Breathitt County, Kentucky

Breathitt County, Kentucky

Breathitt County Kentucky Courthouse in Jackson
Map of Kentucky highlighting Breathitt County
Location in the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1839
Named for John Breathitt
Seat Jackson
Largest city Jackson
Area
 • Total 495 sq mi (1,282 km2)
 • Land 492 sq mi (1,274 km2)
 • Water 2.9 sq mi (8 km2), 0.6%
Population
 • (2010) 13,878
 • Density 28/sq mi (11/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website breathittcounty.ky.gov

Breathitt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,878.[1] Its county seat is Jackson, Kentucky.[2] The county was formed in 1839 and was named for John Breathitt who was Governor of Kentucky from 1832 to 1834. Breathitt County was a prohibition or dry county, until a public vote on July 12, 2016 allowed the sale of alcohol.[3]

History

Breathitt County was formed on February 8, 1839 from portions of Clay County, Estill County and Perry County. It was named after Governor John Breathitt.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 495 square miles (1,280 km2), of which 492 square miles (1,270 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

The North and Middle Forks of the Kentucky River pass through the county as the main water sources.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18402,195—
18503,78572.4%
18604,98031.6%
18705,67213.9%
18807,74236.5%
18908,70512.4%
190014,32264.5%
191017,54022.5%
192020,61417.5%
193021,1432.6%
194023,94613.3%
195019,964−16.6%
196015,490−22.4%
197014,221−8.2%
198017,00419.6%
199015,703−7.7%
200016,1002.5%
201013,878−13.8%
Est. 201613,284[6]−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2013[1]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 16,100 people, 6,170 households, and 4,541 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 per square mile (12/km2). There were 6,812 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,170 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% 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.

Throughout the county the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,155, and the median income for a family was $23,721. Males had a median income of $26,208 versus $20,613 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,044. About 28.10% of families and 33.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.90% of those under age 18 and 26.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Presidential Elections Results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 69.6% 3,991 26.8% 1,537 3.7% 210
2012 66.3% 3,318 31.2% 1,562 2.6% 128
2008 53.1% 2,671 43.8% 2,205 3.1% 154
2004 42.8% 2,542 56.0% 3,327 1.3% 75
2000 41.1% 2,084 57.2% 2,902 1.7% 87
1996 23.1% 1,058 67.9% 3,106 9.0% 414
1992 24.4% 1,303 65.5% 3,496 10.1% 537
1988 38.5% 2,149 60.7% 3,387 0.8% 44
1984 45.3% 2,855 54.5% 3,435 0.3% 19
1980 27.7% 1,532 70.8% 3,916 1.5% 84
1976 22.2% 1,014 77.5% 3,544 0.4% 18
1972 40.7% 1,846 59.0% 2,677 0.4% 18
1968 29.1% 1,361 63.2% 2,954 7.8% 363
1964 12.4% 4,714 87.6% 669 0.0% 0
1960 37.6% 1,996 62.4% 3,307 0.0% 0
1956 42.7% 2,423 57.2% 3,246 0.1% 4
1952 29.0% 1,381 71.0% 3,383 0.0% 0
1948 22.4% 957 77.1% 3,295 0.6% 24
1944 29.4% 1,230 69.9% 2,922 0.7% 31
1940 28.7% 1,602 71.1% 3,977 0.2% 11
1936 31.0% 1,790 68.9% 3,980 0.2% 11
1932 23.2% 1,371 76.7% 4,524 0.1% 7
1928 43.4% 2,309 56.7% 3,017 0.0% 0
1924 37.6% 1,708 62.2% 2,826 0.2% 10
1920 47.1% 2,464 52.3% 2,737 0.6% 31
1916 43.1% 1,584 56.2% 2,067 0.7% 25
1912 30.3% 910 56.1% 1,682 13.6% 407

Economy

Coal companies

Education

Jackson independent schools

Jackson independent schools is a school district that educates students inside and outside the city limits of Jackson, Kentucky.

Breathitt County Schools

Breathitt County Schools is another school district with an array of schools within the city limits of Jackson, Kentucky and throughout the county.

Private schools

Higher education

Breathitt Area Technology Center

The Breathitt Area Technology Center serves both the Jackson Independent and the Breathitt County school districts. The school is located in Jackson, Kentucky on the campus of Breathitt County High School. The school is operated by the state of Kentucky. While most of the funding comes from the state, much of the equipment is purchased with federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act funds, which are aimed at advancing technical education.

The focus of the school is that of technical education. The Breathitt ATC offers the following technical programs:

UK Robinson Station

The community of Quicksand is the location for the University of Kentucky Robinson Station. This agriculture research facility is a pivotal asset in Breathitt County, furthering the scientific studies in the areas of agriculture and forestry.

Health care

Breathitt County health care providers were featured in a November 23, 2013 Washington Post article: "In Rural Kentucky, Health-Care Takes Back Seat as the Long-Uninsured Line Up".[14] As of 2014 the county had the highest morbidity rate in the state of Kentucky.

Communities

  • Altro
  • Bays
  • Caney
  • Canoe
  • Chenowee
  • Clayhole
  • Crockettsville
  • Elkatawa
  • Evanston
  • Fishtrap
  • Flintville
  • Frozen/Frozen Creek
  • Fugates Fork
  • Guage
  • Hardshell
  • Hayes Branch
  • Jackson (county seat)
  • Leatherwood
  • Lost Creek
  • Morris Fork
  • Ned
  • Nix Branch
  • Noble
  • Noctor
  • Oakdale
  • Quicksand
  • River Caney
  • Riverside
  • Rose Branch
  • Rousseau
  • Rowdy
  • Saldee
  • Sebastians Branch
  • Shoulder Blade/Shoulderblade
  • Smith Branch
  • South Fork
  • Troublesome Creek
  • Turners Creek
  • Vancleve
  • War Creek
  • Watts
  • Whick
  • Wilstacy

Notable people

Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk known for her refusal to comply with a federal court order directing her to issue marriage licenses, was born in Breathitt County.[15]

Jeffrey Reddick - American screenwriter and film director, best known for creating the Final Destination franchise.

Willie Sandlin - (January 1, 1890 – May 29, 1949) A soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.

Sturgill Simpson - American country music and roots rock singer-songwriter. Winner of Best Country Album at the 59th Grammy Awards while also being nominated for Album of the Year.

Chadwick Warrix - Founding member of Country Duo Halfway To Hazard. In May 2008, Warrix along with David Tolliver were nominated by the Academy of Country Music for the Duo of the Year award.

Theo Edmonds - Artist and social entrepreneur, named by Southern Living Magazine as one of "Fifty People Changing the Face of the South"

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Breathitt County voters choose to allow alcohol sales". wymt.com. WYMT-TV. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  4. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 34.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  12. ↑ Arch Coal – Hazard Complex
  13. ↑ US Coal Corporation :: Operations Archived January 2, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ McCrummen, Stephanie (November 23, 2013). "In Rural Kentucky Health-Care Debate Takes Back Seat as the Long-Uninsured Line Up". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
  15. ↑ "Kentucky clerk who refused same-sex marriage licenses starts new appeal". Reuters. September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016.

Further reading

Coordinates: 37°31′N 83°19′W / 37.52°N 83.32°W / 37.52; -83.32

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