Breathitt County, Kentucky

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Breathitt County (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,718.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Jackson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was formed in 1839 and was named for John Breathitt, who was Governor of Kentucky from 1832 to 1834. Breathitt County was formerly a dry county, until a public vote in July 2016 passed, allowing alcohol sales.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

History

The area now encompassed by Kentucky's Breathitt County was first bounded in 1772, when all of what is now the state of Kentucky was in the frontier county of Fincastle County, Virginia. Fincastle was divided in 1776, with the western portion named Kentucky County, Virginia. In 1780, Virginia set aside all land in Kentucky County for soldiers who had served in the Revolutionary War. In 1780, Kentucky County was divided into 3 counties, Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln. Lincoln County was divided in 1799, with part becoming Knox County. In 1807, the Legislature partitioned the upper part of Knox to create Clay County. On February 6, 1839, a portion of Clay (along with portions of Estill and Perry Counties) was partitioned off to create Breathitt County. It was named for Governor John Breathitt.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The first people to actually settle on the land that became Breathitt County were Joseph Back (1745–1819), his wife Elizabeth Hoffman-Maggard (1755–1826), and their four children: Joseph Back Jr. (1773–1802); John Back (1774–1854); Mary Back (1777–1807); and Henry Back (1785–1871). This has been well-documented in many books including, The Bach (Back) Family from Southeastern Kentucky by Dr. Mary Back Simpson.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.6%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The North and Middle Forks of the Kentucky River pass through the county as the main water drainages.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Breathitt County, Kentucky – Racial composition
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Race (NH = Non-Hispanic) Template:Partial<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> % 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> % 2000<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Template:Partial Pop 2010 Pop 2000
White alone (NH) 95% 97.8% 98.1% 13,038 13,575 15,797
Black alone (NH) 0.4% 0.3% 0.4% 57 43 62
American Indian alone (NH) 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 11 12 14
Asian alone (NH) 0.3% 0.5% 0.3% 37 67 47
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0.1% 0.1% 0% 11 12 4
Other race alone (NH) 0% 0.1% 0% 0 9 2
Multiracial (NH) 3.4% 0.5% 0.4% 471 71 68
Hispanic/Latino (any race) 0.7% 0.6% 0.7% 93 89 106

The most reported ancestries in 2020 were English (42.5%), Irish (5.1%), German (3.2%), and Scottish (1.4%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,100 people, 6,170 households, and 4,541 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,812 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,170 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 25.50% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,155, and the median income for a family was $23,721. Males had a median income of $26,208 versus $20,613 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,044. About 28.10% of families and 33.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.90% of those under age 18 and 26.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot During the 20th century, Breathitt County was a Democratic stronghold typical of rural Appalachia, only voting Republican narrowly once. Starting in 1912, Breathitt County continuously voted for the Democratic presidential nominee, a streak that would last until the 2004 election. Since 2008, the county has voted for the Republican nominee each election by increasingly wide margins. Despite this, 79% of registered voters remain Democrats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In gubernatorial elections, Breathitt County has only voted for the Republican nominee on three occasions: 1907, 1919, and 2015.

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
U.S. House Template:Party shading/Republican|Hal Rogers (R) Template:Party shading/Republican|Template:Ushr
Ky. Senate Template:Party shading/Republican|Brandon Smith (R) Template:Party shading/Republican|30
Ky. House Template:Party shading/Republican|Chris Fugate (R) Template:Party shading/Republican|84

Economy

Coal companies

Education

K-12 education

There are two school districts in the county: Jackson Independent School District and Breathitt County School District. The former includes a portion of Jackson and some unincorporated areas, while the latter has the remainder of the city and county.<ref name=CensusSDMap2020>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref><ref name=JacksonSchoolsMap>Template:Cite web</ref> The Jackson school district operates Jackson City School a single K-12 facility. The county school district operates several schools, including:

  • Sebastian Elementary School – Jackson, Kentucky (Opened 1970)
  • Highland-Turner Elementary School – Canoe, Kentucky (Opened 1992)
  • Breahitt Elementary School
  • Breathitt County High School – Jackson, Kentucky (New School Opened 1982)

Private schools:

Higher education

Breathitt Area Technology Center

The Breathitt Area Technology Center serves both the Jackson Independent and the Breathitt County school districts. It is located on the campus of Breathitt County High School. The school is operated by the state of Kentucky. While most of the funding comes from the state, much of the equipment is purchased with federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act funds, which are aimed at advancing technical education.

The school is focused on technical education, offering these technical programs:

  • Automotive Technology
  • Construction Technology
  • Electrical Technology
  • Health Sciences
  • Office Technology

UK Robinson Station

The community of Quicksand is the location for the University of Kentucky Robinson Station. This agriculture research facility is a pivotal asset in Breathitt County, furthering the scientific studies in the areas of agriculture and forestry.

Health care

  • Breathitt County Family Health Center, Jackson, Kentucky

Breathitt County health care providers were featured in a November 23, 2013, article in The Washington Post: "In Rural Kentucky, Health-Care Takes Back Seat as the Long-Uninsured Line Up".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2014 the county had the highest morbidity rate in the state of Kentucky.

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

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Nature viewing

Feral horses seen at Southfork Elkview in Breathitt County, Kentucky.

In the community of Southfork, there is a local elk viewing area where elk and feral horses can be seen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

See also

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References

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Further reading

  • T.R.C. Hutton, Bloody Breathitt: Politics and Violence in the Appalachian South. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2013.

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