Jump to content

Lewis County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 38°32′N 83°23′W / 38.53°N 83.39°W / 38.53; -83.39
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lewis County
County
Lewis County courthouse in Vanceburg
Lewis County courthouse in Vanceburg
Map of Kentucky highlighting Lewis County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°32′N 83°23′W / 38.53°N 83.39°W / 38.53; -83.39
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 2, 1806
Named forMeriwether Lewis
SeatVanceburg
Largest cityVanceburg
Area
 • Total
495 sq mi (1,280 km2)
 • Land483 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  2.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,080
 • Estimate 
(2023)
12,973 Decrease
 • Density26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitelewiscounty.ky.gov

Lewis County is near the northeastern tip of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,080.[1] Its county seat is Vanceburg.[2]

History

[edit]

Kentucky was part of Virginia until 1792. The District of Kentucky began with three counties: Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln and Fayette. Part of Fayette County was split off as Bourbon County in 1785; a portion of Bourbon was split off in 1788 as Mason County; in 1806 Lewis County was split off from Mason and named for Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.[3][4][5]

The county's elevation ranges from 485 to 1400 feet above sea level. Its heavily forested hills and hollows have produced some of the nation's best oak lumber. Lumbering was long the county's principal economic activity; today the largest categories of employment are health care and social assistance (814 persons), construction (680) and manufacturing (600). [6]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 495 square miles (1,280 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (2.5%) is water.[7] The county's northern border with Ohio is formed by the Ohio River. Its border with the river is the longest of all the Kentucky counties.[8]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

National protected area

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18102,357—
18203,97368.6%
18305,22931.6%
18406,30620.6%
18507,20214.2%
18608,36116.1%
18709,1159.0%
188013,15444.3%
189014,80312.5%
190017,86820.7%
191016,887−5.5%
192015,829−6.3%
193014,315−9.6%
194015,6869.6%
195013,520−13.8%
196013,115−3.0%
197012,355−5.8%
198014,54517.7%
199013,029−10.4%
200014,0928.2%
201013,870−1.6%
202013,080−5.7%
2023 (est.)12,973[9]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,092 people, 5,422 households, and 4,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 per square mile (11/km2). There were 6,173 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.92% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,422 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,208, and the median income for a family was $26,109. Males had a median income of $25,522 versus $18,764 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,031. About 23.50% of families and 28.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.40% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over. Over forty percent of this county gets some kind of government benefit.[14]

Education

[edit]
A view of the Lewis County Middle School near Vanceburg from KY 10

The residents of Lewis County are served by the Lewis County Schools. There are four elementary schools, a middle school for 7th and 8th graders, and an adjacent high school on KY 10, the AA Highway. The elementary schools are Lewis County Central in Vanceburg; Garrison Elementary, east of Vanceburg in the community of Garrison; Tollesboro Elementary, west of Vanceburg in the community of Tollesboro; and Laurel Elementary, southeast of Vanceburg. LCHS hwas a nationally distinguished school in 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Elementary Schools:

Middle Schools:

High Schools:

Closed Schools:

  • Tollesboro High School, Tollesboro. Closed in 1994 due to low enrollment and loss of state funding. This was an issue that caused controversy within the county as Tollesboro High and Lewis County High had a long-standing, bitter rivalry. Tollesboro officials and residents claimed that the closure of the school by the Lewis County Board of Education was not justified, and some went so far as to send their children to schools in surrounding counties, such as Mason and Fleming. However, with time, the controversy died down. The main Tollesboro school building and Field Hall, with a gymnasium, still stand just off of KY 57 near the intersection with old Highway 10. The building was for a short time used as the Tollesboro Christian Academy.
  • Laurel High School, Laurel. The building burned in the late 1930s. It was made of local stone which was largely undamaged by the fire, so the exterior could have been reused, but the interior was burned beyond repair. Students in the Laurel area went to Lewis County High School. The building sat just off the intersection of KY 59 and highway 1068 (near Laurel Point). The remnants of the building are still visible today.

Politics

[edit]

Lewis County is one of the most Republican counties in Kentucky. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election was Samuel J. Tilden in 1876.[15] In a state that allowed slavery but did not secede from the Union, the Lewis County Courthouse has the only non-cemetery Union monument south of the Mason-Dixon Line that was erected by public subscription.[16] The county is home to U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian Republican who was elected county judge-executive in 2010 and to Congress in 2012.

United States presidential election results for Lewis County, Kentucky[17][18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 4,997 87.34% 666 11.64% 58 1.01%
2020 4,986 84.75% 823 13.99% 74 1.26%
2016 4,363 82.35% 785 14.82% 150 2.83%
2012 3,326 69.74% 1,342 28.14% 101 2.12%
2008 3,213 67.06% 1,510 31.52% 68 1.42%
2004 3,778 68.89% 1,667 30.40% 39 0.71%
2000 3,217 70.42% 1,293 28.31% 58 1.27%
1996 2,365 54.12% 1,415 32.38% 590 13.50%
1992 2,493 50.84% 1,713 34.93% 698 14.23%
1988 3,108 66.18% 1,568 33.39% 20 0.43%
1984 3,445 69.64% 1,484 30.00% 18 0.36%
1980 2,802 63.78% 1,543 35.12% 48 1.09%
1976 2,383 55.01% 1,929 44.53% 20 0.46%
1972 3,124 71.57% 1,200 27.49% 41 0.94%
1968 2,760 64.83% 1,017 23.89% 480 11.28%
1964 2,300 50.58% 2,230 49.04% 17 0.37%
1960 3,816 69.41% 1,682 30.59% 0 0.00%
1956 3,333 67.65% 1,585 32.17% 9 0.18%
1952 3,317 67.86% 1,556 31.83% 15 0.31%
1948 2,708 64.68% 1,449 34.61% 30 0.72%
1944 3,275 69.43% 1,434 30.40% 8 0.17%
1940 3,371 64.22% 1,878 35.78% 0 0.00%
1936 3,255 61.92% 1,985 37.76% 17 0.32%
1932 3,212 55.88% 2,488 43.28% 48 0.84%
1928 4,077 78.36% 1,120 21.53% 6 0.12%
1924 3,067 65.13% 1,447 30.73% 195 4.14%
1920 4,186 71.84% 1,550 26.60% 91 1.56%
1916 2,324 62.66% 1,276 34.40% 109 2.94%
1912 1,185 34.52% 1,017 29.62% 1,231 35.86%
1908 2,549 65.26% 1,268 32.46% 89 2.28%
1904 2,374 62.74% 1,286 33.99% 124 3.28%
1900 2,311 60.01% 1,482 38.48% 58 1.51%
1896 2,348 61.29% 1,433 37.41% 50 1.31%
1892 1,531 53.36% 1,044 36.39% 294 10.25%
1888 1,880 57.02% 1,379 41.83% 38 1.15%
1884 1,498 55.94% 1,152 43.02% 28 1.05%
1880 1,388 54.28% 1,075 42.04% 94 3.68%
1876 1,134 49.72% 1,147 50.28% 0 0.00%
1872 952 59.65% 644 40.35% 0 0.00%
1868 983 55.16% 799 44.84% 0 0.00%
1864 645 62.26% 391 37.74% 0 0.00%
1860 31 2.79% 73 6.57% 1,007 90.64%
1856 0 0.00% 631 51.85% 586 48.15%
1852 400 44.05% 503 55.40% 5 0.55%
1848 521 47.93% 566 52.07% 0 0.00%
1844 506 48.24% 543 51.76% 0 0.00%
1840 523 61.97% 321 38.03% 0 0.00%
1836 345 53.32% 302 46.68% 0 0.00%

Communities

[edit]

Cities

[edit]

Census-designated place

[edit]

Other unincorporated places

[edit]

Notable people

[edit]
  • James Baird (1873–1953) - Quarterback at the University of Michigan 1892–1895. After graduation served as an Assistant Coach for the football program from 1897 to 1898. Later as a Civil Engineer, his construction company executed the building of prominent buildings such as the Lincoln Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
  • Charles A. Baird (1870–1944) - University of Michigan's first Athletic Director from 1898 to 1909. Hired legendary coach Fielding H. Yost. Oversaw construction of Ferry Field. Older brother of James Baird.
  • Thomas Marshall (1793–1853) – United States Army general of the Mexican–American War.
  • The founder of "Pillar of Fire Church" and KKK advocate Alma Bridwell White was born there.
  • Thomas Massie, U.S. representatve, Kentucky's 4th Congressional District
  • Ralph Davis, (Ralph E. Davis Jr.) University of Cincinnati Basketball. Started on two NCAA Final Four teams for the Bearcats. Went on to play professional basketball in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Cincinnati Royals, a Pre-NBA merger franchise which is now the Sacramento Kings.
  • Faith Esham, (b. 1948) Famous opera performer and recitalist. Voice Professor at Westminster Choir College of Rider University since 2000.
  • Thomas H. Paynter, United States Senator 1907–1913
  • George M. Thomas (American politician), (November 23, 1828 – January 7, 1914) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 9th district: In office March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889. Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives: In office 1859–1863, 1872–1873. Commonwealth's Attorney for the tenth judicial district 1862–1868. Was elected Lewis county judge in 1868. Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1871. Circuit Judge of the fourteenth judicial district from 1874 to 1880 and United States District Attorney from 1881 to 1885. Elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). Was appointed Solicitor of Internal Revenue by President William McKinley on May 20, 1897, and served until May 31, 1901.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Lewis County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  4. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol. 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 36.
  5. ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. Library Reprints, Incorporated. p. 464. ISBN 9780722249208.
  6. ^ https://datausa.io/profile/geo/lewis-county-ky/.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. ^ Commonwealth of Kentucky Lewis County
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. ^ The Geography of Government Benefits
  15. ^ County Voting Map
  16. ^ https://history.ky.gov/markers/union-memorial
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  18. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,063 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 168 votes.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lewis County, Kentucky.

38°32′N 83°23′W / 38.53°N 83.39°W / 38.53; -83.39

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lewis_County,_Kentucky&oldid=1270727760"