Letcher County, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Letcher County
U.S. county
Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1842
Named for	Robert P. Letcher
Seat	Whitesburg
Largest city	Jenkins
Area
• Total	339 sq mi (880 km2)
• Land	338 sq mi (880 km2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,548
• Estimate  (2023)	20,423
• Density	63.56/sq mi (24.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th

Letcher County is a county in the state of Kentucky, USA. In 2020, about 21,548 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Whitesburg. The county was formed in 1842 from parts of Harlan and Perry counties. It was named after Robert P. Letcher, who was the Governor of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844.

History

Early Settlers

The area that is now Letcher County was first settled in the early 1800s. Families like the Caudills, Dixons, and Stamper families were among the first to arrive. Later, more families joined them, such as the Maggards and Mullins.

The very first permanent settlement was in 1803. It was located at the mouth of Pert Creek, where Whitesburg is today. Many communities and places in the county are named after these early pioneer families. In the beginning, most of these communities made their money from cutting down trees.

How Letcher County Was Formed

Map of Letcher County in 1911

In 1842, people living in this area asked the state government for a new county. At that time, they were part of Harlan, Perry, and Pike counties. The state legislature agreed in January 1842.

Letcher County became Kentucky's 95th county. It was named after Robert P. Letcher, who was the governor then. Whitesburg, the county seat, was first called Summit City. It was renamed Whitesburg in 1842 to honor John D. White. He helped create the county's law in the Kentucky General Assembly.

The County Courthouse

Mose Adams log cabin, where the first court session was held in 1842

At first, people couldn't agree on where the county seat should be. Some wanted it in Mayking, others in Camp Branch. The problem was solved when Stephen Hiram Hogg gave his land in Whitesburg for the courthouse.

The first court meeting was held in a log cabin owned by Mose Adams in 1842. John A. Caudill built the first courthouse, which was finished in 1844. It was made of logs.

The third courthouse built by Lemuel R. Perry in 1898

This first courthouse was taken down in 1897 because it was old and falling apart. Lemuel R. Perry built a new one. This new courthouse was made of bricks and had a large cupola with a bell. The bell was used to call the jury to court.

By the 1960s, this courthouse was too small. A new one was built with money from the Area Redevelopment Administration. William Banton Moore designed it, and it was finished in 1965. The new courthouse had a modern look with blue and beige panels. It also had a jail on the top floor and a public library on the bottom.

The Letcher County Courthouse, remodeled in 1998.

Many local people didn't like the new courthouse, saying it looked like a gas station. By the 1990s, the courthouse needed repairs. It was remodeled in 1998. The jail was moved to the bottom floor, and a statue honoring veterans was placed in front. The bell from the old courthouse was also moved to the front.

Coal Mining History

Letcher County is a very remote area because of its rough mountains. Until coal mining started, its population was always below 10,000 people. In the early 1900s, coal mining began in the county.

This brought a big economic boom. Many small communities grew into large coal towns supported by mining companies. By 1940, the county's population had grown to over 40,000. Between 1990 and 2014, Letcher County produced a huge amount of coal, over 600 million short tons.

Recent Events

In 1963, the book Night Comes to the Cumberlands: A Biography of a Depressed Area by Harry M. Caudill brought national attention to the county. A TV show called Christmas in Appalachia (1964) also showed the conditions in Letcher County. People across the country sent clothes and gifts to help.

Scotia mine disaster historical sign

On March 9, 1976, a big explosion happened at the Scotia Mine in Oven Fork. This explosion, caused by coal dust and gases, killed 15 miners. Two days later, another explosion happened, killing 11 more miners. These accidents are considered two of the worst mining disasters in U.S. history. They led to new safety laws for mines.

In July and August 2022, severe floods hit Eastern Kentucky. Three people died in Letcher County, and many people lost their homes.

Geography

Letcher County is in the far southeast part of Kentucky. Most of its borders are made by mountains. The 125-mile long Pine Mountain divides the county. It also forms part of the border with Harlan County and Virginia. To the south, Black Mountain marks the border with Virginia.

The county has rugged mountains covered in forests. A large part of the county is covered by Jefferson National Forest. The highest point in the county is Black Mountain, which is about 3,700 feet high.

North Fork of the Kentucky River flowing through Whitesburg, Kentucky

The northern part of the county is drained by Rockhouse Creek. This creek flows into the North Fork Kentucky River near Blackey, Kentucky. The North Fork Kentucky River flows through the middle of the county. The southern part of the county is drained by the Poor Fork.

The county has a total area of about 339 square miles. About 338 square miles is land, and 1.1 square miles (0.3%) is water.

Fishpond Lake

Fishpond Lake is a man-made lake near Jenkins. It covers about 28.8 acres. It was created in 1961 by damming Fishpond Branch. The lake is about 79 feet deep at its deepest point and averages 33 feet deep. You can find several types of fish here, like rainbow trout and channel catfish. It is the only large lake in Letcher County.

Nearby Counties

• Knott County (northwest)
• Pike County (northeast)
• Wise County, Virginia (southeast)
• Harlan County (south)
• Perry County (southwest)

Protected Areas

• Jefferson National Forest (part)
• Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve
• Lilley Cornett Woods Experiment Station (Eastern Kentucky University)

Bad Branch Falls

State Parks

• Kingdom Come State Park (part)
• Pine Mountain Trail State Scenic Trail (part)

Population Information

In 2000, there were about 25,277 people living in Letcher County. The population density was about 75 people per square mile. Most people in the county were White (98.71%).

About 32.30% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.48 people. The median age in the county was 38 years old. About 27.10% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Education

Letcher County Public Schools

Most students from kindergarten to 12th grade in the county go to Letcher County Public Schools. This district has six elementary/middle schools, one high school, one vocational school, and an alternative education center.

The schools in this district include:

• Arlie Boggs Elementary School – Eolia
• Cowan Elementary School – Whitesburg
• Fleming-Neon Middle School – Fleming-Neon
• Letcher County Central High School – Whitesburg
• Letcher Elementary and Middle School – Blackey
• Martha Jane Potter Elementary – Whitesburg
• West Whitesburg Elementary – Whitesburg
• Whitesburg Middle School – Whitesburg
• Letcher County Alternative Education Center – Whitesburg
• Letcher County Area Technology Center – Whitesburg

Jenkins Independent Schools

Students in the Jenkins area go to Jenkins Independent Schools. This district has one elementary school and a combined middle and high school for grades 7–12.

The schools in this district are:

• Burdine Elementary School – Burdine
• Jenkins Middle and High School – Jenkins

Economy

The economy of Letcher County has historically been very tied to coal mining.

Coal Companies

Some of the coal companies that have operated in Letcher County include:

• Alpha Natural Resources
• James River Coal Company
• Rhino Resource Partners
• United Coal Company

Media

Television

Letcher County has two public-access TV channels. The Letcher County Government Channel shows government meetings and local events. LCPS-TV is run by the Letcher County Public Schools and shows school announcements and educational programs.

Radio

You can listen to several radio stations in Letcher County:

• WTCW
• WXKQ-FM
• WMMT (FM) (a community radio station)
• WIFX-FM
• WNKW

Newspapers

Two newspapers serve Letcher County:

• The Mountain Eagle is a weekly newspaper in Whitesburg. It has been around since 1907.
• The Letcher County Community News-Press is another weekly newspaper. It is located in Cromona and started in 1988.

Transportation

Public transportation is available through LKLP Community Action Partnership. They offer on-demand service and scheduled trips from Whitesburg to Hazard.

Highways

Major highways in Letcher County include:

• U.S. Highway 23 – This highway crosses the eastern part of the county.
• U.S. Highway 119 – This road connects Jenkins to Whitesburg and crosses Pine Mountain.
• Kentucky Route 15 – This route connects Whitesburg to Isom and goes northwest into Knott County.

Communities

Cities

• Blackey
• Fleming-Neon
• Jenkins
• Whitesburg (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Mayking
• McRoberts
• Millstone
• Payne Gap

Other Unincorporated Places

Notable People

Gallery

• 

  Kenny Baker, a famous bluegrass fiddler.

• 

  Harry M. Caudill, an author and environmentalist.

• 

  Jessamyn Duke, a professional wrestler.

• 

  Hoover Dawahare, a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.

• 

  Angela Hatton, a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.

• 

  Emery L. Frazier, a former mayor of Whitesburg.

• 

  Jack K. Hale, a mathematician.

• 

  Sheila Ison Wellstone (right), a politician and wife of a U.S. senator.

• 

  James P. Lewis, a former Secretary of State of Kentucky.

• 

  Francis Gary Powers, a pilot involved in a famous U-2 spy plane incident.

List

• Kenny Baker (1926–2011) was an American fiddle player. He was known for playing with Bill Monroe and his group, The Blue Grass Boys, for 25 years.
• Martha Carson (1920–2004) was a country and gospel music singer.
• Harry M. Caudill (1922–1990) was an author, historian, lawyer, and environmentalist.
• Jean Chapel (1925–1995) was a country music singer.
• Raymond Collins (1911–1994) was a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
• Hoover Dawahare (1928–2004) was also a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
• Jessamyn Duke is a mixed-martial artist and professional wrestler.
• Emery L. Frazier (1896–1973) was a former mayor of Whitesburg and later the Secretary of the U.S. Senate.
• Tom Gish (died 2008) was the publisher of The Mountain Eagle newspaper in Whitesburg.
• Jack K. Hale (1928–2009) was a mathematician.
• Angie Hatton (born 1972) was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023.
• James P. Lewis (1869–1942) was the secretary of state of Kentucky from 1916 to 1920.
• Paul Mason (1935–1998) was an American politician and activist. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
• Francis Gary Powers (1929–1977) was an American pilot. His CIA U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960.
• Lee Sexton was a country, bluegrass, and old-time musician.
• Gary Stewart was a country music singer and musician.
• Jim Webb (1945–2018) was an Appalachian poet and playwright.
• Sheila Wellstone (1944–2002) was a politician and the wife of U.S. senator Paul Wellstone.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Letcher para niños