Letcher County, Kentucky

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


founded year = 1842
founded date =
seat wl = Whitesburg
largest city wl = Jenkins
area_total_sq_mi = 339
area_total_km2 = 878
area_land_sq_mi = 339
area_land_km2 = 878
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 0
area percentage = 0.02%
census yr = 2000
pop = 25277
density_sq_mi = 75
density_km2 = 29
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web = www.letchercountykentucky.net
named for = Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky (1840–1844).

Letcher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 25,277. Its county seat is WhitesburgGR|6. The county is named for Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky from 1840-44.

It is a dry county that prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages, with the only exceptions being the Highland Winerycite 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 |date=2005-08-19 |accessdate=2007-03-17 |format=PDF] and the city of Whitesburg, which voted on April 17, 2007, to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants which seat at least one hundred people and obtain 70 percent of their revenue from food sales. In the city's first local-option election in more than sixty years, voters approved the measure by more than a 2-to-1 margin.cite web|url=http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/7074287.html |first=Heather |last=Haley |title=Whitesburg Goes "Wet" |publisher=WKYT-TV |date=2007-04-18 |accessdate=2007-05-11]

The killing of filmmaker Hugh O'Connor by a local landowner in 1967 brought Letcher County to national attention.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 339 square miles (878 km²), of which, 339 square miles (878 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) of it (0.02%) is water. Letcher County's natural areas include Bad Branch Falls and the Lilley Cornett Woods.

Adjacent counties

*Knott County (northwest)
*Pike County (northeast)
*Wise County, Virginia (southeast)
*Harlan County (south)
*Perry County (southwest)

National protected area

* Jefferson National Forest (part)

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 [http://www.letcher.k12.ky.us Letcher County Public Schools] . The district operates nine elementary/middle schools, one vocational school, one high school, and an alternative education center.

In 2006, the doors to the new [http://www.letcher.k12.ky.us/lcchs Letcher County Central High School] were opened in Ermine (the school's postal address, however, is in Whitesburg). With total costs well over two million dollars, it is one of the most technologically advanced high schools in the area. One of the most impressive features of the school include a football stadium with an artificial SprinTurf playing surface and large instant replay Jumbotron. The school's nickname is the Cougars, and the school colors are blue, black, and silver.

Jenkins Independent Schools

Students in the Jenkins area are served by the [http://www.jenkins.k12.ky.us Jenkins Independent Schools] , which operates two elementary schools (Burdine Elementary School and McRoberts Elementary School) and a combined middle and high school. Jenkins Independent Schools will be entering it's 100th year in 2012. The middle/high school's athletic nickname is the Cavaliers/Lady Cavaliers. The school colors are Kelly Green and White.

Events

* [http://www.whitesburgjuly4th.com Whitesburg's July 4th Celebration] , is a free event held on the fourth of July at Parkway Plaza shopping center. The event includes free music, entertainment, fireworks and fun.

* In Whitesburg: [http://www.riversidedays.com Riverside Days] , a three-day annual festival held at Riverside Park. In 2008, the dates will be August 14-16.

* [http://www.whitesburglaborday.com 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. Highway 101 will headline the music on September 1, 2008.

* The Mountain Heritage Festival is held during the last full week of September.

* In Jenkins, Jenkins Homecoming Days are also celebrated annually in August.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1850= 2512
1860= 3904
1870= 4608
1880= 6601
1890= 6920
1900= 9172
1910= 10623
1920= 24467
1930= 35702
1940= 40592
1950= 39522
1960= 30102
1970= 23165
1980= 30687
1990= 27000
2000= 25277
estimate=
estyear=
estref=
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21133.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 25,277 people, 10,085 households, and 7,462 families residing in the county. The population density was 75 people 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.

Cities and towns

Notable residents

*Harry M. Caudill (author, historian, professor, lawyer, legislator, and environmentalist, 1922-1990)
*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)
*Marion Sumner ("The Fiddle King of the South," country, Western swing, bluegrass musician, 1920-1997)
*Lee Sexton (Country, bluegrass, old-time musician)
*Cecil Williams (Louisiana journalist, 1922-2008, born in Letcher County)

ee also

*Caudill, Harry M., Author of "Night Comes to the Cumberlands" (1963). ISBN 0-316-13212-8

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.letchercountykentucky.net/ Letcher County Fiscal Court]
* [http://www.letcher.k12.ky.us/ Letcher County Public Schools]
* [http://www.jenkins.k12.ky.us/ Jenkins Independent Schools]
* [http://lcld.org/ Letcher County Library District]
* [http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/letcher_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project]
* [http://www.riversidedays.com Riverside Days Festival - Whitesburg, Kentucky]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyletch/ Letcher County genealogy]
* [http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0405/feature8/index.html/ National Geographic Magazine (ZipUSA article)]
* [http://www.letcherwater.com/ Letcher County: Head of Three Rivers Water Quality Project]