Birdseye View of Cannel City
c.1920

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Source: University of Kentucky
Coal Camp Project
Submitted by Andrew Jones

With a population of nearly 1,500, Cannel City was the largest town in the county back in the early 1900s. It had a post office, high school, church, movie house, hotel, bank, grocery stores, roller rink and its own telephone company and gas company. All of this was supported by cannel coal and lumber shipped out on the Ohio & Kentucky Railroad .

One of the largest oil wells in the state was also located in Cannel City, as were a number of gas producing wells.

As forestry resources and demand for cannel coal declined, the railroad shut down in 1933. The mines were forced to close. People started moving away and local businesses soon closed.  Kentucky Block Cannel Coal Company was sold to Custer Jones and Walter Gardner in 1942.

With a population of currently less than 500 people, Cannel City still retains its sense of a close knit community.

Contacts

• Available Magoffin County Coordinator
• Tricia Aanderud  Assistant State Coordinator
• Jeff Kemp  State Coordinator