Legacy of
Mayor Hambley
The visionary mayor who moved a mountain—and changed Pikeville forever.
Dr. William Carter Hambley, a native of Pikeville, Kentucky, was not only a respected physician and surgeon—he was also the city’s longest-serving mayor, holding office from 1960 to 1989. Over the course of nearly three decades, Mayor Hambley helped transform Pikeville from a flood-prone, land-locked mountain town into a thriving hub for commerce and community life.
Mayor Hambley's most enduring legacy is the Pikeville Cut-Through Project—a massive civil engineering endeavor that rerouted the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, relocated rail lines and highways, and carved out nearly 400 acres of flat land for Pikeville’s future growth. Spanning from 1973 to its dedication in 1987, the project involved the removal of nearly 18 million cubic yards of rock from Peach Orchard Mountain. It relieved the city from devastating floods and severe traffic congestion while opening space for businesses, education, and public services.
Hambley united more than 20 local, state, and federal agencies to secure funding for the Cut-Through, demonstrating his persistence, political acumen, and determination. While some described his leadership style as autocratic, few questioned his results: under his tenure, Pikeville’s city budget and services improved, city worker pay increased, and long-term development was set in motion.
Locals remember the Cut-Through as “Hambley’s Dream,” and his impact is immortalized by a statue in Pikeville City Park, which honors him as “the man who moved a mountain.” The New York Times once referred to the Cut-Through as “the eighth wonder of the world,” underscoring its national significance and the vision it took to make it real.
Dr. Hambley passed away in 2002, but his legacy lives on in every leveled street, every business built on reclaimed land, and every life made better by his dream of a more resilient, accessible Pikeville. For those wishing to learn more, oral history interviews with Mayor Hambley and Pikeville residents are available through local archives and cultural heritage projects.
