Laurel County, Kentucky

Laurel County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 58,849.[1] Its county seat is London.[2]

Laurel County
U.S. county
Laurel County courthouse in London
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N 84°07′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 21, 1825
Named forMountain laurel trees
SeatLondon
Largest cityLondon
Area
 • Total444 sq mi (1,150 km2)
 • Land434 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water9.7 sq mi (25 km2)  2.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
60,813
 • Density140/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th

Laurel County is included in the London, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Laurel County, After a special election in January 2016 alcohol sales is permitted only in the city limits of London. The ordinance went into effect on March 27, 2016 60 days after results of the election.

History

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 the Laurel River, noted for dense laurel thickets along its banks.[4]

Laurel County was the location of the Battle of Wildcat Mountain, a pivotal yet little known battle during the American 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 first Kentucky Fried Chicken was started in Laurel County in Colonel Harland Sanders hometown of North Corbin. Due to the history of chicken in the county, The World Chicken Festival is celebrated every year in Laurel County, drawing crowds of up to 250,000 people over the four-day festival.

Geography

According to the U.S. 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 of Laurel River Lake is in Laurel County.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18302,206—
18403,07939.6%
18504,14534.6%
18605,48832.4%
18706,0169.6%
18809,13151.8%
189013,74750.6%
190017,59228.0%
191019,87213.0%
192019,814−0.3%
193021,1096.5%
194025,64021.5%
195025,7970.6%
196024,901−3.5%
197027,38610.0%
198038,98242.3%
199043,43811.4%
200052,71521.4%
201058,84911.6%
Est. 201960,8133.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1] 2019[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 52,715 people, 20,353 households, and 15,366 families residing in the county. The population density was 121 per square mile (47/km2). There were 22,317 housing units at an average density of 51 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.66% White, 1.63% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

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.[13]

There were 20,353 households out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $14,165. About 17.80% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.80% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Like all of the eastern Pennyroyal Plateau and adjacent parts of the Western and Eastern Coalfields, Laurel County was strongly pro-Union during the Civil War. Consequently, 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 been Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1932 landslide and Lyndon Johnson during an equally large landslide in 1964, although with the Republican Party mortally divided Woodrow Wilson did obtain a nine-vote plurality in 1912.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 82.9% 20,592 13.9% 3,440 3.2% 801
2012 81.0% 18,151 17.4% 3,905 1.6% 352
2008 78.5% 17,660 20.5% 4,618 1.0% 222
2004 75.5% 16,819 23.8% 5,297 0.7% 148
2000 71.9% 13,029 26.8% 4,856 1.3% 235
1996 62.7% 9,454 28.5% 4,306 8.8% 1,330
1992 57.0% 8,583 30.3% 4,560 12.7% 1,907
1988 71.5% 9,296 27.9% 3,620 0.6% 78
1984 74.4% 9,621 25.3% 3,267 0.3% 41
1980 68.2% 8,868 30.5% 3,969 1.2% 160
1976 61.4% 6,186 37.9% 3,813 0.7% 74
1972 75.6% 7,276 23.6% 2,274 0.7% 70
1968 67.6% 6,251 19.0% 1,756 13.5% 1,244
1964 57.8% 5,008 41.9% 3,633 0.3% 24
1960 76.4% 7,485 23.6% 2,309 0.0% 0
1956 73.9% 6,586 26.0% 2,316 0.2% 14
1952 71.7% 5,776 28.1% 2,263 0.2% 12
1948 64.6% 4,107 34.4% 2,187 1.0% 64
1944 70.5% 5,051 29.4% 2,104 0.1% 5
1940 64.3% 5,180 35.5% 2,860 0.3% 20
1936 64.1% 4,798 35.8% 2,677 0.2% 12
1932 57.3% 4,827 42.3% 3,569 0.4% 34
1928 81.1% 4,906 18.9% 1,141 0.1% 5
1924 66.2% 3,274 29.4% 1,451 4.4% 218
1920 72.0% 4,252 27.4% 1,621 0.6% 36
1916 65.3% 2,383 32.1% 1,171 2.6% 96
1912 32.7% 1,085 32.9% 1,094 34.4% 1,143[lower-alpha 1]

Education

Two public school districts serve K-12 students in the county:

  • Laurel County School District — Operates one preschool, 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.
  • East Bernstadt Independent School District — Operates a single K-8 school. High school students in the district may attend either high school in the Laurel County district.

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Notable residents

Nationally bestselling author Silas House was raised in Laurel County and currently lives in Madison County, in the city of Berea. Former University of Kentucky basketball star Jeff Sheppard, the Most Outstanding Player of the 1998 NCAA Tournament who briefly played in the NBA, now lives in London.

2000 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Darrell Scott, who has written hit songs for the Dixie Chicks, Travis Tritt, Brad Paisley, Patty Loveless, and many others, was born in London.

Chera-Lyn Cook, the first from Southeast Kentucky to win the title of Miss Kentucky. Cook was talent winner and 4th runner-up to Miss America 1999.

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See also

Notes
  1. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,020 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 123 votes.

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Laurel County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  4. Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 458.
  5. Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 266. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. "QuickFacts. Laurel County, Kentucky". Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

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