Lee County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kentucky
. As of 2000, the population was 7,916. Its county seat
is Beattyville
. It is a prohibition or dry county
.
, which is certainly possible given that it was formed near the time of Lee's death. On the other hand, this area of Kentucky was strongly pro-Union during the Civil War
. Other sources say the County was named for Lee County, Virginia
, or for Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee.
region of Kentucky. The very rugged terrain greatly defines the area. Roughly half of the county lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest
. Timber and coal remain economically significant. Harmful effects from strip mining and clear cut logging are still being corrected. The proliferation of kudzu
has proved difficult to address. However, with the growing environmental movement and the developing tourism industry more action is being taken.
of 2000, there were 7,916 people, 2,985 households, and 2,122 families residing in the county. The population density
was 38 /sqmi. There were 3,321 housing units at an average density of 16 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 95.10% White
, 3.79% Black
or African American
, 0.28% Native American
, 0.10% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 2,985 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples
living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 109.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $18,544, and the median income for a family was $24,918. Males had a median income of $25,930 versus $19,038 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $13,325. About 25.20% of families and 30.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.00% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. As of 2000, the population was 7,916. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Beattyville
Beattyville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,193 people, 509 households, and 294 families residing in the city. The population density was 599.6 people per square mile . There were 561 housing units at an average density of 282.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.42%...
. It is a prohibition or dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
.
History
Lee County was formed in 1870. Many sources say it was named for General Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
, which is certainly possible given that it was formed near the time of Lee's death. On the other hand, this area of Kentucky was strongly pro-Union during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Other sources say the County was named for Lee County, Virginia
Lee County, Virginia
According to the census 2009 estimates, there were 25001 people, 11,587 households, and 6,852 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,587 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, or for Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee.
Directions to Lee County, KY
- From Interstate 64, Exit at the Mountain Parkway. Follow the Mountain Parkway, a modern 4-lane superhighway to Exit 33 (Slade/Beattyville). Continue on Kentucky Highway 11 into Lee County.
- From Mountain Parkway westbound, exit at Beattyville exit 43 and follow signs onto Kentucky Highway 11.
- From Interstate 75, Exit at either 90(northbound) or 90A(southbound) Richmond/Irvine. Follow US 25/US 421 (Dr. Robert Martin Bypass) to the intersection of Kentucky Highway 52. Follow KY 52 into Lee County.
- From the South, Follow Kentucky Highway 11 northbound.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 211.22 square miles (547.1 km²), of which 209.86 square miles (543.5 km²) (or 99.36%) is land and 1.36 square miles (3.5 km²) (or 0.64%) is water.Eastern Mountain Coal Fields
Lee County lies within the Eastern Mountain Coal FieldsEastern Mountain Coal Fields
The Eastern Mountain Coal Fields is part of the Central Appalachian bituminous coal field, covering all or parts of 30 Kentucky counties and adjoining areas in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. It covers an area from the Allegheny Mountains in the east across the Cumberland Plateau and...
region of Kentucky. The very rugged terrain greatly defines the area. Roughly half of the county lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest is the only national forest completely within the boundary of Kentucky. Established in 1937, it was originally named the Cumberland National Forest, after the core region called the Cumberland Purchase Unit...
. Timber and coal remain economically significant. Harmful effects from strip mining and clear cut logging are still being corrected. The proliferation of kudzu
Kudzu
Kudzu is a plant in the genus Pueraria in the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It is a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to southern Japan and southeast China. Its name comes from the Japanese name for the plant, . It is a weed that climbs over trees or shrubs and grows so...
has proved difficult to address. However, with the growing environmental movement and the developing tourism industry more action is being taken.
Adjacent counties
- Powell CountyPowell County, KentuckyPowell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population is 13,237. Its county seat is Stanton. The county was formed January 7, 1852, by Kentucky Governor Lazarus W. Powell...
(north) - Wolfe CountyWolfe County, KentuckyWolfe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 7,065. Its county seat is Campton. The county is named for Nathaniel Wolfe.- Geography :...
(northeast) - Breathitt CountyBreathitt County, KentuckyBreathitt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1839.The population was 13,878 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Jackson, Kentucky. The county is named for John Breathitt who was Governor of Kentucky from 1832 to 1834...
(southeast) - Owsley CountyOwsley County, KentuckyOwsley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 4,858. Its county seat is Booneville. The county is named for William Owsley, the Governor of Kentucky from 1844 to 1848. It is a prohibition or dry county...
(south) - Jackson CountyJackson County, KentuckyJackson County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was formed in 1858 and was named for President Andrew Jackson. As of 2000, the population was 13,495. Its county seat is McKee. It is a prohibition or dry county...
(southwest) - Estill CountyEstill County, KentuckyEstill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1808. As of 2000, the population was 15,307. Its county seat is Irvine, Kentucky. Formed in 1808, the county is named after Captain James Estill, a Kentucky militia officer killed in the Battle of Little Mountain...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,916 people, 2,985 households, and 2,122 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 38 /sqmi. There were 3,321 housing units at an average density of 16 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 95.10% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.79% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.28% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 2,985 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 109.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $18,544, and the median income for a family was $24,918. Males had a median income of $25,930 versus $19,038 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $13,325. About 25.20% of families and 30.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.00% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.
Other places
|
Heidelberg, Kentucky Heidelberg is an unincorporated community in Lee County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Route 399 southwest of the city of Beattyville, the county seat of Lee County. Its elevation is 718 feet , and it is located at . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the... |
Proctor, Kentucky Proctor is an unincorporated community in Lee County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Route 11 south of the city of Beattyville, the county seat of Lee County. Proctor is also located near the beginning point of the Kentucky River... Saint Helens, Kentucky Saint Helens is an unincorporated community in Lee County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Route 52 east of the city of Beattyville, the county seat of Lee County. Its elevation is 728 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 41368.... Zoe, Kentucky Zoe is an unincorporated community in Lee County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Route 11 north of the city of Beattyville, the county seat of Lee County. Its elevation is 1,145 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 41397.... |
Films
- Bluegrass, Blackmarket (1994). Directed by Hans Luxemberger. Produced by Headwaters. Whitesburg, Kentucky: Appalshop.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee County, Kentucky