Fancy Farm, Kentucky

Fancy Farm, Kentucky
Street scene in Fancy Farm
Street scene in Fancy Farm
Fancy Farm's location in Kentucky
Fancy Farm's location in Kentucky
Coordinates: 36°47′56″N 88°47′29″W / 36.79889°N 88.79139°W / 36.79889; -88.79139
Country United States
State Kentucky
CountyGraves
Area
 • Total0.88 sq mi (2.27 km2)
 • Land0.88 sq mi (2.27 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
430 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total403
 • Density460.05/sq mi (177.63/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
42039
Area code(s)270 & 364
GNIS feature ID2629613
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fancy Farm, Kentucky

Fancy Farm is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Graves County, Kentucky, United States,[2] 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the county seat, Mayfield. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 403.[3]

Fancy Farm is on Kentucky Route 80 in the rural, far-western portion of the state called the Jackson Purchase. It was settled by Roman Catholics starting in 1829, and is known for being a strongly Catholic area. The community grew around St. Jerome Church, built in 1836. The first post office opened in 1843.[4] The colorful name was apparently chosen when the post office opened, by a man who was applying to be postmaster.[5] It was first mentioned in the U.S. Census in 1870 as a post office in Boswell Precinct; first mentioned as a town in Magisterial District 5 in the 1910 census; and finally enumerated as a town in its own precinct in the 1920 census.

A crowd gathers to hear a stump speech at the Fancy Farm picnic.
  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "Feature Detail Report for: Fancy Farm, Kentucky." USGS. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fancy Farm, Kentucky Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  3. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "Fancy Farm, Kentucky". Kentucky Atlas and Gazetteer. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  5. ^ "The History of St. Jerome Parish". Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2007.