Knott County, Kentucky

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


founded year = 1884
founded date =
seat wl = Hindman
area_total_sq_mi = 353
area_total_km2 = 914
area_land_sq_mi = 352
area_land_km2 = 912
area_water_sq_mi = 1
area_water_km2 = 2
area percentage = 0.23%
census yr = 2000
pop = 17649
density_sq_mi = 50
density_km2 = 19
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web = www.knottky.com
named for = James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883–1887).

Knott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1884. As of 2000, the population is 17,649. Its county seat is HindmanGR|6. The county is named for James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky 1883-87. It is a prohibition or dry county. Notable inhabitants include U.S. Congressman Carl D. Perkins, Appalachian author James Still, poet Albert Stewart, and actress Rebecca Gayheart. Its county seat, Hindman, is home to the Hindman Settlement School, founded as America's first settlement school. Nearby Pippa Passes is home to Alice Lloyd College.

Tourism is increasing in the county, especially the popularity of elk viewing. Knott County and its surrounding counties is home to 5,700 free ranging elk, the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi River.

On June 26, 2008, four Knott County officials, including Judge-Executive Randy Thompson, were found guilty of federal vote-fraud charges. [ [http://www.kentucky.com/254/story/444895.html Knott County officials found guilty in 2006 vote-buying conspiracy] ] According to federal prosecutors, the officials paved driveways to influence votes in the 2006 election. However, the officials and their attorneys claim that the paving--worth hundreds of thousands of tax dollars--was needed because it was close to winter, when inclement weather could cause problems with those who needed medical help as well as students going to and from school on buses. [ [http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/20723754.html Jury To Continue Deliberating Federal Vote Fraud Case] ] Appeals are expected in the case. Thompson is the second consecutive county judge-executive convicted on vote fraud charges. Donnie Newsome, the previous judge-executive, was sent to prison on vote fraud charges in an earlier case. In spite of charges against Judge Thompson and his administration, optimism runs greatly throughout the community as Judge Thompson has brought several great establishments to the area including an ATV Training Center dedicated to the safety of ATV usage amongst riders in order to decrease ATV related fatalities in the area and the Knott County Sportsplex, a sports complex dedicated to bringing athletic opportunities to people of all ages, through the use of indoor basketball courts and outside baseball fields and soccerfield, and a healthy lifestyle to those who take advantage of the fitness center.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 353 square miles (914 km²), of which, 352 square miles (912 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Magoffin County (north)
*Floyd County (northeast)
*Pike County (east)
*Letcher County (south)
*Perry County (southwest)
*Breathitt County (northwest)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1890= 5438
1900= 8704
1910= 10791
1920= 11655
1930= 15230
1940= 20007
1950= 20320
1960= 17362
1970= 14698
1980= 17940
1990= 17906
2000= 17649
estimate=
estyear=
estref=
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21119.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 17,649 people, 6,717 households, and 4,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 7,579 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/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.

Cities and towns

*Hindman
*Mousie
*Pippa Passes
*Vest

Educational institutions

*Alice Lloyd College
*Knott County Campus of Hazard Community and Technical College
*Knott County Area Technology Center
*Knott County Central High School (KCC)
*Hindman Settlement School
*June Buchanan School
*Cordia High School
*Beaver Creek Elementary
*Carr Creek Elementary
*Cordia Elementary
*Emmalena Elementary
*Hindman Elementary
*Jones Fork Elementary

ee also

*Dry counties

References

External links

* [http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/knott_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project]