Blackey is an unincorporated community[2] in Letcher County, Kentucky, in the United States.

[4] The history of Blackey began in 1908, after local resident Jim Brown was given permission to establish a post office on Elk Creek.

Due to the area's massive coal deposits, the Lexington and Eastern Railroad ran a line through Blackey in November 1912.

Over the next fifteen years, Blackey was transformed from a sleepy mountain town to a bustling modern city.

In one hour, the North Fork of the Kentucky River rose 18 feet (5.5 m), killing 26 people in Letcher County alone.

Shortly afterwards, Blackey State Bank failed and the Great Depression ended the prosperity of the boom town.

[5] Blackey is located in western Letcher County at 37°8′25″N 82°58′46″W / 37.14028°N 82.97944°W / 37.14028; -82.97944 (37.140413, -82.979368),[7] in the valley of the North Fork of the Kentucky River.

[11] Just across a small bridge is the C. B. Caudill Store & History Center, operated by Gaynell Begley.