Editing Letcher County, Kentucky (section)

==History==
=== Settlement and early history ===
The area now known as Letcher County was first settled in the early–1800s by the Caudill, Dixon, Stamper, Collier, Lewis, Whitaker, Wright, Craft, Brown, Halcomb, Holbrook, and Bentley families. These early families were later joined by the Maggard, Banks, Day, Fields, Morgan, Blair, Breeding, Frazier, Baker, Hogg, Combs, and Mullins families. The first permanent settlement in the county was settled in 1803, at the mouth of Pert Creek, in modern-day Whitesburg. In 1804, George Ison II and his family settled in the area of [[Linefork, Kentucky|Linefork]]. Later, Benjamin Webb brought a group of settlers from [[Maryland]], and settled at the mouth of Boone Fork in modern-day [[Kona, Kentucky|Kona]], but later moved down towards the mouth of Bottom Fork in modern-day [[Mayking, Kentucky|Mayking]]. Most communities and geographic features in the area were named after these early pioneer families. Most of these early communities were economically supported by [[Logging|timber logging]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Rennick |first=Robert M. |title=Post Offices in Letcher County, Kentucky |url=https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1392&context=kentucky_county_histories#:~:text=By%201815%20the%20pioneer%20families,the%20eastern%20Kentucky%20coal%20country. |website=Morehead State University}}</ref>

=== Formation ===
[[File:Map of Letcher County, Kentucky - 1911.jpeg|left|thumb|200x200px|Map of Letcher County in 1911]]
In 1842, the residents of modern-day Letcher County petitioned the state legislature for a new county, as at that time they belonged to Harlan, Perry, and [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike]] counties. The legislature met in January 1842, and decided to form the new county.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=2021-12-26 |title=The History of the Letcher County Courthouse |url=http://kytnliving.com/the-history-of-the-letcher-county-courthouse/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |work=Kentucky Tennessee Living |language=en-US}}</ref> The county was formed, as Kentucky's 95th county, from portions of Harlan, Perry, and Pike counties, and named for Robert P. Letcher, who was the governor of Kentucky at that time. Its county seat, Whitesburg, was called Summit City before becoming the county seat. The city was renamed from Summit City to Whitesburg in 1842, in honor of [[John White (Kentucky politician)|John D. White]], who introduced the county's enactment bill in the [[Kentucky General Assembly]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=County History |url=http://www.whyletchercounty.org/county-history.html |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=Letcher County |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Rennick" /> The state government commissioned members of the general assembly to draw the boundaries for the new county. These men were Nathaniel Collins, Stephen Hiram Hogg, Benjamin Adams, and Benjamin Webb.<ref name=":8" /> In 1858, 60 square miles from Perry County were added to the county's original 340 square miles. In April 1884, a ten-mile section from Pike County was added, and a month later, Letcher County contributed 80 square miles toward the creation of [[Knott County, Kentucky|Knott County]].<ref name=":0" />

=== History of the courthouse ===
[[File:Mose Adams log cabin - Letcher County, Kentucky.jpeg|left|thumb|204x204px|Mose Adams log cabin, where the first court session was held in 1842]]
At first, residents could not agree where the county seat would be located. Some residents wanted the seat to be in Mayking, others wanted the seat to be in Camp Branch or [[Indian Bottom, Kentucky|Indian Bottom]]. The debate was settled when Stephen Hiram Hogg donated his land in Whitesburg for the building of the courthouse. The first court session was held in a log cabin owned by Mose Adams at the Adams settlement, which was located two-miles up the [[North Fork Kentucky River]] from Whitesburg. John A. Caudill was hired to build the new courthouse and completed it in 1844.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=156 years of courthouses |url=https://usgenwebsites.org/KYLetcher/articles/courthouse156.htm |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=usgenwebsites.org}}</ref>
[[File:Old Letcher County Courthouse.jpg|thumb|231x231px|The third courthouse built by Lemuel R. Perry in 1898 and existed until the 1960s]]
The first courthouse built by Caudill was built of logs, and had plank trimming. It was demolished in 1897 due to its failing condition and Lemuel R. Perry was commissioned to construct a replacement. The new courthouse was built of bricks, and had a large [[cupola]], with a bell inside to call the jury into session. This new courthouse was heated by [[stove]]s and fireplaces until an addition was built in the late–1930s, by the [[Works Progress Administration]]. By the 1960s, the courthouse was deemed too small, and prisoners in the jail on the top floor would often escape by pushing apart the bars, climbing out the window, and sliding down a rope of bedsheets. The [[Area Redevelopment Administration]] provided funding to build a new one.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" />

William Banton Moore, an architect from [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], was hired to design the new courthouse. Ramsey and Clubb, a construction company from [[Shelbyville, Kentucky]], was hired to build it. It was completed in 1965, and a dedication ceremony was held with [[Governor of Kentucky|governor]] [[Bert Combs]] in attendance. The new courthouse had a [[Contemporary art|contemporary]] design with blue and beige panels. It also had a jail located on the top floor and a public library at the bottom. The construction of the new courthouse cost about [[US$]]650,000. Many locals were dissatisfied with the new courthouse, thinking it looked like a [[gas station]].<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" />
[[File:Letcher County Courthouse.jpg|left|thumb|195x195px|The Letcher County Courthouse, remodeled in 1998. The bell at the front was the same one that was used to call the court into session in the old courthouse]]
By the 1990s, the courthouse was in disrepair, and state officials were threatening to close the top floor. Local government officials were able to obtain federal funding, and the building was remodeled in 1998. The jail, which was located at the top floor of the building, was moved to the bottom floor, and a statue honoring veterans was moved to the front of the building in the new version of the Letcher County courthouse.<ref name=":9" />

=== Coal ===
Due to its rugged terrain, Letcher County is one of the most remote counties in Kentucky, and until the arrival of coal, its population never peaked above 10,000.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2017-12-07 |title=Census Records |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/census |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref> In the early 1900s, coal mining began in the county. This caused an economic boom as many small communities grew to large [[Coal Camp|coal towns]] supported by coal companies.<ref name=":0" /> By 1940, the county's population had grown to over 40,000.<ref name=":1" /> Between 1990 and 2014, Letcher County produced over {{convert|600,000,000|ST}} of coal.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Sam |last2=Gish |first2=Ben |date=2017-05-10 |title=How much coal has left Letcher? What's still here? |url=https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/how-much-coal-has-left-letcher-whats-still-here/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=[[The Mountain Eagle]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304100545/https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/how-much-coal-has-left-letcher-whats-still-here/ |archive-date=2021-03-04}}</ref>

=== Modern period ===
[[Harry M. Caudill]]'s 1963 book, ''[[Night Comes to the Cumberlands|Night Comes to the Cumberlands: A Biography of a Depressed Area]]'', brought the county to national attention. The [[CBS]] documentary ''Christmas in Appalachia'' (1964) hosted by [[Charles Kuralt]] also brought the nation's attention to Letcher County as citizens sent clothes and gifts in response to the conditions of those featured.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 22, 1964 |title=TV Review; Stark Poverty of One Million Americans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/22/archives/tv-review-stark-poverty-of-one-million-americans.html |access-date=February 5, 2023 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
[[File:Scotia mine disaster historical sign.jpg|left|thumb|207x207px|Scotia mine disaster historical sign]]
On March 9, 1976, in the community of [[Oven Fork, Kentucky|Oven Fork]], an explosion caused by coal dust and gasses occurred at the [[Scotia Mine]], resulting in the deaths of 15 miners. Two days later another explosion occurred, killing 11 more miners. Investigators concluded that the explosions were caused by [[methane]] gases that were ignited by a spark caused by a battery-powered device. The accidents are often considered two of the worst mining disasters in U.S. history. The two explosions led to the passage of the [[Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Talbott |first=Tim |title=Scotia Mine Disaster |url=https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/238 |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=ExploreKYHistory |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scotia Mine Explosion |url=https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/scotia.htm |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=usminedisasters.miningquiz.com |language=en}}</ref>

In July–August 2022, [[July–August 2022 United States floods|floods]] came through Eastern Kentucky. A total of 45 people died,<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 14, 2023 |title=East Kentucky Flood |url=http://dailyyonder.com/east-kentucky-flood/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=The Daily Yonder |language=en-US}}</ref> three of those deaths occurred in Letcher County. As a result of the floods, many people were left homeless.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2022 |title=The flood of 2022 |url=https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/the-flood-of-2022/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=The Mountain Eagle}}</ref>

On September 19, 2024, then-County Sheriff Shawn Michael (Mickey) Stines was arrested for [[Killing of Kevin Mullins|shooting and killing District Judge Kevin Mullins]] in his chambers.