Allen was first settled in the early 19th century. The first post office was named "Mouth of Beaver" and was established on August 21, 1854 (Thomas P. Johns, postmaster). The town began to develop rapidly c. 1904-1905 after the establishment of a Chesapeake and Ohio Railway station. The station was interchangeably known as "Beaver Creek" and "Beaver Creek Junction".[4] In 1905, another post office opened and was named "Allen" after local resident T.J. Allen. The town was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1913.[5] In 1936, the railroad station was renamed to prevent confusion during mail delivery. An area outside the city limits known as "New Allen" began to develop in 1937 after a bridge was constructed across the Levisa Fork River.[4]
In October 1981, a 70-year-old local miner shot eight people at an auto parts store, killing five and wounding three others. The shooting was reportedly sparked by a dispute with one of the victims.[6]
On June 30, 2022, a mass shooting targeting police officers occurred in Allen. Three police officers and a police dog were killed, and four other people were injured, including three officers. The alleged shooter, 49-year-old Lance Storz, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder of a police officer.[7][8][9]
Geography
Allen is located north of the center of Floyd County. It sits at the confluence of Beaver Creek with the Levisa Fork, a north-flowing tributary of the Big Sandy River and part of the Ohio River watershed.
U.S. Routes 460 and 23 pass just north of Allen, leading northwest 5 miles (8 km) to Prestonsburg, the county seat, and southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Pikeville.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Allen has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.04 km2), or 7.06%, is water.[3]
As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 193 people, 67 households residing in the city. There were 67 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 99.48% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Hispanic or Latino, 0.00% Asian or Pacific Islander, 0.00% Native American and 0.52% from two or more races.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 63.73% from 18 to 64, and 13.47% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.4 years.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,104, and the median income for a family was $26,875. The per capita income for the city was $13,247. There were 19.7% of the population living below the poverty line.
^ abRennick, Robert M. (1988). "Place Names". Kentucky Place Names. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN0-8131-0179-4. Retrieved on 2010-04-10
^Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Allen, Kentucky". Accessed 15 July 2013.
