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. Laurel County was named from the Laurel River, noted for dense laurel thickets along its banks. 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. The first Kentucky Fried Chicken was started in southern Laurel County by Colonel 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, The World Chicken Festival is celebrated every year in London, the county seat, drawing crowds of up to 250,000 people over the four-day festival.Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.2%) is water. Part of Laurel River Lake is in Laurel County.Adjacent counties
* Jackson County, Kentucky, Jackson County (northeast) * Clay County, Kentucky, Clay County (east) * Knox County, Kentucky, Knox County (southeast) * Whitley County, Kentucky, Whitley County (south) * McCreary County, Kentucky, McCreary County (southwest) * Pulaski County, Kentucky, Pulaski County (west) * Rockcastle County, Kentucky, Rockcastle County (northwest)National protected area
* Daniel Boone National Forest (part)Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were 62,613 people, 22,573 (2015-2019) households, and families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 22,317 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.66% White American, White, 1.63% African American, Black or African American, 0.37% Native Americans in the United States, Native American, 0.35% Asian American, Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander American, Pacific Islander, 0.08% from Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, other races, and 0.90% from Multiracial American, two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic and Latino Americans, Hispanics or Latinos of any race. As of the census of 2010, Laurel County was 97.00% White American, White or European American, 0.3% Native Americans in the United States, Native American and 0.7% Black American, Black or African American. There were 20,353 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were Marriage, 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 Kentucky Coalfield, Western and Eastern Kentucky Coalfield, Eastern Coalfields, Laurel County was strongly pro-Union (American Civil War), 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 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.*Education
Two public school districts serve K-12 students in the county:Communities
Cities
* Corbin, Kentucky, Corbin (Mostly in Whitley County; part also in Knox County) * London, Kentucky, LondonCensus-designated places
* East Bernstadt, Kentucky, East Bernstadt * North Corbin, Kentucky, North CorbinOther unincorporated communities
* Keavy, Kentucky, Keavy * Lake, Kentucky, Lake * lily, kentucky, lilyNotable residents
* Nationally bestselling author Silas House was born and raised in Laurel County. * Former Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball, University of Kentucky basketball star Jeff Sheppard who briefly played in the National Basketball Association, NBA * 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. * Flem D. Sampson, the 42nd governor of the State of Kentucky is from Laurel County.See also
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Laurel County, KentuckyNotes
References
External links
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