Powell County, Kentucky

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Powell County

| state = Kentucky

| seal =

| founded year = 1852

| founded date =

| seat wl = Stanton

| area_total_sq_mi = 180

| area_land_sq_mi = 179

| area_water_sq_mi = 1.1

| area percentage = 0.6

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 13129

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 12928 {{decrease}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Eastern

| footnotes =

| named for = Lazarus W. Powell

| ex image = Powell County, Kentucky courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Powell County courthouse in Stanton

| district = 6th

| web = http://powellcountyky.us/

}}

Powell County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,129.{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/powellcountykentucky/PST045221 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} Its county seat is Stanton.{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}} The county was formed January 7, 1852, by Kentucky Governor Lazarus W. Powell from parts of Clark, Estill, and Montgomery counties.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ |title=The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1 |publisher=Kentucky State Historical Society |year=1903 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ/page/n36 36]}} It is no longer a dry county as of 2018. Powell County is home to Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Red River Gorge Geologic Area, two of Kentucky's most important natural areas and ecotourism destinations, as well as the Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|180|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|179|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

=Adjacent counties=

Montgomery County (north)
Menifee County (northeast)
Wolfe County (southeast)
Lee County (south)
Estill County (southwest)
Clark County (northwest)

=National protected area=

Daniel Boone National Forest (part)

Demographics

{{US Census population

| 1860 = 2257

| 1870 = 2599

| 1880 = 3639

| 1890 = 4698

| 1900 = 6443

| 1910 = 6268

| 1920 = 6745

| 1930 = 5800

| 1940 = 7671

| 1950 = 6812

| 1960 = 6674

| 1970 = 7704

| 1980 = 11101

| 1990 = 11686

| 2000 = 13237

| 2010 = 12613

| 2020 = 13129

| estyear = 2024

| estimate = 12928

| estref = {{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790-1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900-1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990-2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010-2020

}}

=2000 census=

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,237 people, 5,044 households, and 3,783 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|74|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 5,526 housing units at an average density of {{convert|31|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.56% White, 0.62% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,044 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.00% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,515, and the median income for a family was $30,483. Males had a median income of $26,962 versus $18,810 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,060. About 18.90% of families and 23.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.00% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

{{PresHead|place=Powell County, Kentucky|source={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=July 5, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

In recent federal elections, Powell County has been reliably Republican.

=Elected officials=

class=wikitable
colspan="3" \|Elected officials as of January 3, 2025{{Cite web \|url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html \|title=Senate Members - County \|author= \|date= \|website=apps.legislature.ky.gov \|publisher=Kentucky General Assembly \|access-date=January 3, 2025 \|quote=}}{{Cite web \|url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html \|title=House Members - County \|author= \|date= \|website=apps.legislature.ky.gov \|publisher=Kentucky General Assembly \|access-date=January 3, 2025 \|quote=}}
scope=row\|U.S. House \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|Andy Barr (R) \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|{{ushr\|KY\|6\|B}}
scope=row\|Ky. Senate \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|Brandon Smith (R) \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|30
scope=row\|Ky. House \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|Bill Wesley (R) \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|91

class=wikitable

colspan="3" |Elected officials as of January 3, 2025{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author= |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=Kentucky General Assembly |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author= |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=Kentucky General Assembly |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}

scope=row|U.S. House

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Andy Barr (R)

| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|6|B}}

scope=row|Ky. Senate

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Brandon Smith (R)

| {{party shading/Republican}}|30

scope=row|Ky. House

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Bill Wesley (R)

| {{party shading/Republican}}|91

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Powell County is home to Natural Bridge State Resort Park. The park is abundant with Native American relics, shelters, and burial grounds. The main attraction is the bridge itself, a natural arch with more than {{convert|15|e6lb|t}} of rock in suspension. It is {{convert|30|ft|m}} wide at the top and {{convert|85|ft|m}} at the base; one of the more than 70 natural arches located in the area.{{Cite book |last=Powell |first=Robert |title=Kentucky Counties |publisher=Kentucky Images |year=1989 |location=Lexington, KY |pages=52–53}}