Flatwoods is a city located in Greenup County, Kentucky. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 7,605. Flatwoods is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. Bobby F. Crager is the city's mayor.
Flatwoods was originally named Advance; Advance Methodist Church formed a Sunday school beginning in 1860. The name was later changed to Cheap, after John Cheap, a blind Methodist minister. The City returned to the name of Advance with a post office established in 1918. In 1938, the Post Office was renamed Flatwoods, and the town was incorporated in 1938 under that name.
The name of Flatwoods comes from the areas original topography, a belt of flat wooded land, approximately 650 feet in elevation, running parallel to the Ohio River.
Flatwoods is referred to as a "bedroom community" not having any large employer within the City. Many of our residents work at CSX Railroad, AK Steel, Marathon Oil, Kings Daughters Medical Center, or Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. There are three institutions of higher education located within 20-30 minutes of Flatwoods. The Ohio University Southern Campus, Marshall University, and Ashland Community & Technical College. Greenbo State Park is located within 25 minutes of Flatwoods.
The city also consists of a new park (BF Crager Community Park) which is located on Reed Street beside the Municipal Building. The park has a walking track, basketball courts, playground equipment, and also a small Amphitheater. The park also contains 2 small and 1 large picnic shelters. We also have a City Pool located on Park Street which is run by the Ashland YMCA. We have a brand new Senior Citizens Building behind the Municipal building on Reed Street.
Notable people from Flatwoods include country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and the notorious Lynndie England.
Flatwoods is located at 38°31'23" North, 82°43'10" West (38.522992, -82.719556).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 km2 (4.5 mi2). 11.6 km2 (4.5 mi2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 7,605 people, 3,114 households, and 2,282 families residing in the city. The population density is 654.0/km2 (1,691.9/mi2). There are 3,338 housing units at an average density of 287.0/km2 (742.6/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 98.19% White, 0.38% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,114 households out of which 31.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% are married couples living together, 12.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% are non-families. 24.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 2.85.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,115, and the median income for a family is $39,023. Males have a median income of $36,184 versus $20,904 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,633. 11.6% of the population and 9.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.0% of those under the age of 18 and 10.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.