Knott County, Kentucky

Knott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,346.[1] Its county seat is Hindman.[2] The county was formed in 1884 and is named for James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883–1887).[3] It is a prohibition or dry county. Its county seat is home to the Hindman Settlement School, founded as America's first settlement school.

Knott County
U.S. county
Knott County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°21′N 82°57′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1884
Named forJames Proctor Knott
SeatHindman
Largest cityHindman
Area
 • Total353 sq mi (910 km2)
 • Land352 sq mi (910 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.4%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
15,126
 • Density47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.knottky.com

The Knott County town of Pippa Passes is home to Alice Lloyd College.

History

Knott County was established in 1884 from land given by Breathitt, Floyd, Letcher, and Perry counties. The 1890s-era courthouse, the second to serve the county, burned in 1929.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 353 square miles (910 km2), of which 352 square miles (910 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Summits

Big Lovely Mountain, 1,401 feet (427 m)

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18905,438—
19008,70460.1%
191010,79124.0%
192011,6558.0%
193015,23030.7%
194020,00731.4%
195020,3201.6%
196017,362−14.6%
197014,698−15.3%
198017,94022.1%
199017,906−0.2%
200017,649−1.4%
201016,346−7.4%
2018 (est.)15,126[6]−7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 17,649 people, 6,717 households, and 4,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 per square mile (19/km2). There were 7,579 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.27% White, 0.73% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,717 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $20,373, and the median income for a family was $24,930. Males had a median income of $29,471 versus $21,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,297. About 26.20% of families and 31.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.80% of those under age 18 and 23.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Knott County Schools
  • Knott County Central High School
  • Knott County Area Technology Center
  • Beaver Creek Elementary
  • Carr Creek Elementary
  • Cordia School
  • Emmalena Elementary
  • Hindman Elementary
  • Jones Fork Elementary

Private schools

Higher education

Politics

Knott County has historically voted very strongly for the Democratic Party. In 1992, 75% of Knott County residents voted for Democrat Bill Clinton for US President, the highest percentage for Clinton of any county in the state. However, in recent years, Knott County has voted more favorably for the Republican Party. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain became the first Republican to win Knott County in a presidential election by winning 52.6% of the vote to Barack Obama's 45%.[12] Aside from Elliott County, Kentucky (which didn't vote Republican until 2016) and the equally historically blue Floyd County, Kentucky , Knott County was the last county in Kentucky outside of Fayette and Jefferson counties to switch to the GOP.[13]

However, Democrat Andy Beshear narrowly won the county in the 2019 gubernatorial race, showing that residents still have some affinity to local Democrats.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 76.5% 4,780 22.6% 1,412 0.9% 60
2016 75.6% 4,357 21.6% 1,245 2.8% 161
2012 72.6% 4,130 24.9% 1,420 2.5% 143
2008 52.8% 3,070 44.9% 2,612 2.4% 138
2004 35.8% 2,648 63.4% 4,685 0.8% 61
2000 31.4% 2,029 67.3% 4,349 1.2% 80
1996 18.2% 1,201 73.3% 4,842 8.5% 564
1992 17.0% 1,243 75.1% 5,500 8.0% 585
1988 24.4% 1,691 74.9% 5,185 0.7% 50
1984 27.7% 1,728 71.8% 4,487 0.5% 33
1980 22.7% 1,602 76.5% 5,405 0.8% 58
1976 16.7% 962 82.4% 4,762 1.0% 55
1972 34.5% 1,479 64.7% 2,774 0.8% 34
1968 22.6% 1,098 68.5% 3,335 8.9% 434
1964 9.2% 482 90.6% 4,739 0.2% 9
1960 26.3% 1,412 73.7% 3,957 0.0% 0
1956 30.0% 1,715 69.8% 3,987 0.2% 10
1952 20.1% 1,124 79.5% 4,437 0.4% 21
1948 13.9% 754 86.1% 4,660 0.0% 0
1944 17.2% 803 82.8% 3,867 0.0% 0
1940 14.6% 759 85.4% 4,434 0.0% 0
1936 19.9% 865 80.1% 3,488 0.0% 0
1932 14.4% 747 85.6% 4,443 0.0% 0
1928 26.2% 1,004 73.8% 2,822 0.0% 0
1924 27.8% 886 71.6% 2,286 0.7% 21
1920 25.8% 802 73.8% 2,295 0.4% 11
1916 28.1% 571 71.7% 1,454 0.2% 4
1912 23.7% 387 68.3% 1,114 7.9% 129

When Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Republican Randy Thompson as County Judge Executive in 2005, it was the first time the county ever had a Republican Judge Executive. Thompson won re-election in 2006 and again in 2010, making him the first Republican to win election in a Knott County office. Congressman Hal Rogers has also won Knott County's vote in recent years. Thompson was removed from office in 2013 after being convicted of misusing public funds.[15]

Economy

Coal companies in Knott County

Areas of interest

Tourism is increasing in the county, especially the popularity of elk viewing. Knott County and its surrounding counties are home to 5,700 free ranging elk, the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi River.[18] There is an ATV Training Center dedicated to the safety of ATV usage amongst riders and the Knott County Sportsplex, a sports complex which has indoor basketball courts, outside baseball fields, a soccer field, and a fitness center.

Media

Television

Hometown24

Radio

Newspapers

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Infrastructure

Transportation

Public transportation is provided by LKLP Community Action Partnership with demand-response service and scheduled service from Hindman to Hazard.[20]

Notable residents

Albert Stewart, Kentucky Poet, educator, and founder of "Appalachian Heritage Magazine. Albert Stewart has recently been selected as a member of the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame at the Carnegie Center in Lexington, KY.

  • Rebecca Gayheart, actress and model
  • Carl Dewey Perkins (October 15, 1912 - August 3, 1984), politician and member of the United States House of Representatives. He was a Democrat. Perkins was born in Hindman, Kentucky. He attended the Knott County grade schools, Hindman High School, and Caney Junior College (now Alice Lloyd College).
  • James Still, author
  • Zack Hall, Reality TV Producer/Camera Operator (Deadliest Catch, Man at Arms, Kentucky Justice)
  • David Tolliver, musician; member of country band Halfway to Hazard
  • 20th Century Fox filmed several scenes in the county for a nationally released movie Fire Down Below

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 35.
  4. Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 263. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. "Presidential Election Results Map". The New York Times. 2008.
  13. Lists, Geography. "Bonus Lists- Geography Lists". Geography Lists. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  15. Judge-Executive Randy Thompson removed from office
  16. [Alpha Natural Resources - 2012 Kentucky Operations]
  17. James River Coal Company – Leeco complex
  18. "All About Elk in Kentucky". kentuckytourism.com. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  19. Kentucky Department of State - Office of Land Management - Map
  20. "LKLP Community Action Council, Inc. > Programs > Public Transportation". Retrieved 2015-05-19.

Further reading

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