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Smithland, Kentucky

21 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1929 and the latest in 1996. It stands in the Smithland census division. It lies in ZIP code area 42081. It lies near Cemetery Hill. The Survey maps it on the Smithland quadrangle. 240 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 348 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Smithland within Livingston County

On record in Smithland

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 6 records

Population over time

2 figures

Smithland fell from 301 to 240 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
2010301
2020240-61 (-20%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

14 surveys from 21 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.

Fires near this place

17 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 17 fires within 5 miles of Smithland between 1999 and 2020, burning about 205 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 was 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
Missing data/not specified/undetermined9
Recreation and ceremony5
Equipment and vehicle use1
Railroad operations and maintenance1
Arson/incendiarism1

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
6 September 2010Recreation and ceremony12 acresKentucky Division of ForestrySCOTTS CHAPEL RD.
13 September 2008Recreation and ceremony50 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
7 August 2002Railroad operations and maintenance8.0 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
27 August 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresKentucky Division of Forestrynot named
19 June 2009Arson/incendiarism70 acresShawnee National ForestPOPE COUNTY
22 May 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesDOUGLASS
22 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources1722
13 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresKentucky Division of ForestryMCCORMICK CREEK

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Livingston County

Mines and quarries near this place

4 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Smithland: 2 past producers, 1 prospect, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Fluorine-Fluorite, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Royal MineFluorine-FluoritePast Producer
Valley Divide Clay BedClayProspect
Smithland QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Smithland QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer

Every working recorded in Livingston County

Storms near this place

56 since 1995

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Smithland in 56 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 15 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 14 flood, 6 flash flood. The reports record 2 injuries. 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
May 2009Thunderstorm WindSmithland1 hurt, $60,000A poorly tied-down mobile home was moved several feet. An occupant of the mobile home sustained minor to moderate injuries. Two metal sheds were blown down. A number of trees were either snapped or uprooted. Several telephone poles were blown over. The microburst damage area was about one-half mile in length and width.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindSmithland1 hurt, $40,000no account filed
November 2013Tornado (EF2)Smithland$400,000The tornado moved across the Ohio River from Pope County, Illinois into Livingston County, Kentucky. The tornado passed just south of Smithland. The most intense damage in Livingston County was rated EF-2 with estimated 125 mph peak winds. Several mobile homes were destroyed. Thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado passed mainly through forested hilly terrain. The black tornado funnel was videotaped as it moved across parts of the county. The tornado continued east into Lyon County, Kentucky. The total path length of this tornado was 42 miles. The parent supercell tracked from southeast Missouri across the Mississippi River through the Paducah area, then east to the Kentucky Lake area of western Kentucky.
June 2019Tornado (EF1)Smithland$100,000This tornado began on the south side of town and peeled the roof back on a church. A mobile home was destroyed. Other homes in the path sustained minor roof damage. Large trees were snapped, and numerous large branches were down. There was also minor damage to a gas station canopy. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph.
March 1997Flash FloodSmithland$100,000no account filed
June 2007Thunderstorm WindSmithland$35,000Numerous trees were blown down along Kentucky Highway 453. One of the trees landed on a house, trapping a person inside. Another tree landed on a car. The highway was closed for over an hour. No injuries were reported.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindSmithland$20,000Numerous trees were down, blocking roadways countywide. A horse trailer was blown over on U.S. Highway 60.
May 2010Flash FloodSmithland$10,000Kentucky Highway 866 was closed over the Gum Fork Creek due to possible bridge damage. Kentucky Highway 453 was under eight inches of water near Smithland.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindSmithland$10,000Several trees were down in Burna, and several large tree limbs were down in Smithland.
December 2008Thunderstorm WindSmithland$9,000Several trees were down throughout the county.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindSmithland$5,000Large tree limbs were down. Siding was blown off a house.
January 2000Thunderstorm WindSmithland$5,000About 8 telephone poles were blown over. Shingles and tin roofs were blown off.
September 2001HailSmithland$4,000no account filed
April 2015FloodSmithland$3,000Minor flooding occurred along the Ohio River. Low-lying woods and bottomland fields were inundated. A private campground at Birdsville was flooded.
December 2015FloodSmithland$2,000Minor flooding occurred along the Ohio River from Smithland upriver past Birdsville. Low-lying bottomland woods and fields were flooded, including parts of a private campground. The flooding continued into early January.
May 2010FloodSmithland$2,000Minor flooding occurred on the Ohio River in the Smithland area. Low-lying bottomland fields and woodlands were inundated. A campground in Birdsville was flooded.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindSmithland$2,000A couple of trees were down.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindSmithland$1,000A tree was blown down along the Ohio River riverfront.
February 2025FloodSmithland-Minor flooding of bottomland and surrounding low-lying areas occurred near Smithland.
May 2025HailSmithland-Multiple reports of hail came in from Smithland, with the larger stones measuring from golf ball to tennis ball size.
May 2024Tornado (EFU)Smithland-There were two separate video recordings of a brief tornado touchdown just east of U.S. Hwy 60 and south of Cutoff Rd. The intensity remains unknown as the touchdown location was not accessible by NWS Storm Surveyors.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindSmithland-Thunderstorm outflow winds were estimated to be gusting to 60 mph. The winds were out ahead of the leading edge of rain.
February 2022FloodSmithland-The Ohio River rose above flood stage and remained there into March. The crest occurred in March.
March 2020FloodSmithland-Minor flooding occurred on the Ohio River, affecting mainly bottomland woods and fields. However, a few lesser travelled rural roads were affected.
January 2016FloodSmithland-Minor flooding continued into January along the Ohio River. Low-lying bottomland woods and fields were flooded, including parts of a private campground near Birdsville.
November 2015Heavy RainSmithland-A co-operative observer at Smithland Lock and Dam on the Ohio River measured 3.21 inches in the past 48 hours.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindSmithland-A wind gust to 60 mph was estimated by law enforcement personnel.
March 2012HailSmithland-Quarter size hail was reported just north of Smithland.
April 2011HailSmithland-Golf-ball size hail fell on U.S. Highway 60 between Smithland and Ledbetter. This was the same storm that produced large hail in northwest Marshall County.
April 2011FloodSmithland-Due to flooding of the Ohio River, there was extensive sandbagging, and a temporary levee was constructed around Smithland. Homeowners were evacuated from Smithland and many other low-lying areas from Birdsville to Ledbetter. Temporary shelters were set up for evacuees. Floodwaters entered a gas station on U.S. Highway 60 in Smithland. Several state roads were closed, along with numerous county roads.
April 2008FloodSmithland-Minor flooding of the Ohio River occurred. At Smithland, the river remained above flood stage from mid March through mid April. The crest in April was 44.93 feet on the 11th. Flood stage at Smithland is 40 feet. Many low-lying areas were flooded, primarily farm fields and woodlands. Highways 133 and 135 were closed near the Ohio River.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindSmithland-Several trees were blown down at the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and Highway 937.
May 2006HailSmithland-Quarter-size hail was reported near Smithland. Dime-size hail fell at U.S. Highway 60 and Highway 937, about four miles south of Smithland.
January 2004LightningSmithland-A lightning bolt struck a house, blowing a six-foot hole in the wall and starting a fire. The house was extensively damaged. A neighboring house caught fire, but it was not significantly damaged.
August 2004Heavy RainSmithland-From 15 to 18 inches of water was over Kentucky Highway 937 between U.S. Highway 60 and Highway 453.
October 2004Funnel CloudSmithland-This funnel cloud was associated with a supercell thunderstorm that began over southeast Missouri, then moved east along a warm front. The storm moved fairly close to the Ohio River, passing just north of Paducah before reaching Livingston County. This storm had a history of strong rotation during most of its life.
April 2003Flash FloodSmithland-Two to three feet of water was reported in the basements of a couple homes. A foot of water was reported at the fire station at Smithland. Six to eight inches of water was over U.S. Highway 60 just west of Smithland.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindSmithland-Gusts were estimated between 55 and 60 MPH.
May 1997Flash FloodSmithland-Slow moving thunderstorms produced rainfall amounts estimated as high as 3 inches in 3 hours from Smithland east across the county. Areas of major flooding affected Highways 60, 70, and 453, but no closures were reported.
March 2022FloodSmithland-no account filed
April 2020FloodSmithland-no account filed
January 2019FloodSmithland-no account filed
April 2018FloodSmithland-no account filed
April 2016HailSmithland-no account filed
April 2011HailSmithland-no account filed
December 2011FloodSmithland-no account filed
June 2011HailSmithland-no account filed
June 2005HailSmithland-no account filed
April 2003HailSmithland-no account filed
April 2003HailSmithland-no account filed
June 2001HailSmithland-no account filed
June 1999HailSmithland-no account filed
June 1998Flash FloodSmithland-no account filed
March 1997Flash FloodSmithland-no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindSmithland-no account filed
June 1995HailSmithland-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Livingston 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
Miller Landing3.4 miles21
Heater3.9 miles19
Lemen Landing4.8 miles19
Vicksburg4.9 miles19
Newbern5.9 miles23
Moxley Landing6.1 miles19
Birdsville6.1 miles21
Cooper Landing6.5 miles23

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 SmithlandAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q3181116The 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 503811. 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.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.