Letcher County, Kentucky

Letcher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,519.[1] Its county seat is Whitesburg.[2][3] The county, founded in 1842, is named for Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844.[4][5][6]

Letcher County
U.S. county
Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N 82°51′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1842
Named forRobert P. Letcher
SeatWhitesburg
Largest cityJenkins
Area
 • Total339 sq mi (880 km2)
 • Land338 sq mi (880 km2)
 • Water1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
21,899
 • Density73/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websiteletchercounty.ky.gov

Letcher County is a dry county, with the only exceptions being the Highland Winery,[7] the city of Whitesburg, and the city of Jenkins.

Harry M. Caudill's 1963 book Night Comes to the Cumberlands: A Biography of a Depressed Area, brought the county to national attention.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 339 square miles (880 km2), of which 338 square miles (880 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.3%) is water.[8] Letcher County's natural areas include Bad Branch Falls and the Lilley Cornett Woods.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected area

State Parks

Pioneer Horse Trail controversy
View from Pine Mountain near Whitesburg, Kentucky.

In an effort to bring tourists to Letcher County and to revitalize the local economy, the Pioneer Horse Trail was constructed on Pine Mountain.[9] The trail, part of an "adventure tourism" initiative spearheaded by then Governor Steve Beshear, Beshear's wife Jane, and Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo, was completed in 2009.[9]

However, controversy arose about whether the environment would be harmed during construction. In the summer of 2008, the Letcher County Fiscal Court had signed an agreement with state officials stating that the county would do an environmental impact study before construction would begin.[9] Documents obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader under Kentucky's Open Records Act showed that construction actually began before the study was to take place. County-owned bulldozers started clearing trees in part of a wildlife management area in which heavy equipment was not permitted.[9] Environmental groups are asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if any species on the threatened or endangered list were harmed.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18502,512—
18603,90455.4%
18704,60818.0%
18806,60143.3%
18906,9204.8%
19009,17232.5%
191010,62315.8%
192024,467130.3%
193035,70245.9%
194040,59213.7%
195039,522−2.6%
196030,102−23.8%
197023,165−23.0%
198030,68732.5%
199027,000−12.0%
200025,277−6.4%
201024,519−3.0%
2018 (est.)21,899[10]−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2013[1]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 25,277 people, 10,085 households, and 7,462 families residing in the county. The population density was 75 per square mile (29/km2). There were 11,405 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.71% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,085 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

The age distribution was 23.70% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,110, and the median income for a family was $24,869. Males had a median income of $30,488 versus $17,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,984. About 23.70% of families and 27.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.90% of those under age 18 and 21.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Two public school districts operate in the county.

Letcher County Public Schools

Most K-12 students in the county, with the exception of those living in the far eastern part of the county surrounding Jenkins, are served by the Letcher County Public Schools. The district operates nine elementary/middle schools, one vocational school, one high school, and an alternative education center.

In 2005, the doors to the new Letcher County Central High School[16] were opened in Ermine (the school's postal address, however, is in Whitesburg), with total costs of over $25,000,000. The school's nickname is the Cougars, and the school colors are blue, black, and silver. The school volleyball team has been to the state tournament every year since its creation and the wrestling team has had multiple regional champions. The baseball team has claimed three region titles in 2007, 2011, and 2013, with two state tournament appearances and one semi-state appearance.[17] The boys Cross Country team has had 3 region championships and an individual region champion. The Girls basketball team made a State sweet sixteen appearance.[18]

Jenkins Independent Schools

Students in the Jenkins area are served by the Jenkins Independent Schools, which operates two elementary schools (located on two campuses in the communities of McRoberts and Burdine[19]) and a combined middle and high school with grades 7-12. Jenkins Independent Schools celebrated its 100th year in 2012. The middle/high school's athletic nickname is the Cavaliers/Lady Cavaliers. The school colors are Kelly Green and White.

Politics

Letcher County has a somewhat similar political history to West Virginia. Under the Fourth Party System it was a reliable Republican county, voting Republican in every election from 1884[20] to 1928.[21] However, with increasing unionization under the New Deal it turned for the next sixty to seventy years into a fairly solid Democratic county, apart from the 1956 and 1972 landslides and the candidacy of John F. Kennedy. However, since 2004 as the Democratic Party has become opposed to coal production due to global warming issues it has now become a solidly Republican county.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 79.8% 7,293 16.9% 1,542 3.3% 299
2012 77.8% 6,811 19.4% 1,702 2.8% 245
2008 65.2% 5,367 31.9% 2,623 3.0% 245
2004 53.0% 4,801 46.2% 4,192 0.8% 72
2000 45.5% 4,092 52.3% 4,698 2.2% 195
1996 30.8% 2,222 57.6% 4,160 11.7% 844
1992 29.8% 3,011 57.7% 5,817 12.5% 1,262
1988 43.2% 3,601 56.3% 4,697 0.6% 46
1984 46.1% 4,073 53.3% 4,707 0.6% 50
1980 43.8% 3,426 54.8% 4,280 1.4% 112
1976 40.3% 3,122 59.2% 4,590 0.5% 36
1972 58.5% 4,213 40.4% 2,908 1.1% 76
1968 42.3% 3,243 45.6% 3,499 12.1% 925
1964 32.6% 2,632 67.2% 5,420 0.1% 11
1960 50.9% 4,408 49.1% 4,258 0.0% 0
1956 58.0% 5,741 41.7% 4,133 0.3% 30
1952 47.9% 4,689 52.1% 5,097 0.0% 0
1948 42.7% 3,560 56.8% 4,741 0.6% 46
1944 46.8% 4,055 53.0% 4,599 0.2% 16
1940 41.9% 4,433 57.9% 6,127 0.2% 19
1936 38.2% 3,871 61.7% 6,240 0.1% 11
1932 47.4% 4,732 52.0% 5,190 0.5% 53
1928 60.6% 5,400 39.3% 3,502 0.2% 16
1924 55.0% 3,172 33.1% 1,912 11.9% 687
1920 68.5% 4,317 31.1% 1,960 0.4% 24
1916 66.0% 2,220 33.3% 1,121 0.7% 23
1912 49.7% 978 31.0% 611 19.3% 380

Economy

Coal companies in Letcher County

Media

Television

There are two Public-access television cable TV channels that serve Letcher County. The Letcher County Government Channel is Government-access television (GATV), operated by the Letcher County Fiscal Court and airs government meetings, local events, and emergency information.[27] LCPS-TV is operated by the Letcher County Public Schools and airs school announcements, events, and Educational access television programs.[28]

Radio

Newspapers

Infrastructure

Transportation

Public transportation is provided by LKLP Community Action Partnership with demand-response service and scheduled service from Whitesburg to Hazard.[29]

Events
  • Whitesburg's July 4 Celebration, is a free event held on the Fourth of July at Riverside Park. The event includes free music, entertainment, fireworks and fun.
  • Whitesburg Labor Day Celebration, a one-day festival held in Riverside Park on Labor Day Monday. It features food, as well as free music, entertainment and inflatables for the kids.
  • The town of Fleming-Neon, hosts its annual Neon Area Days the second Friday and Saturday in September. Neon is home to gospel singer Martha Carson. In 1998 she returned to Neon for the festival and was honored.
  • The Mountain Heritage Festival is held in Whitesburg during the last full week of September.
  • In Jenkins, Jenkins Homecoming Days are also celebrated annually in August.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Notable people
  • Harry M. Caudill (1922–1990), author, historian, professor, lawyer, legislator, and environmentalist
  • Jack K. Hale (1928–2009), mathematician
  • Emery L. Frazier (Mayor, state representative, Chief Clerk of the U.S. Senate, Secretary of the U.S. Senate, 1896–1973)
  • Gary Stewart (Country music singer and musician, 1944–2003)
  • Martha Carson (Country/gospel music singer, 1920–2004)
  • Lee Sexton (Country, bluegrass, old-time musician)
  • Tom Gish, died 2008, publisher of the Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, grew up in the county
  • Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 – August 1, 1977) was an American pilot whose CIA U-2 spy plane was shot down while over the Soviet Union, causing the 1960 U-2 incident.

See also
  • Caudill, Harry M., Author of Night Comes to the Cumberlands (1963). ISBN 0-316-13212-8
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Letcher County, Kentucky

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 May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Populations of Kentucky (KY) Cities - Alphabetical Listing of Cities - page 2". Togetherweteach.com. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  4. "Letcher County". Kyenc.org. May 30, 1927. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  5. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 36.
  6. Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 463. ISBN 9780722249208.
  7. "Wet & Dry Counties in Kentucky" (PDF). Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control. 2005-08-19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. Mead, Andy (2008-12-26). "Horse trail in trouble from start". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2016-02-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Letcher County Central High School
  17. "Letcher County Central 2011 Kentucky High School Baseball". Scoreboard.12dt.com. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  18. http://www.khsaa.org
  19. Jenkins Elementary School Archived 2007-08-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on December 21, 2008.
  20. Presidential Election of 1884 – Map by Counties
  21. The Political Graveyard; Letcher County, Kentucky
  22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  23. [Alpha Natural Resources - 2012 Kentucky Operations]
  24. James River Coal Company – Blue Diamond complex
  25. Rhino Resource Partners - Central Appalachia
  26. METINVEST :: What we do :: Our facilities:
  27. Conroy, Marcus (4 July 2010). "Local County Channel becoming popular". WYMT-TV. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  28. "LCPS-TV Information". Letcher County Public Schools. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  29. "LKLP Community Action Council, Inc. > Programs > Public Transportation". Retrieved 2015-05-19.

Further reading

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