BlockBefore

Hyden, Kentucky

14 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1891 and the latest in 1980. It stands in the Hyden census division. It lies in ZIP code area 41749. It stands on Rockhouse Creek. The Survey maps it on the Hyden East quadrangle. 303 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 922 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Hyden within Leslie County

On record in Hyden

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 2 records

Population over time

2 figures

Hyden fell from 365 to 303 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
2010365
2020303-62 (-17%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 surveys from 14 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 of 20 photographs shown, 1940

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Mountain cabin, general store and gas station along highway near Hyden, Kentucky
Mountain cabin, general store and gas station along highway near Hyden, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Gravel road down mountain near Hyden, Kentucky
Gravel road down mountain near Hyden, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Homes with gardens, patches of tobacco and corn in mountain section near Hyden, Kentucky
Homes with gardens, patches of tobacco and corn in mountain section near Hyden, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Mountain cabin along creek with corn on the hillside. Near Hyden, Kentucky
Mountain cabin along creek with corn on the hillside. Near Hyden, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
General landscape near Hyden, Kentucky showing mountain cabins, sheds and cornfields
General landscape near Hyden, Kentucky showing mountain cabins, sheds and cornfields
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Mountaineers carrying home groceries and supplies from general store near Hyden, Kentucky
Mountaineers carrying home groceries and supplies from general store near Hyden, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Farmstead in Kentucky, near Hyden
Farmstead in Kentucky, near Hyden
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress
Mountain woman carrying home groceries from the store. Near Hyden, Kentucky
Mountain woman carrying home groceries from the store. Near Hyden, Kentucky
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1940. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Leslie County

Fires near this place

196 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 196 fires within 5 miles of Hyden between 1992 and 2020, burning about 9,522 acres in total. None started naturally. 44 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning79
Missing data/not specified/undetermined48
Arson/incendiarism44
Recreation and ceremony21
Railroad operations and maintenance3
Misuse of fire by a minor1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
29 September 2007Recreation and ceremony799 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
26 September 2007Debris and open burning25 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
23 September 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined4.0 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
20 September 2007Debris and open burning90 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
19 September 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
19 September 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined3.0 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
12 September 1999Arson/incendiarism50 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
31 August 1999Debris and open burning2.0 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Leslie County

Storms near this place

60 of 70 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Hyden in 70 storm reports between 1997 and 2025: 37 thunderstorm wind, 20 hail, 5 heavy rain, 4 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
March 2008Thunderstorm WindHyden$75,000Highway depts were called to remove numerous trees and other debris from roadways countywide. The damage was caused by thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindHyden$60,000WYMT news reported from Leslie County about numerous trees and power lines that were downed along Owls Nest Road. one of these trees fell on a mobile home, destroying it. Thankfully no one was injured.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindHyden$50,000One tree was blown down in Hyden. Multiple trees and power lines were blown down elsewhere throughout the county by wind gusts estimated at 67 mph.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindHyden$30,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the Hyden area. There were sporadic power outages also occurring in northern Leslie county.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindHyden$25,000Numerous trees were blown down around the county.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindHyden$20,000A roof was blown off of a porch on Middle Fork Road. A tree was also blown onto a house on Highway 421, and trees were blown down in the Wooten area.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindHyden$10,000Leslie County received at least ten reports of trees down with power outages throughout the county, impacting major thoroughfares, including US-421 and KY-80. Multiple storms moved through from approximately 1:30pm until 2:50pm EDT leading to the tree and powerline damage.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindHyden$10,000Thunderstorm wind gusts downed numerous power lines around the county; leaving around 3500 people without power.
May 1998HailHyden$10,000no account filed
May 2008HailHyden$8,000Nickel size hail fell for one to two minutes. A wind gust estimated at 50 mph brought down several two to three inch diameter tree limbs and an eight inch diameter tree.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindHyden$7,000Several trees were down across the county including in Hyden, Middlefork and Bull Creek.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindHyden$7,000A one foot diameter tree was blown down and onto a house. A 2 foot diameter tree was blown down and across Osborne Fork Road. Nickel size hail also occurred at this location.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindHyden$5,000Power lines were blown down on Camp Creek Rd. A few trees were blown down elsewhere in the county.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindHyden$5,000Trees were blown down.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindHyden$5,000Trees were blown down on Highway 80.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindHyden$5,000Numerous tree limbs greater than 2 inches torn from trees over a 15 minute period by thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindHyden$5,000Trees were blown down in the area. One tree was blown onto a home.
July 2000Flash FloodHyden$5,000Flash flooding caused Pebble Creek Drive to be completely washed out.
May 1998HailHyden$5,000no account filed
June 2007Thunderstorm WindHyden$4,000One tree blown over onto power lines at 61 Ratliff and 421.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindHyden$3,000A small storage building was destroyed near the county school bus garage along U.S. Highway 421; parts of the building were blown off into U.S. Highway 421 by winds estimated at 62 mph.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindHyden$3,000Downed trees taking phone and power lines down at multiple locations around Hyden.
April 2000Thunderstorm WindHyden$3,000Tree fell on residence and caused roof damage.
March 2015FloodHyden$1,000Laurel Fork Lane was partially flooded by Rockhouse Creek.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindHyden$1,000A large tree was blown down across the road at Coon Creek fire department.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindHyden$1,000A 12 inch diameter tree was blocking Osborne Fork Road.
January 1999Thunderstorm WindHyden$1,000Tin roof partially blown off home.
January 2020Heavy RainHyden-Earlier day heavy rainfall led to a large mudslide along U.S. Highway 421 near Hyden. This caused large trees and rocks to fall into the road, subsequently blocking both lanes of U.S. 421 in Hyden in front of the high school.
February 2019Heavy RainHyden-A trained spotter reported a mudslide on Hospital Hill in Hyden, due to recent persistent rainfall.
April 2018Thunderstorm WindHyden-Numerous trees were blown down from Wooton to Hyden.
June 2017HailHyden-A citizen reported nickel sized hail near Hyden.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindHyden-Dispatch relayed a report of a few trees blown down in Hyden.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindHyden-A tree was blown down on Hwy 80.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindHyden-Power lines were blown down.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindHyden-Trees were blown down and onto Hwy 421 near the local dispatch.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindHyden-Several trees were blown down.
July 2014HailHyden-Quarter size hail was observed near Hyden.
April 2013FloodHyden-Bull Creek Road had one lane flooded due to a backed up culvert.
May 2010Heavy RainHyden-A trained spotter reported that 5.05 inches of rain had fallen since 6 pm on May 2nd four miles northwest of Hyden and that Osborne Fork was 2/3 bankful.
February 2008HailHyden-Pea to nickel sized hail fell in Hyden.
May 2007HailHyden-Nickel sized hail.
May 2007HailHyden-Quarter sized hail.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindHyden-Numerous trees down countywide including Hyden, Wolfcreek, Stinnet, Smilex, Thousandsticks. Widespread power outages.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindHyden-A few trees down and some crop damage on Highway 421.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindHyden-Numerous trees were down in the vicinity of Hyden on Highways 257, 1780, 80, and 699.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindHyden-Four trees were down on Highway 80.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindHyden-Trees were down and completely blocking Cutshin Road.
January 2002Heavy RainHyden-Kentucky highway 1850 and 758 were reported by the 24 Hour Warning Point to be impassable due to rockslides and mudslides caused by heavy rain.
January 2002Flash FloodHyden-Wendover Road was impassable due to high water.
January 2002Flash FloodHyden-Water was over Cutshin Road and was reported by the 24 Hour Warning Point.
January 2002Heavy RainHyden-The 24 Hour Warning Point reported that a mudslide was triggered on Wooten Road.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindHyden-Trees were blown down.
August 2001Flash FloodHyden-Heavy rains caused Hurricane Creek Road to go under water.
October 2001Thunderstorm WindHyden-Trees were blown down.
July 2000FloodHyden-Mudslides reported on Bull Creek Road.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindHyden-Trees down.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindHyden-A tree was down near Leslie County High School and across HWY 1780 near Warbranch.
June 2015HailHyden-no account filed
April 2015HailHyden-no account filed
April 2012HailHyden-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Leslie County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Wendover2.4 miles14
Toulouse2.7 miles14
Thousandsticks3.4 miles15
Lower McIntosh (historical)3.8 miles14
Wooton4.0 miles14
Dryhill4.2 miles15
Stinnett5.0 miles14
Smilax5.1 miles14

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on HydenAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2749646The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 512880. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.