Martin County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin County
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County government center
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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 | September 1, 1870 |
| Named for | John P. Martin |
| Seat | Inez |
| Largest city | Inez |
| Area | |
| • Total | 231 sq mi (600 km2) |
| • Land | 230 sq mi (600 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (3 km2) 0.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,287 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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10,928  |
| • Density | 48.86/sq mi (18.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
Martin County is a county located in the state of Kentucky in the United States. As of the 2020 census, about 11,287 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Inez. The county was started in 1870 and is named after a politician named John Preston Martin.
Contents
History of Martin County
Martin County was created in 1870. It was named after John Preston Martin, who was a congressman. The county seat, which is the main town for the county government, was first in Warfield. Later, it was moved to Inez. This move happened because Inez was more in the center of the county.
For a long time, the county's economy depended a lot on the coal industry. In 1964, a very important event happened in Inez. President Lyndon Johnson visited the town. During his visit, he announced a big plan called the War on Poverty. This plan aimed to help people in need across the country.
Geography of Martin County
Martin County covers a total area of about 231 square miles. Most of this area, about 230 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 1.0 square mile, is water. This means water makes up about 0.4% of the county's total area.
The eastern edge of Martin County is formed by the Tug Fork. This river is a branch of the Big Sandy River.
Counties Nearby
Martin County shares borders with several other counties:
- Lawrence County (to the northwest)
- Wayne County, West Virginia (to the northeast)
- Mingo County, West Virginia (to the southeast)
- Pike County (to the south)
- Floyd County (to the southwest)
- Johnson County (to the west)
Population of Martin County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 3,057 | — | |
| 1890 | 4,209 | 37.7% | |
| 1900 | 5,780 | 37.3% | |
| 1910 | 7,291 | 26.1% | |
| 1920 | 7,654 | 5.0% | |
| 1930 | 8,584 | 12.2% | |
| 1940 | 10,970 | 27.8% | |
| 1950 | 11,677 | 6.4% | |
| 1960 | 10,201 | −12.6% | |
| 1970 | 9,377 | −8.1% | |
| 1980 | 13,925 | 48.5% | |
| 1990 | 12,526 | −10.0% | |
| 2000 | 12,578 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 12,929 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 11,287 | −12.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 10,928 | −15.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2021 |
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In 2020, the population of Martin County was 11,287 people. The county's population has changed over the years, as you can see in the chart above.
Economy and Jobs
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has a large prison in Martin County. It is called U.S. Penitentiary, Big Sandy. This prison is located near Inez.
Martin County also has three industrial parks. These are special areas set aside for businesses and factories. They are:
- Honey Branch Industrial Park
- Calloway Industrial Park
- John B Callahan Industrial Park
Industrial Parks
- Honey Branch Industrial Park is shared by four different counties. It is home to the Big Sandy Regional Airport. The U.S. Penitentiary, Big Sandy is also located here. Other businesses include Core Energy Corporation and Consolidated Pipe and Supply.
- Calloway Industrial Park is mostly empty now. It used to have a dirt race track and a machine shop.
- John B Callahan Industrial Park is where C&S Vaults is located. It also has the Martin County Board of Education's transportation and maintenance departments.
Coal Mining Companies
The coal industry is still important in Martin County. Some of the coal companies that operate here include:
- Alliance Resource Partners
- Excel Coal Corporation
- Booth Energy
- CZAR Energy
Education in Martin County
The Martin County School System runs the public schools in the area. These schools help students learn and grow.
Public Schools
- Martin County High School
- Martin County Area Technology Center
- Martin County Middle School
- Eden Elementary School
- Inez Elementary School
- Warfield Elementary School
- Martin County Head Start (for younger children)
Private Schools
There is also one private Christian school in Martin County:
- Sure Foundations Christian Academy
Vocational Training
For students interested in learning specific job skills, there is one private vocational school:
- TEK Center
Communities in Martin County
Martin County has a few towns and several smaller communities.
Cities
Smaller Communities
Images for kids
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County government center
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Martin (Kentucky) para niños
