Pike County, Kentucky

Infobox U.S. County
county = Pike County
state = Kentucky


founded year = 1822
founded date =
seat wl = Pikeville
largest city wl =
area_total_sq_mi = 789
area_total_km2 = 2043
area_land_sq_mi = 788
area_land_km2 = 2040
area_water_sq_mi = 1
area_water_km2 = 3
area percentage = 0.15%
census yr = 2000
pop = 68736
density_sq_mi = 87
density_km2 = 34
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web = www.pikecountychamber.org
named for =

Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 68,736. Its county seat is Pikeville.GR|6 Pike is Kentucky's largest county in terms of land area.

With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is classified as a moist county—a county in which alcohol sales are prohibited (a dry county), but containing a "wet" city, in this case Pikeville, where package alcohol sales are allowed.cite web|url=http://www.abc.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/88403470-8A7E-410C-9816-8B520F7649C8/0/WetDryList.pdf |title=Wet & Dry Counties in Kentucky |publisher=Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control |accessmonthday=March 21 |accessyear=2007 |format=PDF]

Office of Pike County Judge Executive

The office of Pike County Judge Executive is one of Kentucky's most powerful local offices and served as a launching pad for the governorship of Paul E. Patton (1995-2003).

Pike County Judge/Executives Since 1942

*1942-1946 Hi Pauley (R)
*1946-1948 J.W. Pruitt (D)
*1948-1965 Ervin S. Pruitt (D)
*1965-1970 Bill Pauley (R)
*1970-1974 Wayne T. Rutherford (D)
*1974-1978 Wayne T. Rutherford (D)
*1978-1982 Wayne T. Rutherford (D)
*1982-1986 Paul E. Patton (D)
*1986-1990 Paul E. Patton (D)
*1990-1991 Paul E. Patton (D)
*1991-1992 Stirl Eddie Harris (D)
*1992-1994 Wayne T. Rutherford (D)
*1994-1999 Donna Damron (D)
*1999-2003 Karen F. Gibson (R)
*2003-2007 William M. Deskins (D)
*2007- Wayne T. Rutherford (D)*

* Marks a record 5th term for Democrat Wayne T. Rutherford after defeating William M. Deskins in the Primary and Stirl Eddie Harris (R) in the General Election

History

Pike County was founded on December 19, 1821. The county was named for General Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered Pikes Peak. Between 1860 and 1891 the Hatfield-McCoy feud raged in Pike and in bordering Mingo County, West Virginia.

Pike County is also home to Paul E. Patton, former governor of Kentucky.

Pike County has trademarked itself as America's Energy Capital^TM, because of its vast coal and natural gas reserves. Pike County is one of the nation's leading coal and natural gas producers. In April 2007, Pike County announced the first-in-the-nation comprehensive energy strategy which was developed in partnership with the Southern States Energy Board in Atlanta, Georgia.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 789 square miles (2,043 km²), of which, 788 square miles (2,040 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.15%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Martin County (north)
*Mingo County, West Virginia (east)
*Buchanan County, Virginia (southeast)
*Dickenson County, Virginia & Wise County, Virginia (south)
*Letcher County & Knott County (southwest)
*Floyd County (west)

National protected area

* Jefferson National Forest (part)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1830= 2677
1840= 3567
1850= 5365
1860= 7384
1870= 9562
1880= 13001
1890= 17378
1900= 22686
1910= 31679
1920= 49477
1930= 63267
1940= 71122
1950= 81154
1960= 68264
1970= 61059
1980= 81123
1990= 72583
2000= 68736
estimate=
estyear=
estref=
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21195.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 68,736 people, 27,612 households, and 20,377 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile (34/km²). There were 30,923 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.35% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 27,612 households out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution was 23.70% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,930, and the median income for a family was $29,302. Males had a median income of $32,332 versus $19,229 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,005. About 20.60% of families and 23.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Pike County is also the county in Kentucky with the largest percentage of members of the Clean Government Movement. After the Blue Takeover of 2006, the Clean Government Movement became the chief instrument of change in the coal mining towns of Eastern Kentucky.

Cities, towns and communities

*Ashcamp
*Big Creek
*Canada
*Cedarville
*Coal Run Village
*Dorton
*Elkhorn City
*Fords Branch, Kentucky
*Freeburn
*Hellier
*Jonancy
*Kimper
*McCarr
*Mouthcard
*Phelps
*Phyllis
*Pikeville
*Sidney
*South Williamson
*Stone
*Stopover
*Varney
*Virgie

Education

Colleges

*Pikeville College, Pikeville

Public High Schools

Pike County Schools

*Belfry High School, Belfry (postal address in South Williamson)
*East Ridge High School, Lick Creek
*Phelps High School, Phelps
*Pike County Central High School, Pikeville
*Shelby Valley High School, Pikeville

Pikeville Independent Schools

*Pikeville High School, Pikeville

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.pikecountybowl.com/ Pike County Bowl]
* [http://www.eastkyexpo.com/ East KY Expo Center]
* [http://www.pike.kyschools.us/ Pike County Schools]
* [http://www.pikeville.k12.ky.us/ Pikeville Independent Schools]
* [http://www.belfryky.com/ BelfryKy.com]
* [http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/pike_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project]
* [http://www.tourpikecounty.com]