 37.19444; -82.70583 (37.194421, -82.705937).^[17] It is bordered to the east by the unincorporated community of McRoberts. Whitesburg, the county seat, is 12 miles (19 km) to the southwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Fleming-Neon has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), of which 0.53 acres (2,127 m²), or 0.05%, are water.^[18] The city is in the valleys of the Wrights Fork and Yonts Fork, part of the upper watershed of the North Fork of the Kentucky River.

As of the census^[19] of 2000, there were 840 people, 351 households, and 244 families residing in the city. The population density was 509.0 inhabitants per square mile (196.5/km²). There were 403 housing units at an average density of 244.2 per square mile (94.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.55% White, 2.86% African American, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 351 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	1,195		—
1990	759		−36.5%
2000	840		10.7%
2010	770		−8.3%
2020	548		−28.8%

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $18,421, and the median income for a family was $20,795. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,029. About 33.3% of families and 39.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 55.8% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Fleming-Neon High School served as the high school for the area for about 80 years. It was built in 1925 and opened in 1926 as Fleming High School.^[21] Later, it was renamed Fleming-Neon High School in 1949.^[22] The school’s mascot was a Pirate, and the school colors were purple and gold. The original building was destroyed by fire on the night of February 11, 1958.^[23] Classes were held in the evenings in the Fleming-Neon Elementary School building until a new building was constructed in the same location as the old building.^[24] Classes resumed on the hill in 1960 until June 6, 2005. The graduating class of 2005 was the last for Fleming-Neon High School due to consolidation with two other county schools, Whitesburg High School and Letcher High School, to form Letcher County Central High School.^[25][26]