Knott County, Kentucky

Knott County, Kentucky
Location in the state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded	1884
Named for	James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883–1887)
Seat	Hindman
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	353.01 sq mi (914 km²) 352.19 sq mi (912 km²) 0.82 sq mi (2 km²), 0.23%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	16,346 46/sq mi (18/km²)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.knottky.com

Knott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1884. As of 2010, the population was 16,346. Its county seat is Hindman. The county is named for James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883–1887). It is a prohibition or dry county. 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.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 353.01 square miles (914.3 km²), of which 352.19 square miles (912.2 km²) (or 99.77%) is land and 0.82 square miles (2.1 km²) (or 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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
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%
http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21119.txt

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.

Cities and towns

• Hindman
• Pippa Passes

Communities

• Anco
• Sassafras
• Vest
• Wiscoal

Educational institutions

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

Politics

Knott County has 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 55% of the vote to Barack Obama's 44%. 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. Congressman Hal Rogers has also won Knott County's vote in recent years.

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]} 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

Radio

• WKCB-FM
• WKCB-AM
• WWJD-FM

Newspapers

• Troublesome Creek Times

In films

• 20th Century Fox filmed several scenes in the county for a nationally released movie Fire Down Below

Notable residents

• Rebecca Gayheart, actress and model
• Carl Dewey Perkins (October 15, 1912 - August 3, 1984), politician and member of the United States House of Representatives. He was a Democrat. Perkins was born in Hindman, Kentucky. He attended the Knott County grade schools, Hindman High School, and Caney Junior College (now Alice Lloyd College).
• James Still, author
• David Tolliver, musician; member of country band Halfway to Hazard

See also

• Dry counties
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Knott County, Kentucky
• Robinson Forest

External links

• The Kentucky Highlands Project