South Williamson, Kentucky


South Williamson is a census-designated place in the Appalachian Mountains of northeastern Pike County, Kentucky, United States, on the border with West Virginia. It is separated from Williamson, West Virginia by the Tug Fork River. The community is located near U.S. Route 119 about east of Pikeville, Kentucky and southwest of Logan, West Virginia.
The South Williamson area includes the surrounding Kentucky communities of Goody, Forest Hills, Toler, and Belfry. In the early 1990s, residents of the area voted down a proposal to incorporate the area.
South Williamson is home to the South Side Mall which is the only mall in the area.
The zip code of 41503 and 41527 are the second- and third-wealthiest, respectively, portions of the county. South Williamson is the 61st-wealthiest in Kentucky and Forest Hills is the 63rd-wealthiest. The average income for these areas are $49,345 and $48,484.
The local economy is largely fueled by coal mining, transportation, health care, and retail.

History

In the late 19th century, Pike County and bordering Mingo County, West Virginia provided the setting for the Hatfield-McCoy feud, a bitter feud waged between two feuding families between 1878 and 1891 that has become American history.

Flooding

South Williamson is protected by a floodwall, built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in response to a devastating flood along the Tug Fork River in 1977. There have only been two uses of the gates thus far; the first occurred in 2002 during a major flood in the region, and the second in 2003, due to anticipation of the rising river getting higher.

Geography

South Williamson is located at .

Healthcare

South Williamson is the location of Appalachian Regional Healthcare's Tug Valley Regional Medical Center.

Schools