Oven Fork, Kentucky

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Kentucky, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Oven Fork, Kentucky

| settlement_type = Unincorporated community

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| image_skyline = Former Oven Fork post office.jpg

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| image_caption = Former post office

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| pushpin_map = Kentucky#USA

| pushpin_label = Oven Fork

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Kentucky

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Letcher

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| timezone = Eastern (EST)

| utc_offset = -5

| timezone_DST = EDT

| utc_offset_DST = -4

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| elevation_ft = 1631

| coordinates = {{coord|37|03|33|N|82|48|31|W|region:US-KY|display=inline,title}}

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| area_code = 606

| blank_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank_info = 508766{{cite gnis|508766|Oven Fork}}

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Oven Fork is an unincorporated community in Letcher County, Kentucky. Oven Fork is located on U.S. Route 119 and the Cumberland River {{convert|4.2|mi|km}} south of Whitesburg.{{cite map |publisher=Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |title=State Primary Road System: Letcher County |url=http://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/SPRS%20Maps/Letcher.pdf |format=PDF |year=2012 |access-date=September 21, 2012 }}

The first of two post offices to serve the community was established on February 6, 1879, with David M. Collier as its postmaster. It closed at an unknown date. The second Oven Fork Post Office was established in the spring of 1945, with Winnie Sumpter as its postmaster. It closed in January 1993.{{Cite web |last=Rennick |first=Robert M. |title=Letcher County - Post Offices |url=https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/kentucky_county_histories/394/ |website=ScholarWorks Morehead State}}

The community may have got its name from a brick oven that produced bricks for the chimneys of the homes in the area. Or for Germans that lived in the area that baked bread in the open.{{Cite journal |last=Rennick |first=Robert M. |date= |title=Letcher County - Place Names |url=https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/rennick_ms_collection/94/ |journal=ScholarWorks Morehead State}}