Editing Floyd County, Kentucky

{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Floyd County
 | state                = Kentucky
 | seal                 = 
 | ex image             = Floyd County Courthouse (new), Prestonsburg.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Floyd County Courthouse
 | named for            = [[John Floyd (pioneer)|John Floyd]]
 | founded year         = 1800
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Prestonsburg
 | largest city wl      = Prestonsburg
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 396
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 393
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.4
 | area percentage      = 0.6%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 35942
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 34532 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.floydcountykentucky.com
 | district             = 5th
}}

'''Floyd County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kentucky]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 35,942.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/floydcountykentucky/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Prestonsburg, Kentucky|Prestonsburg]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county, founded in 1800, is named for [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] [[James John Floyd|John Floyd]] (1750–1783).<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n126 127]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kyenc.org/entry/f/FLOYD02.html |title=Floyd County |access-date=January 29, 2013 |archive-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717121828/http://www.kyenc.org/entry/f/FLOYD02.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
On December 13, 1799, the [[Kentucky General Assembly]] passed legislation to form Floyd County as the 40th county of Kentucky.<ref name="kleber">Kleber, John E. ''The Kentucky Encyclodpedia'' (University Press of Kentucky), p. 330</ref> The county was made from parts of [[Fleming County, Kentucky|Fleming]], [[Montgomery County, Kentucky|Montgomery]], and [[Mason County, Kentucky]]. The legislation became effective on June 1, 1800.<ref name="kleber"/> The county was named for [[James John Floyd]], a pioneer surveyor who helped lay out the city of Louisville. The county seat was Preston's Station, later renamed Prestonsburg. The first court house burned down on April 8, 1808, destroying all the early records, so the earliest records of government activity do not date prior to 1808.<ref name="kleber"/> Prestonsburg was used as a [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] stronghold during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] and two battles took place nearby, the [[Battle of Ivy Mountain]] on November 8, 1861, and the [[Battle of Middle Creek]] on January 10, 1862.<ref name="kleber"/> Both were Union victories.
[[File:Harry Fain, coal loader. Inland Steel Company, Wheelwright ^1 & 2 Mines, Wheelwright, Floyd County, Kentucky. - NARA - 541452 - cropped and restored.jpg|left|thumb|A coal miner in [[Wheelwright, Kentucky]], 1946]]
Since the early 1900s, coal mining has had a large presence in Floyd County. In 1900, the first commercial coal mine in eastern Kentucky was opened in the Floyd County community of [[Betsy Layne, Kentucky|Betsy Layne]]. Soon, coal would become the dominant industry in Floyd County. With the arrival of coal, [[coal town]]s began popping up all over the county. These coal towns included [[Wheelwright, Kentucky|Wheelwright]], [[Bypro, Kentucky|Bypro]], [[Emma, Kentucky|Emma]], [[Garrett, Floyd County, Kentucky|Garrett]], [[Wayland, Kentucky|Wayland]], and many more. By 1950, the county had a population of over 50,000 people. With the decline of coal in eastern Kentucky, people began migrating away from the area in large numbers, in what's known as the [[Hillbilly Highway]]. As of 2016, the county had 23 coal mines in operation, and produced roughly around 640,000 tons of coal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kentucky Coal Facts |url=https://eec.ky.gov/Energy/Coal%20Facts%20%20Annual%20Editions/Kentucky%20Coal%20Facts%20-%2017th%20Edition%20(2017).pdf |website=Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (.gov)}}</ref>

On February 28, 1958, the county was the site of [[Prestonsburg, Kentucky, bus crash|one of the deadliest bus accidents in U.S. history]], leaving 27 people dead.

On June 30, 2022, [[2022 shooting of Kentucky police officers|a mass shooting]] targeting police officers occurred in [[Allen, Kentucky|Allen]], a city in Floyd County. Three police officers and a [[police dog]] were killed, and four other people were injured. The alleged shooter, 49-year-old Lance Storz, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder of a police officer before committing suicide in the county jail.<ref name=ABC.3Killed>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/kentucky-officers-killed-hurt-gunman-opened-fire-home/story?id=86076193|title=3 Kentucky officers killed, several hurt by gunman who opened fire at his home|publisher=ABC News|last=Shapiro|first=Emily|date=July 1, 2022|accessdate=July 1, 2022}}</ref><ref name=ABC.2Killed>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/police-officers-wounded-eastern-kentucky-shooting-86052607|title=3 police officers killed in Kentucky by suspect with rifle|publisher=ABC News|date=July 1, 2022|accessdate=July 1, 2022|via=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=WSAZ.Dead>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsaz.com/2022/07/02/wsaz-gets-first-look-home-where-mass-shooting-happened/|title=Third officer confirmed dead from Ky. mass shooting|publisher=WSAZ-TV|last1=Bennett|first1=Emily|last2=Colegrove|first2=Andrew|date=July 1, 2022|accessdate=July 1, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|396|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|393|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.4|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 14, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Johnson County, Kentucky|Johnson County]]  (north)
* [[Martin County, Kentucky|Martin County]]  (northeast)
* [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike County]]  (east)
* [[Knott County, Kentucky|Knott County]]  (southwest)
* [[Magoffin County, Kentucky|Magoffin County]]  (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1810 = 3485
| 1820 = 8207
| 1830 = 4347
| 1840 = 6302
| 1850 = 5714
| 1860 = 6388
| 1870 = 7877
| 1880 = 10176
| 1890 = 11256
| 1900 = 15552
| 1910 = 18623
| 1920 = 27427
| 1930 = 41942
| 1940 = 52986
| 1950 = 53500
| 1960 = 41642
| 1970 = 35889
| 1980 = 48764
| 1990 = 43586
| 2000 = 42441
| 2010 = 39451
| 2020 = 35942
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 34532
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

[[File:Coal mine, Floyd County, Kentucky, 8a09652.jpg|thumb|left|210px|Coal mining has long been a major industry in Floyd County.]]

As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 39,451 people living in the county. 98.2% were [[White Americans|White]], 0.7% [[African American|Black or African American]], 0.2% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.2% of some other race and 0.6% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 0.6% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race).

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 42,441 people, 16,881 households, and 12,272 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|108|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 18,551 housing units at an average density of {{convert|47|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.73% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.29% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.24% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. The Kentucky [[Melungeon]]s live primarily in Floyd and [[Magoffin County, Kentucky|Magoffin]] counties. These families once lived in certain pockets or clusters within Floyd County, some continue to do this. However, most of these Melungeon families have now spread out or moved away, and so they cannot be defined by one valley, ridge, hollow, watershed, area, etc. However, some of their known historic residences were: The upper waters of both the Right and Left Forks of Beaver Creek, as well as its smaller streams, branches, and forks; extending into [[Knott County, Kentucky|Knott]] County as well.

There were 16,881 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,168, and the median income for a family was $25,717. Males had a median income of $30,242 versus $20,569 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $12,442. About 26.90% of families and 30.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 39.80% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The county's public schools are operated by the [[Floyd County Schools|Floyd County School District]].<ref>[http://www.floyd.kyschools.us/ Floyd County School District]</ref>

==Economy==

===Coal companies in Floyd County===
* Blackhawk Mining<ref>[http://www.blackhawkmining.com/operations.html Blackhawk Mining - Operations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814135829/http://blackhawkmining.com/operations.html |date=August 14, 2013}}</ref>
* James River Coal Company<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jamesrivercoal.com/mccoyelkhorn.htm |title=James River Coal Company – McCoy Elkhorn complex |access-date=June 20, 2013 |archive-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116183514/http://www.jamesrivercoal.com/mccoyelkhorn.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Frasure Creek lawsuit|Frasure Creek Mining]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Floyd County, Kentucky|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 1, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|12,326|3,061|286|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|12,250|3,884|219|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,993|4,015|532|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,784|4,733|373|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|7,741|7,530|388|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|6,612|11,132|141|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|5,068|10,088|238|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,139|9,655|1,590|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,540|13,351|1,783|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|5,296|12,327|141|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|5,218|10,259|66|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|4,179|10,975|231|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,108|10,151|74|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|6,099|7,544|157|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3,550|8,333|1,160|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,352|11,644|45|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|5,010|9,876|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|6,166|7,907|15|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|4,238|8,940|11|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,127|8,823|132|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,197|7,729|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,711|9,100|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,375|7,962|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,415|8,537|34|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|5,109|5,721|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,773|4,220|579|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,825|3,597|46|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,823|2,217|26|Kentucky}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|961|1,553|514|Kentucky}}
Floyd County was historically a Democratic stronghold, voting Democratic in every election from 1852 until 2008. The county gave [[Bill Clinton]] over 65% in both 1992 and 1996 while [[George W. Bush]] never received more than 37% of the county's vote.<ref>[http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/map.html?scp=1&sq=%22election%20map&st=cse The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Kentucky)]</ref> Like the rest of the state outside of [[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Jefferson County]] ([[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]]) and [[Fayette County, Kentucky|Fayette County]] ([[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]), the county eventually shifted to the Republican Party, but became one of the last counties in Kentucky to make that transition.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lists |first1=Geography |title=Bonus List- Geography Lists |url=http://www.geographylists.com/list21j.html |website=Geography Lists |access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref> 

In 2008, its votes went to the Republican Party's presidential candidate for the first time in the county's history, and in 2016 [[Donald Trump]] won 72.5% of its vote. The county has trended strongly Republican since [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]], shifting from a 25% margin for the Democrat that year, to a 59.2% margin for the Republican in 2024.<ref>[[:File:PresidentialCounty1860Colorbrewer.gif]]</ref>

===Elected officials===
{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Elected officials as of January 3, 2025'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>
|- 
! scope=row|[[U.S. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Hal Rogers]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|5|B}}
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky Senate|Ky. Senate]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Scott Madon]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 29th Senate district|29]]
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Ashley Tackett Laferty]] (D)
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|95
|}

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Allen, Kentucky|Allen]]
* [[Martin, Kentucky|Martin]]
* [[Prestonsburg, Kentucky|Prestonsburg]] (county seat)
* [[Wayland, Kentucky|Wayland]]
* [[Wheelwright, Kentucky|Wheelwright]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Auxier, Kentucky|Auxier]]
* [[Betsy Layne, Kentucky|Betsy Layne]]
* [[Dwale, Kentucky|Dwale]]
* [[Maytown, Kentucky|Maytown]]
* [[McDowell, Kentucky|McDowell]]

===Other unincorporated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Alphoretta, Kentucky|Alphoretta]]
* [[Banner, Kentucky|Banner]]
* [[Beaver, Kentucky|Beaver]]
* [[Blue Moon, Kentucky|Blue Moon]]
* [[Blue River, Kentucky|Blue River]]
* [[Bonanza, Kentucky|Bonanza]]
* [[Burton, Kentucky|Burton]]
* [[Bypro, Kentucky|Bypro]]
* [[Cliff, Kentucky|Cliff]]
* [[Dana, Kentucky|Dana]]
* [[David, Kentucky|David]]
* [[Dema, Kentucky|Dema]] (part)
* [[Drift, Kentucky|Drift]]
* [[Eastern, Kentucky|Eastern]]
* [[Emma, Kentucky|Emma]]
* [[Estill, Kentucky|Estill]]
* [[Garrett, Floyd County, Kentucky|Garrett]]
* [[Glo, Kentucky|Glo]]
* [[Grethel, Kentucky|Grethel]]
* [[Halo, Kentucky|Halo]]
* [[Harold, Kentucky|Harold]]
* [[Hi Hat, Kentucky|Hi Hat]]
* [[Hippo, Kentucky|Hippo]]
* [[Hueysville, Kentucky|Hueysville]]
* [[Ivel, Kentucky|Ivel]]
* [[Jacks Creek, Kentucky|Jacks Creek]]
* [[Jump Station, Kentucky|Jump Station]]
* [[Lackey, Kentucky|Lackey]]
* [[Langley, Kentucky|Langley]]
* [[Ligon, Kentucky|Ligon]]
* [[Melvin, Kentucky|Melvin]]
* [[Midas, Kentucky|Midas]]
* [[Minnie, Kentucky|Minnie]]
* [[Orkney, Kentucky|Orkney]]
* [[Printer, Kentucky|Printer]]
* [[Pyramid, Kentucky|Pyramid]]
* [[Risner, Kentucky|Risner]]
* [[Stanville, Kentucky|Stanville]]
* [[Teaberry, Kentucky|Teaberry]]
* [[Tram, Kentucky|Tram]]
* [[Warco, Kentucky|Warco]]
* [[Watergap, Kentucky|Watergap]]
* [[Weeksbury, Kentucky|Weeksbury]]
* [[Wonder, Kentucky|Wonder]]
* [[Woods, Kentucky|Woods]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable residents==
* [[Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.]] — educator and author, 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year
* [[Kelly Coleman]] — professional basketball player
* [[Bette Henritze]] — stage, film and TV actress<ref>{{IMDb name|0377701|Bette Henritze}}</ref><ref>[http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/12252?c=search&first=&last=Henritze&spelling=Exact&8_year=&8_month=5&8_day=0&4=&9=&11=&SubmitSearch.x=34&SubmitSearch.y=13&SubmitSearch=Submit Floyd County record of the birth of Bette J. Henritze]</ref>
* [[Boyd Holbrook]] — actor and model
* [[Kenny Rice]] — sportscaster

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Big Sandy Area Development District]]
* [[East Kentucky Science Center]]
* [[Eula Hall]]
* [[James John Floyd]]
* [[Samuel May House]]
* [[Mountain Arts Center]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Floyd County, Kentucky]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.floydcountytimes.com/ Floyd County Times]
* [http://www.floydcountykentucky.com/ Floyd County Chamber of Commerce website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070210131221/http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/floyd_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project]
* [http://www.svtransport.org/ Sandy Valley Transportation Services, Inc.]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Floyd County, Kentucky
|North     = [[Johnson County, Kentucky|Johnson County]]
|Northeast = [[Martin County, Kentucky|Martin County]]
|East      = [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike County]]
|Southeast =
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Knott County, Kentucky|Knott County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Magoffin County, Kentucky|Magoffin County]]
}}

{{Floyd County, Kentucky}}
{{Eastern Mountain Coal Fields (Kentucky)}}
{{Kentucky}}

{{Coord|37.56|-82.75|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Floyd County, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties]]
[[Category:1800 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1800]]