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Powell County, Kentucky facts for kids

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Powell County
Powell County courthouse in Stanton
Powell County courthouse in Stanton
Map of Kentucky highlighting Powell County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kentucky
Founded 1852
Named for Lazarus W. Powell
Seat Stanton
Area
 • Total 180 sq mi (500 km2)
 • Land 179 sq mi (460 km2)
 • Water 1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 13,129
 • Estimate 
(2023)
12,972 Decrease
 • Density 72.9/sq mi (28.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th

Powell County is a county in the state of Kentucky, United States. It's a place with beautiful nature and a rich history. In 2020, about 13,129 people lived here.

The main town, or county seat, is Stanton. Powell County was created on January 7, 1852. It was named after Lazarus W. Powell, who was the Governor of Kentucky at that time. The county used to be a "dry county," meaning alcohol sales were restricted, but that changed in 2018.

Powell County is famous for its amazing natural spots. It's home to Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Red River Gorge Geologic Area. These are popular places for ecotourism, where people visit to enjoy nature. You can also find the Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve here.

Exploring Powell County's Geography

Powell County covers a total area of about 180 square miles (470 km2) (square miles). Most of this area, about 179 square miles (460 km2), is land. Only a small part, about 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), is water.

Neighboring Counties

Powell County shares its borders with several other counties:

Protected Natural Areas

A part of the Daniel Boone National Forest is located within Powell County. This forest is a large protected area where people can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and camping.

Population of Powell County

The number of people living in Powell County has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 2,257
1870 2,599 15.2%
1880 3,639 40.0%
1890 4,698 29.1%
1900 6,443 37.1%
1910 6,268 −2.7%
1920 6,745 7.6%
1930 5,800 −14.0%
1940 7,671 32.3%
1950 6,812 −11.2%
1960 6,674 −2.0%
1970 7,704 15.4%
1980 11,101 44.1%
1990 11,686 5.3%
2000 13,237 13.3%
2010 12,613 −4.7%
2020 13,129 4.1%
2023 (est.) 12,972 2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

One of the biggest attractions in Powell County is Natural Bridge State Resort Park. This park is known for its amazing natural rock formations. It also has many signs of early Native American life, including shelters and burial grounds.

The main feature of the park is the Natural Bridge itself. This is a huge natural arch made of rock. It weighs more than 15 million pounds (6,800 t) (15 million pounds) and is 30 feet (9.1 m) wide at the top. At its base, it's about 85 feet (26 m) wide. This is just one of over 70 natural arches you can find in this area!

Towns and Communities

Powell County has a few towns and communities where people live.

Cities in Powell County

  • Clay City
  • Stanton (This is the county seat, where the county government offices are located.)

Unincorporated Community

  • Slade (This is a smaller community that is not officially a city.)
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