Breathitt County, Kentucky

Breathitt County (/ˈbrɛˌθɪt/ BREH-thit) is a county in the eastern Appalachian portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,718.[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
County
Breathitt County Courthouse in Jackson
Breathitt County Courthouse in Jackson
Map of Kentucky highlighting Breathitt County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting 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
 (2020)
 • Total13,718
 • Estimate 
(2022)
13,351 Decrease
 • Density28/sq mi (11/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.Note%±
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%
202013,718−1.2%
2022 (est.)13,351[6]−2.7%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, 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
United States presidential election results for Breathitt County, Kentucky[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,265 75.34% 1,301 22.98% 95 1.68%
2016 3,991 69.55% 1,537 26.79% 210 3.66%
2012 3,318 66.25% 1,562 31.19% 128 2.56%
2008 2,671 53.10% 2,205 43.84% 154 3.06%
2004 2,542 42.77% 3,327 55.97% 75 1.26%
2000 2,084 41.08% 2,902 57.20% 87 1.71%
1996 1,058 23.11% 3,106 67.85% 414 9.04%
1992 1,303 24.42% 3,496 65.52% 537 10.06%
1988 2,149 38.51% 3,387 60.70% 44 0.79%
1984 2,855 45.25% 3,435 54.45% 19 0.30%
1980 1,532 27.69% 3,916 70.79% 84 1.52%
1976 1,014 22.16% 3,544 77.45% 18 0.39%
1972 1,846 40.65% 2,677 58.95% 18 0.40%
1968 1,361 29.09% 2,954 63.15% 363 7.76%
1964 669 12.43% 4,714 87.57% 0 0.00%
1960 1,996 37.64% 3,307 62.36% 0 0.00%
1956 2,423 42.71% 3,246 57.22% 4 0.07%
1952 1,381 28.99% 3,383 71.01% 0 0.00%
1948 957 22.38% 3,295 77.06% 24 0.56%
1944 1,230 29.40% 2,922 69.85% 31 0.74%
1940 1,602 28.66% 3,977 71.14% 11 0.20%
1936 1,790 30.96% 3,980 68.85% 11 0.19%
1932 1,371 23.23% 4,524 76.65% 7 0.12%
1928 2,309 43.35% 3,017 56.65% 0 0.00%
1924 1,708 37.59% 2,826 62.19% 10 0.22%
1920 2,464 47.09% 2,737 52.31% 31 0.59%
1916 1,584 43.09% 2,067 56.23% 25 0.68%
1912 910 30.34% 1,682 56.09% 407 13.57%
1908 1,620 50.33% 1,567 48.68% 32 0.99%
1904 829 34.66% 1,537 64.26% 26 1.09%
1900 850 34.92% 1,573 64.63% 11 0.45%
1896 776 38.92% 1,204 60.38% 14 0.70%
1892 566 36.42% 977 62.87% 11 0.71%
1888 505 43.61% 636 54.92% 17 1.47%
1884 459 34.08% 870 64.59% 18 1.34%
1880 330 29.10% 797 70.28% 7 0.62%

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.

  • Sebastian 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)
  • 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 article in The Washington Post: "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
  • Guage
  • 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]
  • Troublesome Creek
  • Turners Creek
  • Vancleve
  • War Creek
  • Watts
  • Whick
  • Wilstacy
  • Wolf Coal

Nature Viewing
Feral horses seen at Southfork Elkview in Breathitt County, Kentucky.

In the community of Southfork, there is a local elk viewing area where elk and feral horses can be seen.[16][17]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  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. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. 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". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  15. Stevenson, KY (Google Maps, accessed 26 June 2020)
  16. Guggenmos, Lean. "Red River Gorge Day Trip – Southfork Elk View". StayOver. Stay Over Management. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  17. "South Fork Elkview". Explore Kentucky Wildlands.
  18. "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.

37.52°N 83.32°W / 37.52; -83.32

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