McCreary County Kentucky courthouse, 2007
Whitley City’s story
Whitley City in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
Explore the history →
Whitley CityKY
A town of 963.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
963
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$117K
Census ACS
Household income
$34K
median
Median age
34.6
years
Jobs based here
482
A job hub
Is Whitley City a good place to live?
51% of residents live below the poverty line in Whitley City, above both Kentucky’s towns (16%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 143 Kentucky towns we compare, none has a higher share of children under 18 than Whitley City. 23% of the land in Whitley City is conserved, against 1.7% in Kentucky’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Whitley City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
A shrinking town
Whitley City has shrunk 17% from 2010 to 2020
1,170 counted in 2010 and 968 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
Getting set up
Moving to Whitley City: who provides what
Whitley City is unincorporated, so McCreary County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerKU11.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMccreary County Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMcCreary CountyMcCreary 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 hereMcCreary County ClerkMcCreary County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015
ZIP code4265342653 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 Whitley City.
Work & commute
With 1.6 jobs for every working resident, Whitley City draws in 459 commuters
Most working residents leave Whitley City for work: only 8% work in town. Whitley City’s median household income is $34,000. Since 2013, Whitley City has added 124 jobs, to 482 in 2023.
8%work in town
| Whitley City | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $34,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.8% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Whitley City8%
Stearns12%
Somerset6%
Pine Knot5%
Williamsburg3%
24 mi
median commute distance
482
jobs based in Whitley City
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Outdoors
Conserved land covers 23.2% of Whitley City
2.0 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. The trail density in Whitley City is 0.9 miles per square mile.
23.2%conserved
23.2%
conserved · 342 of 1,475 acres
2.0 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
Low risk in Whitley City, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 74% of U.S. communities.
26risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Whitley City, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Whitley City has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. No town among the 143 in Kentucky we compare has a lower July high than Whitley City.
6″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–47°
Spring44–67°
Summer62–84°
Fall45–68°
Oct 18
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Whitley City’s adults worry about having enough food than in the typical Kentucky or U.S. town
27% of adults worry about having enough food in Whitley City. Only 2 of the 142 Kentucky towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Whitley City. 20% of adults report frequent physical distress in Whitley City.
| Whitley City | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 18% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 23% | 19% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 16% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
0 better12 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Whitley City | KY |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 26.7% | 15.5% |
| More uninsured adults | 9.1% | 5.4% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 31.1% | 18.9% |
Big South Fork Medical Center
15.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 20 attractions →Cumberland Falls and 6 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Whitley City. Close and well known come first.
11 mi WaterfallCumberland Falls
34 mi LakeLake Cumberland
3 mi National RiverBig South Fork National River and Recreation Area774K visitors a year
40 mi National Historical ParkCumberland Gap National Historical Park765K visitors a year
5 mi MuseumBlue Heron4 mi MuseumBarthellSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Cumberland Falls: ChrisKuehl, Public domain · Lake Cumberland: Censusdata at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0 · Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: J654567, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Blue Heron: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Whitley City
16pages on Whitley City
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Whitley City; the nearest are
University of the CumberlandsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Williamsburg17.4 mi$9,875 tuitionSomerset Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Somerset24.6 mi$4,728 in-state tuitionThe University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleUniversity or college · Public · Knoxville, TN61.4 mi$13,812 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Whitley City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
Small town
963 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
StearnsWhitley City
About Whitley City
Census-designated place in Kentucky, United States
Whitley City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in McCreary County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 968 at the 2020 census, down from 1,170 in 2010. It is the county seat of McCreary County. Whitley City is one of two unincorporated county seats in Kentucky (the other being Burlington in Boone County).
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,352 ft
- ZIP code
- 42653
- Area code
- 606
Questions about Whitley City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Whitley City, KY a good place to live?
Whitley City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.