Owsley County, Kentucky
Owsley County | |
|---|---|
 Owsley County courthouse in Booneville, Kentucky | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°25′N 83°41′W / 37.41°N 83.69°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Seat | Booneville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 198 sq mi (510 km2) |
| • Land | 198 sq mi (510 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 4,858 |
| • Density | 24/sq mi (9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Website | www |
Owsley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 4,858. Its county seat is BoonevilleTemplate:GR. The county is named for William Owsley, the Governor of Kentucky from 1844 to 1848. It is a prohibition or dry county. It is the 2nd poorest county in America, with a median household income of less than $16,000.[1]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 198 square miles (513 km2), essentially all of which is land.
Adjacent counties
- Lee County (north)
- Breathitt County (east)
- Perry County (southeast)
- Clay County (south)
- Jackson County (west)
National protected area
- Daniel Boone National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3,774 | — | |
| 1860 | 5,335 | 41.4% | |
| 1870 | 3,889 | −27.1% | |
| 1880 | 4,942 | 27.1% | |
| 1890 | 5,975 | 20.9% | |
| 1900 | 6,874 | 15.0% | |
| 1910 | 7,979 | 16.1% | |
| 1920 | 7,820 | −2.0% | |
| 1930 | 7,223 | −7.6% | |
| 1940 | 8,957 | 24.0% | |
| 1950 | 7,324 | −18.2% | |
| 1960 | 5,369 | −26.7% | |
| 1970 | 5,023 | −6.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,709 | 13.7% | |
| 1990 | 5,036 | −11.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,858 | −3.5% | |
| 2008 (est.) | 4,634 | ||
| http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21189.txt | |||
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 4,858 people, 1,894 households, and 1,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 2,247 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.22% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.02% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 1,894 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98.
The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $15,805, which is the third lowest in the nation and the lowest among counties with a non-Hispanic white majority population, and the median income for a family was $18,034. Males had a median income of $25,100 versus $18,203 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,742. About 41.7% of families and 45.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.3% of those under age 18 and 34.5% of those age 65 or over. Poverty rates are therefore among the 10 highest of any county in the United States.
Abraham Lincoln Relief Sculpture
File:AbeLincolnRock.jpg The Abraham Lincoln Relief Sculpture, locally known as 'Abe Lincoln Rock', is located just off Higway 846 in the Conkling community of Owsley County. The sculpture is listed in the inventory of folk art in the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The sculpture was carved by a travelling pack peddler, Granville Johnson, in the 1930's. Local Legend has it that Johnson had come to Owsley County ill and in need of assistance. The John Williams family cared for him on thier farm located south of Booneville. As he began to recover his strength, Mr. Johnson would take a hammer and chisel and climb the hill behind the Williams' home each day. Once recovered well enough to travel again he revealed the sculpture, which he had created as a gift of appreciation to the family. The Owsley County Fiscal Court purchased the sculpture and surrounding land in 2008.
Famous people from Owsley County
Earle Combs, who played baseball for the New York Yankees from 1924 to 1935 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970, is from Owsley County. A plaque to honor his birthplace stands on Highway 11 in Pebworth.[2]
Cemeteries
Churches
Populated Places
Post Offices
Historical Schools (No longer in operation)
Streams
Summits
Valleys
See also
References
Municipalities and communities of Owsley County, Kentucky, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| post offices (and the creeks they are on) |
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| Counties | |
|---|---|
| Cities and towns Over 10k | |
| Cities and towns 5k-10k | |
| Cities and towns 1k-5k | |
| Cities and towns under 1k | |
| Statistical areas | |
| See also | |