Floyd County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
%2c_Prestonsburg.jpg) Floyd County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°34′N82°45′W / 37.56°N 82.75°W /37.56; -82.75 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1800 |
| Named after | John Floyd |
| Seat | Prestonsburg |
| Largest city | Prestonsburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 396 sq mi (1,030 km2) |
| • Land | 393 sq mi (1,020 km2) |
| • Water | 2.4 sq mi (6.2 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 35,942 |
• Estimate (2024) | 34,532 |
| • Density | 91.5/sq mi (35.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Floyd County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 35,942.[1] Itscounty seat isPrestonsburg.[2] The county, founded in 1800, is named forColonelJohn Floyd (1750–1783).[3][4]
On December 13, 1799, theKentucky General Assembly passed legislation to form Floyd County as the 40th county of Kentucky.[5] The county was made from parts ofFleming,Montgomery, andMason County, Kentucky. The legislation became effective on June 1, 1800.[5] The county was named forJames 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.[5] Prestonsburg was used as aConfederate stronghold during theCivil War and two battles took place nearby, theBattle of Ivy Mountain on November 8, 1861, and theBattle of Middle Creek on January 10, 1862.[5] Both were Union victories.
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 ofBetsy 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 includedWheelwright,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 theHillbilly Highway. As of 2016, the county had 23 coal mines in operation, and produced roughly around 640,000 tons of coal.[6]
On February 28, 1958, the county was the site ofone of the deadliest bus accidents in U.S. history, leaving 27 people dead.
On June 30, 2022,a mass shooting targeting police officers occurred inAllen, a city in Floyd County. Three police officers and apolice 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.[7][8][9]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 396 square miles (1,030 km2), of which 393 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.6%) is water.[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 3,485 | — | |
| 1820 | 8,207 | 135.5% | |
| 1830 | 4,347 | −47.0% | |
| 1840 | 6,302 | 45.0% | |
| 1850 | 5,714 | −9.3% | |
| 1860 | 6,388 | 11.8% | |
| 1870 | 7,877 | 23.3% | |
| 1880 | 10,176 | 29.2% | |
| 1890 | 11,256 | 10.6% | |
| 1900 | 15,552 | 38.2% | |
| 1910 | 18,623 | 19.7% | |
| 1920 | 27,427 | 47.3% | |
| 1930 | 41,942 | 52.9% | |
| 1940 | 52,986 | 26.3% | |
| 1950 | 53,500 | 1.0% | |
| 1960 | 41,642 | −22.2% | |
| 1970 | 35,889 | −13.8% | |
| 1980 | 48,764 | 35.9% | |
| 1990 | 43,586 | −10.6% | |
| 2000 | 42,441 | −2.6% | |
| 2010 | 39,451 | −7.0% | |
| 2020 | 35,942 | −8.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 34,532 | [11] | −3.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 39,451 people living in the county. 98.2% wereWhite, 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% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 42,441 people, 16,881 households, and 12,272 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 108 per square mile (42/km2). There were 18,551 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.73%White, 1.29%Black orAfrican American, 0.12%Native American, 0.24%Asian, 0.08%Pacific Islander, 0.12% fromother races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. The KentuckyMelungeons live primarily in Floyd andMagoffin 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 intoKnott 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $12,442. About 26.90% of families and 30.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 39.80% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those age 65 or over.
The county's public schools are operated by theFloyd County School District.[17]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 961 | 31.74% | 1,553 | 51.29% | 514 | 16.97% |
| 1916 | 1,823 | 44.84% | 2,217 | 54.53% | 26 | 0.64% |
| 1920 | 2,825 | 43.68% | 3,597 | 55.61% | 46 | 0.71% |
| 1924 | 3,773 | 44.02% | 4,220 | 49.23% | 579 | 6.75% |
| 1928 | 5,109 | 47.17% | 5,721 | 52.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 3,415 | 28.49% | 8,537 | 71.22% | 34 | 0.28% |
| 1936 | 3,375 | 29.77% | 7,962 | 70.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 3,711 | 28.97% | 9,100 | 71.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3,197 | 29.26% | 7,729 | 70.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 3,127 | 25.88% | 8,823 | 73.03% | 132 | 1.09% |
| 1952 | 4,238 | 32.13% | 8,940 | 67.78% | 11 | 0.08% |
| 1956 | 6,166 | 43.77% | 7,907 | 56.13% | 15 | 0.11% |
| 1960 | 5,010 | 33.66% | 9,876 | 66.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,352 | 16.75% | 11,644 | 82.93% | 45 | 0.32% |
| 1968 | 3,550 | 27.22% | 8,333 | 63.89% | 1,160 | 8.89% |
| 1972 | 6,099 | 44.20% | 7,544 | 54.67% | 157 | 1.14% |
| 1976 | 3,108 | 23.31% | 10,151 | 76.13% | 74 | 0.56% |
| 1980 | 4,179 | 27.16% | 10,975 | 71.34% | 231 | 1.50% |
| 1984 | 5,218 | 33.57% | 10,259 | 66.00% | 66 | 0.42% |
| 1988 | 5,296 | 29.81% | 12,327 | 69.39% | 141 | 0.79% |
| 1992 | 3,540 | 18.96% | 13,351 | 71.50% | 1,783 | 9.55% |
| 1996 | 3,139 | 21.82% | 9,655 | 67.12% | 1,590 | 11.05% |
| 2000 | 5,068 | 32.92% | 10,088 | 65.53% | 238 | 1.55% |
| 2004 | 6,612 | 36.97% | 11,132 | 62.24% | 141 | 0.79% |
| 2008 | 7,741 | 49.43% | 7,530 | 48.09% | 388 | 2.48% |
| 2012 | 9,784 | 65.71% | 4,733 | 31.79% | 373 | 2.51% |
| 2016 | 11,993 | 72.51% | 4,015 | 24.27% | 532 | 3.22% |
| 2020 | 12,250 | 74.91% | 3,884 | 23.75% | 219 | 1.34% |
| 2024 | 12,326 | 78.64% | 3,061 | 19.53% | 286 | 1.82% |
Floyd County was historically a Democratic stronghold, voting Democratic in every election from 1852 until 2008. The county gaveBill Clinton over 65% in both 1992 and 1996 whileGeorge W. Bush never received more than 37% of the county's vote.[21] Like the rest of the state outside ofJefferson County (Louisville) andFayette County (Lexington), the county eventually shifted to the Republican Party, but became one of the last counties in Kentucky to make that transition.[22]
In 2008, its votes went to the Republican Party's presidential candidate for the first time in the county's history, and in 2016Donald Trump won 72.5% of its vote. The county has trended strongly Republican since2004, shifting from a 25% margin for the Democrat that year, to a 59.2% margin for the Republican in 2024.[23]
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[24][25] | ||
| U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R) | KY 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Scott Madon (R) | 29 |
| Ky. House | Ashley Tackett Laferty (D) | 95 |
Places adjacent to Floyd County, Kentucky | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofFloyd County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties. | |
| Counties | |
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| Cities and towns Over 10k | |
| Cities and towns 5k-10k | |
| Cities and towns 1k-5k | |
| Cities and towns under 1k | |
| Statistical areas | |
| See also | |
37°34′N82°45′W / 37.56°N 82.75°W /37.56; -82.75
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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