Knott County, Kentucky
County in Kentucky, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Knott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,251.[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] As of 2024 the county is now wet. 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.
Knott County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
Knott County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
| Coordinates: 37°21′N 82°57′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Named after | James Proctor Knott |
| Seat | Hindman |
| Largest city | Hindman |
| Area | |
• Total | 353 sq mi (910 km2) |
| • Land | 352 sq mi (910 km2) |
| • Water | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,251 |
• Estimate (2024) | 13,438  |
| • Density | 40.5/sq mi (15.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
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]
The first elected county officials were county clerk Lewis Hays (an early settler of The Forks of Troublesome defeating fellow early settler F. P. Allen), county judge David Calhoun, county attorney Fielding Johnson, sheriff Madison Pigman, jailer Isom Slone, and county assessor Hiram Maggard.[5] The political lines drawn in the early politics of the county were largely along divisions between the early settler families of The Forks, inherited from Civil War differences.[5]
In a later election Anderson Hays ran against Clabe Jones, who had been on opposite sides in the Civil War, with Jones winning the election.[5] This caused a feud that lasted several years, with fights and deaths in Hindman.[5]
Geography
According to the United States 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.[6]
Adjacent counties
- Magoffin County (north)
- Floyd County (northeast)
- Pike County (east)
- Letcher County (south)
- Perry County (southwest)
- Breathitt County (northwest)
Summits
Big Lovely Mountain, 1,401 feet (427 m)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 5,438 | — | |
| 1900 | 8,704 | 60.1% | |
| 1910 | 10,791 | 24.0% | |
| 1920 | 11,655 | 8.0% | |
| 1930 | 15,230 | 30.7% | |
| 1940 | 20,007 | 31.4% | |
| 1950 | 20,320 | 1.6% | |
| 1960 | 17,362 | −14.6% | |
| 1970 | 14,698 | −15.3% | |
| 1980 | 17,940 | 22.1% | |
| 1990 | 17,906 | −0.2% | |
| 2000 | 17,649 | −1.4% | |
| 2010 | 16,346 | −7.4% | |
| 2020 | 14,251 | −12.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 13,438 | [7] | −5.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,251. The median age was 43.5 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.6% of the population.[13]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 5,749 households in the county, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 6,639 housing units, of which 13.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied and 23.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.[12]
2000 census
As of the census 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
- Bethel Christian Academy
- Hindman Settlement School
- June Buchanan School
Higher education
- Knott County Campus of Hazard Community and Technical College
- Alice Lloyd College
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 387 | 23.74% | 1,114 | 68.34% | 129 | 7.91% |
| 1916 | 571 | 28.14% | 1,454 | 71.66% | 4 | 0.20% |
| 1920 | 802 | 25.80% | 2,295 | 73.84% | 11 | 0.35% |
| 1924 | 886 | 27.75% | 2,286 | 71.59% | 21 | 0.66% |
| 1928 | 1,004 | 26.24% | 2,822 | 73.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 747 | 14.39% | 4,443 | 85.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 865 | 19.87% | 3,488 | 80.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 759 | 14.62% | 4,434 | 85.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 803 | 17.19% | 3,867 | 82.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 754 | 13.93% | 4,660 | 86.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,124 | 20.14% | 4,437 | 79.49% | 21 | 0.38% |
| 1956 | 1,715 | 30.02% | 3,987 | 69.80% | 10 | 0.18% |
| 1960 | 1,412 | 26.30% | 3,957 | 73.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 482 | 9.22% | 4,739 | 90.61% | 9 | 0.17% |
| 1968 | 1,098 | 22.56% | 3,335 | 68.52% | 434 | 8.92% |
| 1972 | 1,479 | 34.50% | 2,774 | 64.71% | 34 | 0.79% |
| 1976 | 962 | 16.65% | 4,762 | 82.40% | 55 | 0.95% |
| 1980 | 1,602 | 22.68% | 5,405 | 76.50% | 58 | 0.82% |
| 1984 | 1,728 | 27.66% | 4,487 | 71.81% | 33 | 0.53% |
| 1988 | 1,691 | 24.42% | 5,185 | 74.86% | 50 | 0.72% |
| 1992 | 1,243 | 16.96% | 5,500 | 75.05% | 585 | 7.98% |
| 1996 | 1,201 | 18.18% | 4,842 | 73.29% | 564 | 8.54% |
| 2000 | 2,029 | 31.42% | 4,349 | 67.34% | 80 | 1.24% |
| 2004 | 2,648 | 35.81% | 4,685 | 63.36% | 61 | 0.82% |
| 2008 | 3,070 | 52.75% | 2,612 | 44.88% | 138 | 2.37% |
| 2012 | 4,130 | 72.55% | 1,420 | 24.94% | 143 | 2.51% |
| 2016 | 4,357 | 75.60% | 1,245 | 21.60% | 161 | 2.79% |
| 2020 | 4,780 | 76.46% | 1,412 | 22.58% | 60 | 0.96% |
| 2024 | 4,732 | 78.67% | 1,181 | 19.63% | 102 | 1.70% |
Knott County had 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%.[16]
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. Randy Thompson was later convicted in federal court of running a vote buying scheme and sentenced to 40 months in the federal prison system.
Elected officials
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[17][18] | ||
| U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R) | KY 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Scott Madon (R) | 29 |
| Ky. House | John Blanton (R) | 92 |
Economy
Coal companies in Knott County
- Alpha Natural Resources[19]
- James River Coal Company[20]
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][21] 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
Communities
Cities
- Hindman (county seat)
- Pippa Passes
- Vicco[22] (part)
Unincorporated communities
Infrastructure
Transportation
Public transportation is provided by LKLP Community Action Partnership with demand-response service and scheduled service from Hindman to Hazard.[23]
Notable residents
- Lige Clarke (1942−1975), LGBT activist, journalist and author
- Rebecca Gayheart (born 1971), actress and model
- Carl Dewey Perkins (1912−1984), politician and member of the United States House of Representatives
- James Still (1906–2001), author folklorist
- David Tolliver, musician; member of country band Halfway to Hazard
In popular culture
- 20th Century Fox filmed several scenes in the county for a nationally released movie Fire Down Below