Powell County, Kentucky

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Powell County
County
Powell County, Kentucky courthouse.jpg
Powell County courthouse in Stanton
Map of Kentucky highlighting Powell County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky in United States.svg
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°50′N83°50′W / 37.83°N 83.83°W / 37.83; -83.83
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky
Founded1852
Named after Lazarus W. Powell
Seat Stanton
Area
 • Total
180 sq mi (500 km2)
 • Land179 sq mi (460 km2)
 • Water1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,129
 • Estimate 
(2024)
12,928 Decrease2.svg
 • Density73/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th
Website powellcountyky.us

Powell County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,129. [1] Its county seat is Stanton. [2] The county was formed January 7, 1852, by Kentucky Governor Lazarus W. Powell from parts of Clark, Estill, and Montgomery counties. [3] It is no longer a dry county as of 2018. Powell County is home to Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Red River Gorge Geologic Area, two of Kentucky's most important natural areas and ecotourism destinations, as well as the Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve.

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 180 square miles (470 km2), of which 179 square miles (460 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.6%) is water. [4]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 2,257—
1870 2,59915.2%
1880 3,63940.0%
1890 4,69829.1%
1900 6,44337.1%
1910 6,268−2.7%
1920 6,7457.6%
1930 5,800−14.0%
1940 7,67132.3%
1950 6,812−11.2%
1960 6,674−2.0%
1970 7,70415.4%
1980 11,10144.1%
1990 11,6865.3%
2000 13,23713.3%
2010 12,613−4.7%
2020 13,1294.1%
2024 (est.)12,928 [5] −1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8]
1990-2000 [9] 2010-2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,237 people, 5,044 households, and 3,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 per square mile (29/km2). There were 5,526 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.56% White, 0.62% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,044 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.00% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,515, and the median income for a family was $30,483. Males had a median income of $26,962 versus $18,810 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,060. About 18.90% of families and 23.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.00% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Powell County, Kentucky [10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 38131.83%64754.05%16914.12%
1916 58743.68%75756.32%00.00%
1920 83544.32%1,03855.10%110.58%
1924 72442.87%93955.60%261.54%
1928 1,16061.31%73238.69%00.00%
1932 82638.69%1,30060.89%90.42%
1936 99845.43%1,18553.94%140.64%
1940 98943.57%1,26655.77%150.66%
1944 90246.71%1,02352.98%60.31%
1948 71941.51%97556.29%382.19%
1952 99244.83%1,21855.04%30.14%
1956 1,33949.87%1,34350.02%30.11%
1960 1,50857.34%1,12242.66%00.00%
1964 99337.83%1,62261.79%100.38%
1968 1,15742.57%93434.36%62723.07%
1972 1,76658.40%1,23040.67%280.93%
1976 1,14837.90%1,85961.37%220.73%
1980 1,71645.55%2,00653.25%451.19%
1984 2,26958.83%1,57540.83%130.34%
1988 2,12849.98%2,11349.62%170.40%
1992 1,80935.89%2,32346.08%90918.03%
1996 1,52636.00%2,15650.86%55713.14%
2000 2,25851.77%2,00846.03%962.20%
2004 2,68754.17%2,24945.34%240.48%
2008 2,83757.06%2,06541.53%701.41%
2012 2,76661.73%1,62036.15%952.12%
2016 3,51370.87%1,27225.66%1723.47%
2020 4,04173.41%1,36724.83%971.76%
2024 4,09276.22%1,17421.87%1031.92%

In recent federal elections, Powell County has been reliably Republican.

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [11] [12]
U.S. House Andy Barr (R) KY6
Ky. Senate Brandon Smith (R) 30
Ky. House Bill Wesley (R) 91

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Powell County is home to Natural Bridge State Resort Park. The park is abundant with Native American relics, shelters, and burial grounds. The main attraction is the bridge itself, a natural arch with more than 15 million pounds (6,800 t) of rock in suspension. It is 30 feet (9.1 m) wide at the top and 85 feet (26 m) at the base; one of the more than 70 natural arches located in the area. [13]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp.  36.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  13. ↑ Powell, Robert (1989). Kentucky Counties. Lexington, KY: Kentucky Images. pp. 52–53.

37°50′N83°50′W / 37.83°N 83.83°W / 37.83; -83.83

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