Wolfe County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Wolfe 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.
Campton
, the county's seat was reportedly formed from camp town in Wolfe County. A small creek winding through Campton, Swift Creek, is named after Jonathan Swift of the legend of Swift's silver mine
. Swift supposedly buried treasure in the area which has never been recovered.
of 2000, there were 7,065 people, 2,816 households, and 1,976 families residing in the county. The population density
was 32 /sqmi. There were 3,264 housing units at an average density of 15 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 99.24% White
, 0.24% Black
or African American
, 0.08% Native American
, 0.03% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.33% from two or more races. 0.51% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 2,816 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples
living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% 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 2.96.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $19,310, and the median income for a family was $23,333. Males had a median income of $23,859 versus $18,952 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $10,321. About 29.90% of families and 35.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.20% of those under age 18 and 26.70% of those age 65 or over.
area.
that pitched for the Clevand Indians in the 1940s.
Folk Artist Edgar Tolson
; Ralph Rinzler
of the Smithsonian Institution was impressed by Tolson's figures, and included them in the 1971 Festival of American Folklife.
Richard Jett and the Appalachian troubadours http://www.appalachiantroubadours.com/Home_Page.html
Bluegrass musician Sam Wilson song “Wild, Wild Rose.”
Bluegrass musician Wendy Miller played a few years with grammy winning banjo player J. D. Crowe
; Also with Larry Sparks
and the Lonesome Ramblers with another great banjo player Mike Lilly.
; located near Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Location of a railroad station before the depression.
With several attractions near and within the Red River Gorge
.
including Sky Bridge and Rock Bridge.
Swango Springs - Mineral water resort.
Hazel Green Academy
.
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 7,065. 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 Campton
Campton, Kentucky
As of the census of 200, there were 44 people, 16 households, and 17 families residing in the city. The population density was 33.4 people per square mile . There were 29 housing units at an average density of 212.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.76% White, and 0.24% from...
. The county is named for Nathaniel Wolfe.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 222.86 square miles (577.2 km²), of which 222.78 square miles (577 km²) (or 99.96%) is land and 0.08 square mile (0.2071990488 km²) (or 0.04%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Menifee CountyMenifee County, KentuckyMenifee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 6,556. Its county seat is Frenchburg. The county is named for Richard Hickman Menefee, U.S. Congressman, although the spelling has changed. It is a prohibition or dry county.Menifee County is located...
(north) - Morgan CountyMorgan County, KentuckyMorgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 13,948. Its county seat is West Liberty. The county is among the dry counties, which means that the sale of alcohol is restricted or prohibited.- Geography :...
(northeast) - Magoffin CountyMagoffin County, KentuckyMagoffin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky which was formed from parts of Floyd, Johnson, and Morgan Counties and officially created on 22 February 1860. As of 2000, the population was 13,332. Its county seat is Salyersville...
(east) - 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) - Lee CountyLee County, KentuckyLee 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.-History:...
(southwest) - 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...
(northwest)
History
Wolfe County was formed on March 5, 1860 from portions of Breathitt County, Morgan County, Owsley County and Powell County. It was named for Nathaniel Wolfe, a member of the legislative assembly.Campton
Campton, Kentucky
As of the census of 200, there were 44 people, 16 households, and 17 families residing in the city. The population density was 33.4 people per square mile . There were 29 housing units at an average density of 212.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.76% White, and 0.24% from...
, the county's seat was reportedly formed from camp town in Wolfe County. A small creek winding through Campton, Swift Creek, is named after Jonathan Swift of the legend of Swift's silver mine
Swift's silver mine
Swift's silver mine is a silver mine fabled to have been discovered in 1760 by an Englishman named Jonathan Swift somewhere between Pennsylvania and North Carolina. It is most commonly rumored to be located in eastern Kentucky or Tennessee.-Legend:...
. Swift supposedly buried treasure in the area which has never been recovered.
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 7,065 people, 2,816 households, and 1,976 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 32 /sqmi. There were 3,264 housing units at an average density of 15 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 99.24% 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...
, 0.24% 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...
, 0.08% 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...
, 0.03% 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...
, 0.03% 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 0.33% from two or more races. 0.51% 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 2,816 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% 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, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% 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 2.96.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $19,310, and the median income for a family was $23,333. Males had a median income of $23,859 versus $18,952 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 $10,321. About 29.90% of families and 35.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.20% of those under age 18 and 26.70% of those age 65 or over.
Geographical Locations of interest in Wolfe County
- BethanyBethany, KentuckyBethany is a neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky located on Dixie Highway by Bethany Cemetery.- Geography :Bethany, Louisville is located at .-References:# -External links:*...
- CamptonCampton, KentuckyAs of the census of 200, there were 44 people, 16 households, and 17 families residing in the city. The population density was 33.4 people per square mile . There were 29 housing units at an average density of 212.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.76% White, and 0.24% from...
- Hazel GreenHazel Green, KentuckyHazel Green is an unincorporated community in Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Routes 191 and 205 northeast of the city of Campton, the county seat of Wolfe County. Its elevation is 922 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of...
- Lee CityLee City, KentuckyLee City is an unincorporated community in Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Route 205 east of the city of Campton, the county seat of Wolfe County. Its elevation is 958 feet ....
- Pine RidgePine Ridge, KentuckyPine Ridge is an unincorporated community in Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Route 15 northwest of the city of Campton, the county seat of Wolfe County. Its elevation is 1,266 feet . The community has a ZIP code of 41360....
- TrentTrent, KentuckyTrent is an unincorporated community in Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Route 191 northeast of the city of Campton, the county seat of Wolfe County. Its elevation is 1,030 feet ....
- Bear Pin
- Mary Flatt road
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Wolfe County, Kentucky
Festivals and Local Entertainment
The annual Swift Silver Mine Festival is held on Labor Day weekend each year. It includes a parade and vendors in the downtown CamptonCampton, Kentucky
As of the census of 200, there were 44 people, 16 households, and 17 families residing in the city. The population density was 33.4 people per square mile . There were 29 housing units at an average density of 212.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.76% White, and 0.24% from...
area.
People from Wolfe County
Baseball's Pete CenterPete Center
Marvin Earl "Pete" Center was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 1942 to 1943 and 1945 to 1946. In between his playing days Center served in the military during World War II.-External links:...
that pitched for the Clevand Indians in the 1940s.
Folk Artist Edgar Tolson
Edgar Tolson
Edgar Tolson was a woodcarver from Kentucky who became a well-known folk artist.He was born in Trent Fork, Wolfe County as the fourth of eleven children and educated through the sixth grade. He worked as a carpenter and stonemason and was married twice, fathering eighteen children in all. From his...
; Ralph Rinzler
Ralph Rinzler
Ralph Rinzler was the co-founder of the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall every summer in Washington, D.C., where he worked as a curator for American art, music, and folk culture at the Smithsonian....
of the Smithsonian Institution was impressed by Tolson's figures, and included them in the 1971 Festival of American Folklife.
Richard Jett and the Appalachian troubadours http://www.appalachiantroubadours.com/Home_Page.html
Bluegrass musician Sam Wilson song “Wild, Wild Rose.”
Bluegrass musician Wendy Miller played a few years with grammy winning banjo player J. D. Crowe
J. D. Crowe
James Dee Crowe is an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s.-Biography:...
; Also with Larry Sparks
Larry Sparks
Larry Sparks is a Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year for his album "40," celebrating his 40th year in bluegrass...
and the Lonesome Ramblers with another great banjo player Mike Lilly.
Places to see and Historical places in or close to Wolfe County
Torrent fallsTorrent Falls
Torrent Falls is an outdoor area near the small community of Torrent, which is near Natural Bridge State Park in Kentucky. Once a resort for the wealthy, it features a striking waterfall, both traditional and sport rock climbing, a via ferrata, and cabins available for vacation rentals.Torrent...
; located near Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Location of a railroad station before the depression.
With several attractions near and within the Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge
The Red River Gorge is a canyon system on the Red River in east-central Kentucky. Geologically, it is part of the Pottsville Escarpment.Much of the Gorge is located inside the Daniel Boone National Forest and has been subsequently reserved as the Red River Gorge Geological Area, an area of around...
.
including Sky Bridge and Rock Bridge.
Swango Springs - Mineral water resort.
Hazel Green Academy
Hazel Green Academy
Hazel Green Academy was a school in the little village of Hazel Green, eastern Wolfe County, eastern Kentucky. It was established in 1880 by a Charter from the Kentucky Legislature. The bill was introduced by a Hazel Green citizen, Senator W.O. Mize. The Founders of the school were Mize and his...
.