Eighty Eight, Kentucky Explained

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.

Name

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]

Culture

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.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eighty Eight Journal; A Date That Will Live in Kentucky . The New York Times. Lonnie. Wheeler. 1988-08-05. 2007-11-22.
  2. Book: Kentucky Place Names . University Press of Kentucky . 1987 . 2013-04-28 . Rennick, Robert M. . 90. 0813126312 .
  3. http://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt011.cfm{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}