Eighty Eight | |
Settlement Type: | Unincorporated community |
Pushpin Map: | USA Kentucky#USA |
Pushpin Label Position: | left |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Kentucky |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Kentucky |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Barren |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Population As Of: | 2000 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | Central (CST) |
Utc Offset: | -6 |
Timezone Dst: | CST |
Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
Elevation Ft: | 810 |
Coordinates: | 36.9183°N -85.7864°W |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
Postal Code: | 42130 |
Area Codes: | 270 and 364 |
Blank Name: | FIPS code |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank1 Info: | 491598 |
Eighty Eight is an unincorporated community in Barren County, Kentucky, United States. It is part of the Glasgow Micropolitan Statistical Area and is 10 miles east of Glasgow on State Highway 90. The community's biggest claim to fame was the celebration of August 8, 1988 (08/08/88). People with an affinity for the number 8 descended upon the town from various parts of the nation and world, and the celebration was televised on national television. A similar celebration was held August 8, 2008 (08/08/08). National media coverage this time was usurped by the 2008 Summer Olympics.
As reported in an article in The New York Times, the community was named in 1860 by Dabnie Nunnally, the community's first postmaster. He had little faith in the legibility of his handwriting, and thought that using numbers would solve the problem. He then reached into his pocket and came up with 88 cents.[1] Another explanation is that the hamlet is 8.8 miles from Glasgow.[2]
The only store in this small community was opened and run by the Richardson Brothers. It was the main source for feed, grocery, hardware and farm needs. It was closed in the late 1980s. The building was restored in 2005 and reopened as the Eighty Eight General Store. The historic post office (Zip Code 42130) was kept intact and is now open to the public. It is no longer in service however and was discontinued in 1984.[3]
Eighty Eight is home to a congregation of the Church of Christ. Although sometimes mistakenly called Eighty Eight Church of Christ, the proper name is Refuge Church of Christ.