Laurel County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Laurel County courthouse in London | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:37°06′38″N84°07′04″W / 37.11067°N 84.1178°W /37.11067; -84.1178 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | December 21, 1825 |
| Named after | Mountain laurel trees |
| Seat | London |
| Largest city | London |
| Area | |
• Total | 444 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
| • Land | 434 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Water | 9.7 sq mi (25 km2) 2.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 62,613 |
• Estimate (2024) | 63,353 |
| • Density | 144/sq mi (55.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | londonky |
Laurel County is acounty located in the southeastern portion of theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 62,613.[1] Itscounty seat isLondon.[2] After a special election in January 2016 alcohol sales are permitted only in the city limits of London. The ordinance went into effect on March 27, 2016, 60 days after results of the election. Laurel County is included in the London, KYMicropolitan Statistical Area.
Laurel County, the 80th county to be organized in Kentucky, was established by an act of the general assembly, December 21, 1825, from parts of Rockcastle, Clay, Knox and Whitley Counties.[3] Laurel County was named from theLaurel River, noted for dense laurel thickets along its banks.[4]
Laurel County was the location of theBattle of Wildcat Mountain, a pivotal yet little known battle during theAmerican Civil War that kept Confederate armies from advancing on Big Hill, a major stronghold during the war.
After a fire damaged the courthouse in 1958, a new structure was completed in 1961.[5]
The firstKentucky Fried Chicken was started in southern Laurel County byColonel Harland Sanders just north of Corbin. Nowadays, visitors are welcomed to the original cafe and museum where they can eat at, tour, and learn about the start of the worldwide franchise. Due to the history of chicken in the county, TheWorld Chicken Festival is celebrated every year in London, the county seat, drawing crowds of up to 250,000 people over the four-day festival.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 434 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 9.7 square miles (25 km2) (2.2%) is water.[6] Part ofLaurel River Lake is in Laurel County.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 2,206 | — | |
| 1840 | 3,079 | 39.6% | |
| 1850 | 4,145 | 34.6% | |
| 1860 | 5,488 | 32.4% | |
| 1870 | 6,016 | 9.6% | |
| 1880 | 9,131 | 51.8% | |
| 1890 | 13,747 | 50.6% | |
| 1900 | 17,592 | 28.0% | |
| 1910 | 19,872 | 13.0% | |
| 1920 | 19,814 | −0.3% | |
| 1930 | 21,109 | 6.5% | |
| 1940 | 25,640 | 21.5% | |
| 1950 | 25,797 | 0.6% | |
| 1960 | 24,901 | −3.5% | |
| 1970 | 27,386 | 10.0% | |
| 1980 | 38,982 | 42.3% | |
| 1990 | 43,438 | 11.4% | |
| 2000 | 52,715 | 21.4% | |
| 2010 | 58,849 | 11.6% | |
| 2020 | 62,613 | 6.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 63,353 | [7] | 1.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 62,613. The median age was 40.2 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.9 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 0.7%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[13]
39.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 61.0% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 24,262 households in the county, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 26,533 housing units, of which 8.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.5% were owner-occupied and 30.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%.[12]
As of the census of 2010, Laurel County was 97.00%White or European American, 0.3%Native American and 0.7%Black or African American.[15]
There were 20,353 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% weremarried couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 25.40% under 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,015, and the median income for a family was $31,318. Males had a median income of $27,965 versus $19,757 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,165. About 17.80% of families and 21.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.80% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,085 | 32.66% | 1,094 | 32.93% | 1,143 | 34.41% |
| 1916 | 2,383 | 65.29% | 1,171 | 32.08% | 96 | 2.63% |
| 1920 | 4,252 | 71.96% | 1,621 | 27.43% | 36 | 0.61% |
| 1924 | 3,274 | 66.24% | 1,451 | 29.35% | 218 | 4.41% |
| 1928 | 4,906 | 81.06% | 1,141 | 18.85% | 5 | 0.08% |
| 1932 | 4,827 | 57.26% | 3,569 | 42.34% | 34 | 0.40% |
| 1936 | 4,798 | 64.08% | 2,677 | 35.76% | 12 | 0.16% |
| 1940 | 5,180 | 64.27% | 2,860 | 35.48% | 20 | 0.25% |
| 1944 | 5,051 | 70.54% | 2,104 | 29.39% | 5 | 0.07% |
| 1948 | 4,107 | 64.60% | 2,187 | 34.40% | 64 | 1.01% |
| 1952 | 5,776 | 71.74% | 2,263 | 28.11% | 12 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 6,586 | 73.87% | 2,316 | 25.98% | 14 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 7,485 | 76.42% | 2,309 | 23.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 5,008 | 57.80% | 3,633 | 41.93% | 24 | 0.28% |
| 1968 | 6,251 | 67.57% | 1,756 | 18.98% | 1,244 | 13.45% |
| 1972 | 7,276 | 75.63% | 2,274 | 23.64% | 70 | 0.73% |
| 1976 | 6,186 | 61.41% | 3,813 | 37.85% | 74 | 0.73% |
| 1980 | 8,868 | 68.23% | 3,969 | 30.54% | 160 | 1.23% |
| 1984 | 9,621 | 74.41% | 3,267 | 25.27% | 41 | 0.32% |
| 1988 | 9,296 | 71.54% | 3,620 | 27.86% | 78 | 0.60% |
| 1992 | 8,583 | 57.03% | 4,560 | 30.30% | 1,907 | 12.67% |
| 1996 | 9,454 | 62.65% | 4,306 | 28.54% | 1,330 | 8.81% |
| 2000 | 13,029 | 71.90% | 4,856 | 26.80% | 235 | 1.30% |
| 2004 | 16,819 | 75.54% | 5,297 | 23.79% | 148 | 0.66% |
| 2008 | 17,660 | 78.49% | 4,618 | 20.52% | 222 | 0.99% |
| 2012 | 18,151 | 81.00% | 3,905 | 17.43% | 352 | 1.57% |
| 2016 | 20,592 | 82.92% | 3,440 | 13.85% | 801 | 3.23% |
| 2020 | 23,237 | 82.66% | 4,475 | 15.92% | 399 | 1.42% |
| 2024 | 23,516 | 84.17% | 4,037 | 14.45% | 385 | 1.38% |
Like all of the easternPennyroyal Plateau and adjacent parts of theWestern andEastern Coalfields, Laurel County was strongly pro-Union during the Civil War. The county – in common with all adjacent areas – has been rock-ribbed Republican ever since. The only Democrats to receive forty percent of the county's vote since then have beenFranklin D. Roosevelt in his 1932 landslide andLyndon Johnson during an equally large landslide in 1964, although with the Republican Party mortally dividedWoodrow Wilson did obtain a nine-vote plurality in 1912.
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[17][18] | ||
| U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R) | KY 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Brandon J. Storm (R) | 21 |
| Ky. House | Josh Bray (R) | 71 |
| Nick Wilson (R) | 82 | |
| Shane Baker (R) | 85 | |
| Tom Smith (R) | 86 | |
| Timmy Truett (R) | 89 | |
| Derek Lewis (R) | 90 | |
Two public school districts serve K–12 students in the county:[19]
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Municipalities and communities ofLaurel County, Kentucky,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county | |
| Counties | |
|---|---|
| Cities and towns Over 10k | |
| Cities and towns 5k-10k | |
| Cities and towns 1k-5k | |
| Cities and towns under 1k | |
| Statistical areas | |
| See also | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
37°06′38″N84°07′04″W / 37.11067°N 84.1178°W /37.11067; -84.1178