Breathitt County, Kentucky

Breathitt County is a county in the eastern Appalachian portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 13,878.[1] Its county seat is Jackson.[2] The county was formed in 1839 and was named for John Breathitt, who was Governor of Kentucky from 1832 to 1834. Breathitt County was a prohibition or dry county, until a public vote in July 2016 that allowed alcohol sales.[3]

Breathitt County
U.S. county
Breathitt County Courthouse in Jackson
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°31′N 83°19′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1839
Named forJohn Breathitt
SeatJackson
Largest cityJackson
Area
 • Total495 sq mi (1,280 km2)
 • Land492 sq mi (1,270 km2)
 • Water2.9 sq mi (8 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
12,726
 • Density25.9/sq mi (10.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitebreathittcounty.ky.gov

History

The area now encompassed by Kentucky's Breathitt County was first bounded in 1772, when all of what is now the state of Kentucky was in the frontier county of Fincastle County, Virginia. Fincastle was divided in 1776, with the western portion named Kentucky County, Virginia. In 1780, Virginia set aside all land in Kentucky County for soldiers who had served in the Revolutionary War. In 1780, Kentucky County was divided into 3 counties, Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln. Lincoln County was divided in 1799, with part becoming Knox County. In 1807, the Legislature partitioned the upper part of Knox to create Clay County. On February 6, 1839, a portion of Clay (along with portions of Estill and Perry Counties) was partitioned off to create Breathitt County. It was named for Governor John Breathitt.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 495 square miles (1,280 km2), of which 492 square miles (1,270 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

The North and Middle Forks of the Kentucky River pass through the county as the main water drainages.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18402,195—
18503,78572.4%
18604,98031.6%
18705,67213.9%
18807,74236.5%
18908,70512.4%
190014,32264.5%
191017,54022.5%
192020,61417.5%
193021,1432.6%
194023,94613.3%
195019,964−16.6%
196015,490−22.4%
197014,221−8.2%
198017,00419.6%
199015,703−7.7%
200016,1002.5%
201013,878−13.8%
Est. 201812,726[6]−8.3%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2013[1]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 16,100 people, 6,170 households, and 4,541 families in the county. The population density was 32 per square mile (12/km2). There were 6,812 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,170 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% 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.

The county population contained 25.50% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,155, and the median income for a family was $23,721. Males had a median income of $26,208 versus $20,613 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,044. About 28.10% of families and 33.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.90% of those under age 18 and 26.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 69.6% 3,991 26.8% 1,537 3.7% 210
2012 66.3% 3,318 31.2% 1,562 2.6% 128
2008 53.1% 2,671 43.8% 2,205 3.1% 154
2004 42.8% 2,542 56.0% 3,327 1.3% 75
2000 41.1% 2,084 57.2% 2,902 1.7% 87
1996 23.1% 1,058 67.9% 3,106 9.0% 414
1992 24.4% 1,303 65.5% 3,496 10.1% 537
1988 38.5% 2,149 60.7% 3,387 0.8% 44
1984 45.3% 2,855 54.5% 3,435 0.3% 19
1980 27.7% 1,532 70.8% 3,916 1.5% 84
1976 22.2% 1,014 77.5% 3,544 0.4% 18
1972 40.7% 1,846 59.0% 2,677 0.4% 18
1968 29.1% 1,361 63.2% 2,954 7.8% 363
1964 12.4% 669 87.6% 4,714 0.0% 0
1960 37.6% 1,996 62.4% 3,307 0.0% 0
1956 42.7% 2,423 57.2% 3,246 0.1% 4
1952 29.0% 1,381 71.0% 3,383 0.0% 0
1948 22.4% 957 77.1% 3,295 0.6% 24
1944 29.4% 1,230 69.9% 2,922 0.7% 31
1940 28.7% 1,602 71.1% 3,977 0.2% 11
1936 31.0% 1,790 68.9% 3,980 0.2% 11
1932 23.2% 1,371 76.7% 4,524 0.1% 7
1928 43.4% 2,309 56.7% 3,017 0.0% 0
1924 37.6% 1,708 62.2% 2,826 0.2% 10
1920 47.1% 2,464 52.3% 2,737 0.6% 31
1916 43.1% 1,584 56.2% 2,067 0.7% 25
1912 30.3% 910 56.1% 1,682 13.6% 407

Economy

Coal companies

Education

Jackson Independent Schools

Jackson Independent Schools is a school district that educates students inside and outside the city limits of Jackson, Kentucky.

Breathitt County Schools

Breathitt County Schools is another school district with an array of schools within the city limits of Jackson, Kentucky and throughout the county.

  • L.B.J. Elementary School – Jackson, Kentucky (Opened 1970)
  • Highland-Turner Elementary School – Canoe, Kentucky (Opened 1992)
  • Rousseau Elementary School (Closed 2013) – Rousseau, Kentucky
  • Marie Roberts-Caney Elementary School – Lost Creek, Kentucky (Expanded School Opened 1996)
  • Sebastian Middle School – Jackson, Kentucky (Opened 1975)
  • Breathitt County High School – Jackson, Kentucky (New School Opened 1982)

Private schools
  • Mount Carmel School – Vancleve, Kentucky
  • Oakdale Christian Academy – Jackson, Kentucky
  • Riverside Christian School – Lost Creek, Kentucky

Higher education

Breathitt Area Technology Center

The Breathitt Area Technology Center serves both the Jackson Independent and the Breathitt County school districts. It is located in Jackson on the campus of Breathitt County High School. The school is operated by the state of Kentucky. While most of the funding comes from the state, much of the equipment is purchased with federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act funds, which are aimed at advancing technical education.

The school is focused on technical education, offering these technical programs:

  • Automotive Technology
  • Construction Technology
  • Electrical Technology
  • Health Sciences
  • Office Technology

UK Robinson Station

The community of Quicksand is the location for the University of Kentucky Robinson Station. This agriculture research facility is a pivotal asset in Breathitt County, furthering the scientific studies in the areas of agriculture and forestry.

Health care
  • Breathitt County Family Health Center, Jackson, Kentucky

Breathitt County health care providers were featured in a November 23, 2013 Washington Post article: "In Rural Kentucky, Health-Care Takes Back Seat as the Long-Uninsured Line Up".[14] As of 2014 the county had the highest morbidity rate in the state of Kentucky.

Communities
  • Altro
  • Bays
  • Caney
  • Canoe
  • Chenowee
  • Clayhole
  • Cockrell Fork (on line between Breathitt and Perry Counties)
  • Crockettsville
  • Elkatawa
  • Evanston
  • Fishtrap
  • Flintville
  • Frozen/Frozen Creek
  • Fugates Fork
  • Gauge
  • Haddix
  • Hardshell Caney
  • Hayes Branch
  • Jackson (county seat)
  • Leatherwood
  • Lost Creek
  • Morris Fork
  • Ned
  • Nix Branch
  • Noble
  • Noctor
  • Oakdale
  • Portsmouth
  • Quicksand
  • River Caney
  • Riverside
  • Rose Branch
  • Rousseau
  • Rowdy
  • Saldee
  • Sebastians Branch
  • Shoulder Blade/Shoulderblade
  • Smith Branch
  • South Fork
  • Stevenson[15][16]
  • Troublesome Creek
  • Turners Creek
  • Vancleve
  • War Creek
  • Watts
  • Whick
  • Wilstacy
  • Wolf Coal

Notable people

• Jeffrey Reddick, writer known for the X-files and the Final Destination series, was born in Jackson.

  • Sturgill Simpson, country music artist/singer was born in Jackson, the county seat of Breathitt County and spent much of his childhood there.
  • J. D. Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy (2016) spent much of his childhood in Breathitt County.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Breathitt County voters choose to allow alcohol sales". wymt.com. WYMT-TV. July 12, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  4. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol. 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 34.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  7. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  11. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  12. Arch Coal – Hazard Complex Archived September 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  13. US Coal Corporation :: OperationsArchived January 2, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  14. McCrummen, Stephanie (November 13, 2013). "In Rural Kentucky Health-Care Debate Takes Back Seat as the Long-Uninsured Line Up". Washington Post. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  15. Stevenson, KY (Google Maps, accessed 26 June 2020)
  16. Cemeteries in Stevenson, Kentucky (Find A Grave, accessed 26 June 2020)
  17. "Kentucky clerk who refused same-sex marriage licenses starts new appeal". Reuters. September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016.

Further reading
  • T.R.C. Hutton, Bloody Breathitt: Politics and Violence in the Appalachian South. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2013.

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