Lee County, Kentucky

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


founded year = 1870
founded date =
seat wl = Beattyville
area_total_sq_mi = 211
area_total_km2 = 547
area_land_sq_mi = 210
area_land_km2 = 544
area_water_sq_mi = 1
area_water_km2 = 4
area percentage = 0.64%
census yr = 2000
pop = 7916
density_sq_mi = 38
density_km2 = 15
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web = www.beattyville.org
named for = Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), Confederate general or Lee County, Virginia.

Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population is 17,916. Its county seat is BeattyvilleGR|6. It is a prohibition or dry county.

History

Lee County was formed in 1870. Many sources say it was named for General Robert E. Lee, which is certainly possible given that it was formed near the time of Lee's death. On the other hand, this area of Kentucky was strongly pro-Union during the Civil War. Other sources say the County was named for Lee County, Virginia, or for Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee.

Directions to Lee County, KY

*From Interstate 64, Exit at the Mountain Parkway. Follow the Mountain Parkway, a modern 4-lane superhighway to Exit 33 (Slade/Beattyville). Continue on Kentucky Highway 11 into Lee County.
*From Mountain Parkway westbound, exit at Beattyville exit 43 and follow signs onto Kentucky Highway 11.

*From Interstate 75, Exit at either 90(northbound) or 90A(southbound) Richmond/Irvine. Follow US 25/US 421 (Dr. Robert Martin Bypass) to the intersection of Kentucky Highway 52. Follow KY 52 into Lee County.

*From the South, Follow Kentucky Highway 11 northbound.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 211 square miles (547 km²), of which, 210 square miles (544 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.64%) is water.

Eastern Kentucky Coal Fields

Lee County lies within the Eastern Kentucky Coal Fields region. The very rugged terrain greatly defines the area. Roughly half of the county lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest. Timber and coal remain economically significant. Harmful effects from strip mining and clear cut logging are still being corrected. The proliferation of kudzu has proved difficult to address. However, with the growing environmental movement and the developing tourism industry more action is being taken.

Adjacent counties

*Powell County (north)
*Wolfe County (northeast)
*Breathitt County (southeast)
*Owsley County (south)
*Jackson County (southwest)
*Estill County (northwest)

National protected area

* Daniel Boone National Forest (part)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1880= 4254
1890= 6205
1900= 7988
1910= 9531
1920= 11918
1930= 9729
1940= 10860
1950= 8739
1960= 7420
1970= 6587
1980= 7754
1990= 7422
2000= 7916
estimate=
estyear=
estref=
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21129.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,916 people, 2,985 households, and 2,122 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 3,321 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.10% White, 3.79% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,985 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 109.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $18,544, and the median income for a family was $24,918. Males had a median income of $25,930 versus $19,038 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,325. About 25.20% of families and 30.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.00% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.

Localities

City

*Beattyville

Other places

Films

*"Bluegrass, Blackmarket" (1994). Directed by Hans Luxemberger. Produced by Headwaters. Whitesburg, Kentucky: Appalshop.

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/lee_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~kylee/ Rootsweb, Lee County]