Knott County, Kentucky

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Knott County, Kentucky
Map of Kentucky highlighting Knott County
Location in the state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1884
Named for James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883–1887)
Seat Hindman
Area
 • Total 353.01 sq mi (914 km2)
 • Land 352.19 sq mi (912 km2)
 • Water 0.82 sq mi (2 km2), 0.23%
Population
 • (2010) 16,346
 • Density 46/sq mi (18/km²)
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.knottky.com

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

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 353.01 square miles (914.3 km2), of which 352.19 square miles (912.2 km2) (or 99.77%) is land and 0.82 square miles (2.1 km2) (or 0.23%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

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]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
Est. 201216,124−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
2012 Estimate[6]

As of the census[7] 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.

Cities and towns

Communities

Educational institutions

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 55% of the vote to Barack Obama's 44%.[9] 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. Judge Executive was removed from office in 2013 after being convicted of misusing public funds.[10] As of summer 2013, Zach Weinberg was appointed as Knott county judge-executive by Kentucky governor Steve Beshear. Weinberg is a Knott county democrat and grandson of the late Bert T. Combs who was Kentucky governor. Knott county is home to the late U.S. representative Carl D. Perkins of Kentucky's former 7th congressional district. Carl D. Perkins served the eastern mountains of Kentucky from 1948 till his death in August of 1984. His son, Carl Christopher Perkins was elected in a special election in 1984 to serve out his fathers term. Chris Perkins,as known to political observers in Knott county, served as 7th Ky U.S. representative until 1993. Chris Perkins was involved in the infamous house banking scandal that hurt his political image in the mostly conservative part of Kentucky. The 1990 U.S. census also caused Perkins to lose the 7th district and merging with the 5th Ky U.S. house district that was held by Harold D. "Hal" Rogers. With the above two factors, it is believed that Chris Perkins didn't challenge Rogers for congress in the new 5th congressional district of Kentucky. For the first time, Knott county saw a shift in political dynasty with no native from Knott county as part of the national government. And for an Knott county democratic voter, it was probably hard to have an republican representing the county at the national scene. And for those who admired Carl D. Perkins, hard to see the 7th district vanish to a new congressional district. For many Knott countians', the 7th KY congressional district was the legacy of a "mountain neighbor" who cared and helped other "mountain neighbors". But in recent years, 5th KY congressional district representative Hal Rogers has gained the respect and trust from many former Perkins admirers in Knott county. As for Chris Perkins, he no longer resides in Knott county and has become a priest after being released from federal prison.

Economy

Coal companies in Knott County

Areas of interest

Tourism is increasing in the county,[citation needed] especially the popularity of elk viewing.[citation needed] Knott County and its surrounding counties are home to 5,700 free ranging elk, the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi River.[citation needed] 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

Radio

Newspapers

In films

  • 20th Century Fox filmed several scenes in the county for a nationally released movie Fire Down Below

Notable residents

  • 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).

Carl Christopher Perkins. U.S. Representative from Knott county. Elected in 1984 to serve out his late fathers term. Elected in his own right and served until January 1993. Chris Perkins was also a Kentucky democratic state representative from Knott county before going to congress in 1984.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  2. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 35. 
  3. ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  4. ↑ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 263. Retrieved 26 July 2013. 
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  7. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  8. ↑ Kentucky Department of State - Office of Land Management - Map
  9. ↑ "Presidential Election Results Map". The New York Times. 2008. 
  10. ↑ Judge-Executive Randy Thompson removed from office
  11. ↑ [Alpha Natural Resources - 2012 Kentucky Operations]
  12. ↑ James River Coal Company – Leeco complex

Further reading

External links

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Coordinates: 37°21′N 82°57′W / 37.35°N 82.95°W / 37.35; -82.95

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