C.B. Caudill Store · National Register of Historic Places
Blackey’s story
118 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1908Blackey is settled
BlackeyKY
A town of 141, settled in 1908.
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
141
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$52K
−28.5% in a year
Household income
$12K
median
Median age
59.4
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Blackey a good place to live?
C.B. Caudill Store is on the National Register of Historic Places. Blackey has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
141 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Blackey: who provides what
Blackey is unincorporated, so Letcher County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerKentucky Power15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLetcher County Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesLetcher CountyLetcher County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Kentucky you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLetcher County ClerkLetcher County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015
ZIP code4180441804 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Blackey.
Housing
Blackey’s typical home value is about $52K
Among households in Blackey, 47% live in a home they own. In the year to September 2026, typical home values slipped 28%.
$52KZillow home value
Typical home value
Blackey$52K
Kentucky$231K
−28.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
The FEMA risk score in Blackey is higher than in the typical Kentucky or U.S. town
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Blackey after 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2025. FEMA puts 90% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 95% of U.S. communities.
95risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
The climate in Blackey brings four seasons and pleasant summers
Among 143 Kentucky towns, just 4 have a lower typical July afternoon high than Blackey. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 26° and about 17 inches of snow falls in a winter.
17″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–47°
Spring42–68°
Summer62–84°
Fall44–69°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Blackey stands out in Kentucky and nationally, with more of its adults who have high blood pressure
20% of Blackey adults worry about having enough food, above both the Kentucky town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). Of the 142 Kentucky towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Blackey, and for adults locally, the share who have been diagnosed with depression is 29%. CDC measures, 31 in all: Blackey beats Kentucky on 4 and trails on 13.
| Blackey | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 50% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 14% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
4 better14 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Blackey | KY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10.4% | 14.2% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 86.5% | 81.3% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 6.1% | 4% |
Whitesburg ARH Hospital
9.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Blackey
15pages on Blackey
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Blackey
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Cumberland11.8 mi$4,728 in-state tuitionHazard Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Hazard12.5 mi$4,728 in-state tuitionAlice Lloyd CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Pippa Passes15 mi$13,960 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Blackey residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
About Blackey
City in Kentucky, United States
Blackey is an unincorporated community in Letcher County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, Blackey had a population of 109. It is located near the early settlement of Indian Bottom. Blackey is thought to have been named after Blackey Brown, one of its citizens.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1915
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,007 ft
- ZIP code
- 41804
- Area code
- 606
Questions about Blackey
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Blackey, KY a good place to live?
Blackey has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.