By the 1950s, Middlesboro had a population of roughly 15,000 residents. Their strong support for the arts led to the city being called the Athens of the Mountains. It was one of the few cities in the Eastern Coal Fields to boast a grand opera house and it hosted one of the finest school districts in the state. The first shopping mall was built in the city during the 1960s. The city was named an All Kentucky City in 1964, '65, '66, '67, and '69, a huge honor for such a small city. The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park was also established during this time.