Magoffin County, Kentucky

Magoffin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, irs population was 11,637. Its county seat is Salyersville. The county was formed in 1860 from adjacent portions of Floyd, Johnson, and Morgan Counties. It was named for Beriah Magoffin, who was governor of Kentucky (1859–62).

History

The area now encompassed by Kentucky's Magoffin 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, the Virginia legislature set aside all land in Kentucky County for soldiers who had served in the Revolutionary War. In 1780, Kentucky County was divided into three counties, Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln. Fayette County was divided in 1785, with part becoming Bourbon County. In 1792, the southern part of Bourbon County was partitioned off to form Clark County The area was further divided in 1796 to form Montgomery County, with Fleming County being partitioned from the area in 1798. In 1800, Floyd County was created from portions of Fleming, Mason, and Montgomery Counties. In 1843, Johnson County was carved out of the previous Bath County area, which was created in 1811 from Montgomery County, and which lost a portion of its territory in 1843 for the creation of Johnson County.

In 1860, the Kentucky Legislature partitioned parts of Johnson, Floyd, and Morgan Counties, to create Magoffin County. Its boundaries have remained unchanged since that time.

During the Civil War, Magoffin County had a unionist majority existing in the area, albeit with highly divided sentiment. While about 123 men enlisted in the Confederate Army, roughly 308 men served in the Union Army.

As the late 19th century progressed, Magoffin County became a leading supplier in oil and gas production in the area, with some of the first oil wells in Eastern Kentucky being built in the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which (0.2% or about 450 ac) is covered by water. It is watered by Licking River.

Adjacent counties

* Morgan County (northwest)
* Johnson County (northeast)
* Floyd County (southeast)
* Knott County (south)
* Breathitt County (southwest)
* Wolfe County (west)

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, 13,333 people were living in the county. The racial makeup was 98.6% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 0.7% of two or more races. 0.7% were Hispanic or Latino people (of any race).

As of the 2000 census, 13,332 people, 5,024 households, and 3,858 families resided in the county. The population density was . The 5,447 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 99.29% White, 0.15% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. About 0.42% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. A significant Melungeon or mixed-race group of Carmel Indians live in Magoffin County. In a 2007 study by the U.S. Census Bureau, Magoffin County, along with Mitchell County in Iowa, was cited as the U.S. county having the largest percentage of individuals in the demographic category of "non-Hispanic White alone."

Of the 5,024 households, 37.5% had children under 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were not families. About 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the age distribution was 26.8% under 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,421, and for a family was $24,031. Males had a median income of $27,745 versus $18,354 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,685. About 31.2% of families and 36.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.9% of those under 18 and 29.1% of those 65 or over.

Politics

Magoffin County prior to the 1930s was a strongly Republican County at the national level, voting for the Republican Party in an unbroken streak under the Fourth Party System from 1880 to 1932. At the state and local level, though, it remained Democratic, voting for James B. McCreary in 1875, and Preston Leslie in 1879 for governor – both former Confederates.

Between 1932 and 2004, Magoffin County generally began to vote Democratic in presidential elections; since the 2000s, it has voted Republican. It voted for Democrat Andy Beshear for governor in both the 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial elections, but Republican for all other statewide offices.

Elected officials

Economy

The last active coal mine in Magoffin County closed in 2015. In 2022, the TipTop Coal Mine in Magoffin County reopened, making it now the only coal mine in the county. Major employers now include several coal-truck businesses.

Communities

City

* Salyersville (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

* Elsie
* Falcon
* Foraker
* Fredville
* Gunlock
* Hendricks
* Ivyton
* Logville
* Royalton
* Sublett
* Swampton
* Wheelersburg
* Wonnie

Education

One school district serves the county - Magoffin County School District.
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Notable people

* Jimmy Flynt, co-founder of '' Hustler'' magazine
* Larry Flynt, publisher of ''Hustler'' magazine
* Samuel Wilber Hager, Kentucky state treasurer from 1900 to 1904, Kentucky state auditor from 1904 to 1908, and Democratic nominee for governor of Kentucky in 1907

See also

* Big Sandy Area Development District
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Magoffin County, Kentucky

References

External links

Magoffin County Schools

The Magoffin County Historical Society

Sandy Valley Transportation Services, Inc.

Magoffin History & Ancestry

{{Coord, 37.70, -83.06, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990

Kentucky counties
1860 establishments in Kentucky
Populated places established in 1860