Floyd County, Kentucky

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Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,942.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Prestonsburg.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county, founded in 1800, is named for Colonel John Floyd (1750–1783).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</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, 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 stronghold during the 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

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. Soon, coal would become the dominant industry in Floyd County. With the arrival of coal, coal towns began popping up all over the county. These coal towns included Wheelwright, Bypro, Emma, Garrett, 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>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 28, 1958, the county was the site of one of the deadliest bus accidents in U.S. history, leaving 27 people dead.

On June 30, 2022, a mass shooting targeting police officers occurred in 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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ABC.2Killed>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=WSAZ.Dead>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Johnson County (north)
Martin County (northeast)
Pike County (east)
Knott County (southwest)
Magoffin County (northwest)

Demographics

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File:Coal mine, Floyd County, Kentucky, 8a09652.jpg

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, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% of some other race and 0.6% of two or more races. 0.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 42,441 people, 16,881 households, and 12,272 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 18,551 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.73% White, 1.29% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The Kentucky Melungeons live primarily in Floyd and 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 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 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 School District.<ref>Floyd County School District</ref>

Economy

Coal companies in Floyd County

Blackhawk Mining<ref>Blackhawk Mining - Operations Template:Webarchive</ref>
James River Coal Company<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Frasure Creek Mining

Politics

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, 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

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
U.S. House	Template:Party shading/Republican\|Hal Rogers (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican\|Template:Ushr
Ky. Senate	Template:Party shading/Republican\|Scott Madon (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican\|29
Ky. House	Template:Party shading/Democratic\|Ashley Tackett Laferty (D)	Template:Party shading/Democratic\|95

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

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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>Template:IMDb name</ref><ref>Floyd County record of the birth of Bette J. Henritze</ref>
Boyd Holbrook — actor and model
Kenny Rice — sportscaster

References

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External links

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Template:Floyd County, Kentucky Template:Eastern Mountain Coal Fields (Kentucky) Template:Kentucky

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Elected officials as of January 3, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
U.S. House	Template:Party shading/Republican\|Hal Rogers (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican\|Template:Ushr
Ky. Senate	Template:Party shading/Republican\|Scott Madon (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican\|29
Ky. House	Template:Party shading/Democratic\|Ashley Tackett Laferty (D)	Template:Party shading/Democratic\|95