Inez, Kentucky

The area was first settled c. 1810 by James Ward and named Arminta Ward's Bottom. This community was made the seat of Martin County in 1873, replacing its earlier court at Warfield. Upon the occasion, J.M. Stepp renamed it Eden after the Biblical garden. As there was already a post office named Eden, Kentucky, the local postmaster was obliged to rename his Inez on June 23, 1874. The name is usually held to have been derived from that of Inez Frank, the daughter of Louisa's postmaster in neighboring Lawrence County.[4]

President Lyndon B. Johnson visited Inez in 1964,[5] landing by helicopter with his party at an abandoned miniature golf course, to promote the War on Poverty. "At the time, the poverty rate in this coal-mining area was more than 60 percent."[6]

Inez is located at 37°51′59″N 82°32′21″W (37.866431, -82.539058).[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all land.

Inez is home to several industrial employers primarily focused on the area's robust energy market. A multitude of coal, gas and oil exploration and affiliated services companies operate in the mineral-rich areas in and around Martin County. Outside the city is another major regional employer, the Big Sandy facility of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 466 people, 212 households, and 132 families residing in the city. The population density was 710.5 people per square mile (272.6/km²). There were 253 housing units at an average density of 385.7 per square mile (148.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.28% White, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 212 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 67.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,875, and the median income for a family was $25,938. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $17,292 for females. This compares to a median household income in all of the United States of $46,326 in 2006 while the median personal income (including only those above the age of 25) was $32,140. The per capita income for the city was $14,183. About 37.0% of families and 35.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.7% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

The United States Postal Service operates the Inez Post Office.[10]

The Federal Bureau of Prisons U.S. Penitentiary, Big Sandy is located near Inez, in unincorporated Martin County.[11]

The Martin County School System serves Inez. Sheldon Clark High School is the former area high school as it has since been replaced by Martin County high school. Eden elementary, Warfield elementary, and Inez elementary now go k-6 so Martin County middle school (mcms) is only 7-8. MCMS is also in Warfield

Inez has a lending library, a branch of the Martin County Public Library.[12]

• City of Inez, Kentucky
• Martin County Schools