Knott County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Knott County
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Knott County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
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 Kentucky's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Named for | James Proctor Knott |
| Seat | Hindman |
| Largest city | Hindman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 353 sq mi (910 km2) |
| • Land | 352 sq mi (910 km2) |
| • Water | 1.3 sq mi (3 km2) 0.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,251 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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13,659  |
| • Density | 40.37/sq mi (15.587/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
Knott County is a special area called a county in the state of Kentucky, USA. In 2020, about 14,251 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Hindman.
Knott County was created in 1884. It is named after James Proctor Knott. He was the Governor of Kentucky from 1883 to 1887.
Hindman is also home to the Hindman Settlement School. This was America's first school of its kind. Another important school, Alice Lloyd College, is in the town of Pippa Passes.
Contents
History of Knott County
Knott County was formed in 1884. Land was taken from four other counties: Breathitt, Floyd, Letcher, and Perry. The county's second courthouse, built in the 1890s, unfortunately burned down in 1929.
The first leaders of the county were elected soon after it was formed. These included the county clerk, judge, attorney, sheriff, jailer, and assessor. Early politics in the county were sometimes divided. These divisions often came from differences during the American Civil War.
For example, a disagreement between two families led to a long-lasting feud. This caused fights and even deaths in Hindman for several years.
Geography of Knott County
Knott County covers a total area of about 353 square miles. Most of this is land, about 352 square miles. Only a small part, about 1.3 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Knott County shares borders with these other counties:
- Magoffin County (to the north)
- Floyd County (to the northeast)
- Pike County (to the east)
- Letcher County (to the south)
- Perry County (to the southwest)
- Breathitt County (to the northwest)
Tallest Points
The highest point in Knott County is Big Lovely Mountain. It stands about 1,401 feet tall.
Population of Knott County
| Historical population | |||
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| 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% | |
| 2020 | 14,251 | −12.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 13,659 | −16.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 17,649 people living in Knott County. These people lived in 6,717 households. About 4,990 of these were families. The county had about 50 people per square mile.
Most people in the county were White (98.27%). A small number were Black or African American (0.73%). Other groups made up less than 1% of the population.
About 34.40% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (57.60%) were married couples. The average household had 2.54 people. The average family had 3.00 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 24.50% were under 18. About 11.40% were 65 or older. The average age was 36 years old.
Education in Knott County
Knott County has several schools for different age groups.
Knott County Public Schools
- Knott County Central High School
- Knott County Area Technology Center
- Beaver Creek Elementary
- Carr Creek Elementary
- Cordia School
- Emmalena Elementary
- Hindman Elementary
- Jones Fork Elementary
Private Schools in Knott County
- Bethel Christian Academy
- Hindman Settlement School
- June Buchanan School
Colleges and Higher Education
- Knott County Campus of Hazard Community and Technical College
- Alice Lloyd College
Economy and Jobs
Knott County has some important industries.
Coal Mining Companies
- Alpha Natural Resources
- James River Coal Company
Fun Things to Do
Knott County is becoming a popular place for visitors.
One big attraction is seeing elk. Knott County and nearby areas are home to about 5,700 wild elk. This is the largest group of elk east of the Mississippi River.
There is also an ATV Training Center. This center teaches people how to ride ATVs safely. The Knott County Sportsplex is a great place for sports. It has indoor basketball courts, outdoor baseball fields, a soccer field, and a fitness center.
Media and News
Knott County has its own local media.
Television
- Hometown24
Radio Stations
- WKCB-FM
- WKCB-AM
- WWJD-FM
Newspapers
- Troublesome Creek Times
Communities in Knott County
Knott County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities
- Hindman (This is the county seat, the main town)
- Pippa Passes
- Vicco (part of this city is in Knott County)
Smaller Communities
Transportation
Public transportation is available through LKLP Community Action Partnership. They offer rides when you call for them. They also have scheduled bus service from Hindman to Hazard.
Famous People from Knott County
- Lige Clarke (1942−1975), an activist and writer.
- Rebecca Gayheart (born 1971), an actress and model.
- Carl Dewey Perkins (1912−1984), a politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- James Still (1906–2001), an author and folklorist.
- David Tolliver, a musician in the country band Halfway to Hazard.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Knott para niños
