Floyd County, Kentucky

Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,451.[1] Its county seat is Prestonsburg.[2] The county, founded in 1800, is named for Colonel John Floyd (1750–1783).[3][4]

Floyd County
U.S. county
Floyd County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°34′N 82°45′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1800
Named forJohn Floyd
SeatPrestonsburg
Largest cityPrestonsburg
Area
 • Total396 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Land393 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water2.4 sq mi (6 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
35,845
 • Density100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.floydcountykentucky.com

History

On December 13, 1799, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation to form Floyd County as the 40th county of Kentucky.[5] The county was made from parts of Fleming, Montgomery, and Mason County, Kentucky. The legislation became effective on June 1, 1800.[5] The county was named for James John Floyd, a pioneer surveyor who helped lay out the city of Louisville. The county seat was Preston's Station, later renamed Prestonsburg. The first court house burned down on April 8, 1808, destroying all the early records, so the earliest records of government activity do not date prior to 1808.[5] Prestonsburg was used as a Confederate stronghold during the Civil War and two battles took place nearby, the Battle of Ivy Mountain on November 8, 1861 and the Battle of Middle Creek on January 10, 1862.[5] Both were Union victories. In 1958, the county was the site of one of the deadliest bus accidents in U.S. history.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 396 square miles (1,030 km2), of which 393 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.6%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18103,485—
18208,207135.5%
18304,347−47.0%
18406,30245.0%
18505,714−9.3%
18606,38811.8%
18707,87723.3%
188010,17629.2%
189011,25610.6%
190015,55238.2%
191018,62319.7%
192027,42747.3%
193041,94252.9%
194052,98626.3%
195053,5001.0%
196041,642−22.2%
197035,889−13.8%
198048,76435.9%
199043,586−10.6%
200042,441−2.6%
201039,451−7.0%
2018 (est.)35,845[7]−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]
Coal mining has long been a major industry in Floyd County.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,451 people living in the county. 98.2% were White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% of some other race and 0.6% of two or more races. 0.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 42,441 people, 16,881 households, and 12,272 families living in the county. The population density was 108 per square mile (42/km2). There were 18,551 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.73% White, 1.29% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The Kentucky Melungeons live primarily in Floyd and Magoffin counties, especially in a valley known as Big Lick in Floyd County.

There were 16,881 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,168, and the median income for a family was $25,717. Males had a median income of $30,242 versus $20,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,442. About 26.90% of families and 30.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.80% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The county's public schools are operated by the Floyd County School District.[13]

Economy

Coal companies in Floyd County

Politics

Floyd County is traditionally a Democratic county. The county gave Bill Clinton over 65% in both 1992 and 1996 while George W. Bush never received more than 38% of the county's vote.[16] Like the rest of the state outside of Jefferson County (Louisville) and Fayette County (Lexington), the county eventually shifted to the Republican Party, but became one of the last counties in Kentucky to make that transition.[17] In 2008 its votes went to the Republican Party's presidential candidate for the first time in the county's history. The county has trended strongly Republican in the past two Presidential elections, giving Donald Trump 72.5% of its vote in 2016, only slightly less than traditional totals in long-standing rock-ribbed Republican Kentucky counties like Jackson County and Clay County.[18]

Presidential elections results
Presidential Elections Results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 74.9% 12,250 23.8% 3,884 1.3% 219
2016 72.5% 11,993 24.3% 4,015 3.2% 532
2012 65.7% 9,784 31.8% 4,733 2.5% 373
2008 49.4% 7,741 48.1% 7,530 2.5% 388
2004 37.0% 6,612 62.2% 11,132 0.8% 141
2000 32.9% 5,068 65.5% 10,088 1.6% 238
1996 21.8% 3,139 67.1% 9,655 11.1% 1,590
1992 19.0% 3,540 71.5% 13,351 9.6% 1,783
1988 29.8% 5,296 69.4% 12,327 0.8% 141
1984 33.6% 5,218 66.0% 10,259 0.4% 66
1980 27.2% 4,179 71.3% 10,975 1.5% 231
1976 23.3% 3,108 76.1% 10,151 0.6% 74
1972 44.2% 6,099 54.7% 7,544 1.1% 157
1968 27.2% 3,550 63.9% 8,333 8.9% 1,160
1964 16.8% 2,352 82.9% 11,644 0.3% 45
1960 33.7% 5,010 66.3% 9,876 0.0% 0
1956 43.8% 6,166 56.1% 7,907 0.1% 15
1952 32.1% 4,238 67.8% 8,940 0.1% 11
1948 25.9% 3,127 73.0% 8,823 1.1% 132
1944 29.3% 3,197 70.7% 7,729 0.0% 0
1940 29.0% 3,711 71.0% 9,100 0.0% 0
1936 29.8% 3,375 70.2% 7,962 0.0% 0
1932 28.5% 3,415 71.2% 8,537 0.3% 34
1928 47.2% 5,109 52.8% 5,721 0.0% 0
1924 44.0% 3,773 49.2% 4,220 6.8% 579
1920 43.7% 2,825 55.6% 3,597 0.7% 46
1916 44.8% 1,823 54.5% 2,217 0.6% 26
1912 31.7% 961 51.3% 1,553 17.0% 514

Floyd County is part of Kentucky's 5th congressional district, which has been represented by Republican Hal Rogers since 1981.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

See also

Notable natives

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 127.
  4. http://www.kyenc.org/entry/f/FLOYD02.html
  5. Kleber, John E. The Kentucky Encyclodpedia (University Press of Kentucky), p. 330
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. Floyd County School District
  14. Blackhawk Mining - Operations Archived 2013-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
  15. James River Coal Company – McCoy Elkhorn complex
  16. The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Kentucky)
  17. Lists, Geography. "Bonus List- Geography Lists". Geography Lists. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  18. File:PresidentialCounty1860Colorbrewer.gif
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  20. Bette Henritze at IMDb
  21. Floyd County record of the birth of Bette J. Henritze

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