McDowell at a glance…

Welcome to the mountains, and to the friendly community of McDowell, Kentucky. McDowell is located in Floyd County, nestled in the Central Appalachian Mountains, two-and-a-half hours from Lexington. McDowell is a typical rural town. The people are friendly, everybody knows everyone, and the pace is a bit slower than what you’d find in the hustle-bustle of city living.

Population

McDowell itself is home to less than a 1,000 residents. Floyd County’s population is approximately 44,000.

Industry

The main industry in Floyd County, like much of Eastern Kentucky, is coal mining.

Education

Floyd County offers a wide range of public schools ranging from pre-school to college.

The consolidation of McDowell and Wheelwright high schools in 1993 brought new technology and new excitement to the region in the form of South Floyd High School. Mountain Christian Academy in Martin provides private education for grades K - 12.

Higher education is available in the county through the Big Sandy Community and Technical College extension branch of Morehead State University; Pikeville College, a four-year private institution located in neighboring Pike County and Alice Lloyd College, a four-year private college located in adjoining Knott County.

Recreation

McDowell and Floyd County offer numerous options for the outdoor enthusiast. Within minutes of McDowell, Minnie Park offers basketball, Little League and Pee-Wee League baseball, tennis courts, a walking track, and playground equipment. Stumbo Park, 20 minutes north of McDowell, offers many of the same features as Minnie Park with the addition of high school and Babe Ruth League baseball, a swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course. Prestonsburg, the county seat of Floyd County, is home to Jenny Wiley State Resort Park and Dewey Lake, offering camping, swimming, golfing, boating, summer outdoor theatre in an amphitheater setting, the Mountain Arts Center, and lodging.

A wide variety of entertainment is located in nearby Prestonsburg and Pikeville. Shopping centers, bowling, and restaurants are available in both towns. Stonecrest Golf Course is an eighteen-hole golf course, located approximately 25 miles from McDowell.

Health Services

The region offers a variety of healthcare services in addition to McDowell ARH Hospital. Nearby facilities include Highlands Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg, St. Joseph-Martin in Martin, and Pikeville Methodist Hospital in Pikeville.

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