Perry County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kentucky
. As of 2000, the population was 29,390. Its county seat
is Hazard
. The county is named for Commodore
Oliver Hazard Perry
, a naval hero in the War of 1812
.
of 2000, there were 29,390 people, 11,460 households, and 8,491 families residing in the county. The population density
was 86 /sqmi. There were 12,741 housing units at an average density of 37 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% White
, 1.64% Black
or African American
, 0.05% Native American
, 0.49% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.04% from other races
, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 11,460 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples
living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $22,089, and the median income for a family was $26,718. Males had a median income of $31,702 versus $20,502 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $12,224. About 26.10% of families and 29.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.00% of those under age 18 and 20.60% of those age 65 or over.
WKHA-TV, a satellite station of Kentucky Educational Television
WZQQ
WJMD
WEKH, a satellite station of WEKU
WQXY
WLZD-LP
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 29,390. 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 Hazard
Hazard, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
. The county is named for Commodore
Commodore (USN)
Commodore was an early title and later a rank in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard and a current honorary title in the U.S. Navy with an intricate history. Because the U.S. Congress was originally unwilling to authorize more than four ranks until 1862, considerable importance...
Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
, a naval hero in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 342.64 square miles (887.4 km²), of which 342.15 square miles (886.2 km²) (or 99.86%) is land and 0.49 square miles (1.3 km²) (or 0.14%) is water.Adjacent counties
- 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...
(north) - Knott CountyKnott County, KentuckyKnott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1884. As of 2000, the population was 17,649. Its county seat is Hindman. The county is named for James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky . It is a prohibition or dry county. Notable inhabitants include U.S....
(northeast) - Letcher CountyLetcher County, KentuckyLetcher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 25,277. Its county seat is Whitesburg. The county is named for Robert P...
(southeast) - Harlan CountyHarlan County, KentuckyHarlan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1819. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. Its county seat is Harlan...
(south) - Leslie CountyLeslie County, KentuckyLeslie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 12,401. Its county seat is Hyden. The county is named for Preston H. Leslie, Governor of Kentucky...
(west) - Clay CountyClay County, Kentucky- Demographics :As of the census of 2011, there were 21,000 people, 8,556 households, and 6,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile . There were 9,439 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
& 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...
(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 29,390 people, 11,460 households, and 8,491 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 86 /sqmi. There were 12,741 housing units at an average density of 37 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% 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...
, 1.64% 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...
, 0.05% 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...
, 0.49% 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...
, 0.04% 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 0.43% from two or more races. 0.52% 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 11,460 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% 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, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $22,089, and the median income for a family was $26,718. Males had a median income of $31,702 versus $20,502 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 $12,224. About 26.10% of families and 29.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.00% of those under age 18 and 20.60% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- BuckhornBuckhorn, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 144 people, 48 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The population density was 289.4 people per square mile . There were 51 housing units at an average density of 102.5 per square mile...
- CornettsvilleCornettsville, KentuckyCornettsville is an unincorporated community in Perry County, Kentucky, United States, within the state's eastern mountain region known for coal mining. The population is 792 as of the 2000 United States Census...
- HazardHazard, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
- ViccoVicco, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 318 people, 132 households, and 93 families residing in the city. The population density was 411.2 people per square mile . There were 152 housing units at an average density of 196.6 per square mile...
- Saul
- Ary, Kentucky
- Viper, KentuckyViper, KentuckyViper is an unincorporated community in Perry County, Kentucky, United States. Viper is located along Kentucky Route 7 south-southeast of Hazard. Viper has a post office with ZIP code 41774....
Perry County Schools
This district covers the entire county except for the city of Hazard.- A.B. Combs Elementary School
- Big Creek Elementary School
- Buckhorn Elementary School
- Buckhorn High School
- Chavies Elementary School
- Dennis C. Wooton Elementary School
- Leatherwood Elementary School
- Lost Creek Elementary School
- Perry County Central High School
- Robinson Elementary School
- R.W. Combs Elementary School
- Viper Elementary School
- Willard Elementary School
Hazard Independent Schools
This district essentially encompasses the city of Hazard. See this link for a more accurate map of the Hazard district boundary.
Television
WYMT-TVWYMT-TV
WYMT-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Hazard, Kentucky. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter south of the city in Perry County. Owned by Gray Television, the station is sister to Lexington's CBS affiliate WKYT-TV. Although it identifies...
WKHA-TV, a satellite station of Kentucky Educational Television
Kentucky Educational Television
Kentucky Educational Television, also known as KET: The Kentucky Network, is Kentucky's non-commercial educational public television state network...
Radio
WSGSWSGS
WSGS is a radio station based in Hazard, Kentucky. The station first began broadcasting in the 1950s as the first FM station in the East Kentucky Coal Fields During the 1960s WSGS held the distinction of being the most powerful FM in the state...
WZQQ
WZQQ
WKIC is a radio station operated by Mountain Broadcasting Service that broadcasts from studios on Main Street in Hazard, Kentucky. It airs a Hot AC music format. The legendary call sign of WKIC has been heard on the AM dial for over 60 years. WKIC-FM began broadcasting at 96.5 in the 1950s. ...
WJMD
WJMD
WJMD is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel format. Licensed to Hazard, Kentucky, USA. The station is currently owned by Hazard Broadcasting Services and features programing from Salem Communications....
WEKH, a satellite station of WEKU
WEKU
WEKU , is a National Public Radio-affiliated station in Richmond, Kentucky. It primarily features NPR news and talk programming, along with classical music from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. at night...
WQXY
WQXY
WQXY is a radio station broadcasting a Oldies format. Licensed to Hazard, Kentucky, USA. The station is currently owned by Black Gold Broadcasting and features programing from CNN Radio and Jones Radio Network.-History:...
WLZD-LP
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Perry County, Kentucky
- Robinson ForestRobinson ForestThe Robinson Forest is a research, education, and extension forest operated by the Department of Forestry at the University of Kentucky. The forest covers in Breathitt, Knott and Perry counties in Kentucky's Cumberland Plateau region. The main block of Robinson Forest contains roughly 10,000...