Lee County, Kentucky

County in Kentucky, United States

County in Kentucky

Lee County

County

Lee County courthouse in Beattyville

Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky

Kentucky's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 37°35′N 83°43′W﻿ / ﻿37.59°N 83.72°W﻿ / 37.59; -83.72
Country|  United States
State|  Kentucky
Founded| 1870
Named after| Robert E. Lee
Seat| Beattyville
Largest city| Beattyville
Area

• Total

| 211 sq mi (550 km2)
• Land| 209 sq mi (540 km2)
• Water| 2.4 sq mi (6 km2)  1.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 7,395

• Estimate

(2024)

| 7,313
• Density| 35/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 5th
Website| www.leecounty.ky.gov

Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,395.[1] Its county seat is Beattyville.[2] The county was formed in 1870 from parts of Breathitt, Estill, Owsley and Wolfe counties.[3] The county was named for Robert E. Lee.[4] The area of Kentucky where Lee County is located was a pro-union region of Kentucky[5] but the legislature that created the county was controlled by former Confederates. The town of Proctor, named for the Rev. Joseph Proctor, was the first county seat.[3] The first court was held on April 25, 1870, in the old Howerton House. The local economy at the time included coal mining, salt gathering, timber operations, and various commercial operations. It had a U.S. post office from 1843 until 1918.

The county seat, Beattyville, was first known as Taylor's Landing, as it was a ferry landing on the Kentucky River.[3] It was renamed to Beatty in 1850 after early settler Samuel Beatty. The town incorporated in 1872 as Beattyville and was chosen as the new county seat due to its location on the river, which aided transportation and trade.

Although Lee County had taverns in the 19th century,[6] it was a prohibition or dry county until 2019 when the county voted to go wet. The City of Beattyville and Lee County Fiscal Court established alcoholic sale rules for their jurisdictions including prohibiting sales of alcohol on Sunday.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 211 square miles (550 km2), of which 209 square miles (540 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (1.1%) is water.[7]

### Eastern Kentucky Coal Field

[edit]

Lee County lies within the Eastern Coal Field region of Kentucky. The very rugged terrain essentially defines the area. Roughly half of the county lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest. Timber and coal remain economically significant, as do oil and gas. Harmful effects from unregulated strip mining and clear cut logging practices are still being corrected. The proliferation of kudzu, an invasive vine has proved difficult to address. However, the growing environmental movement and the developing tourism industry have created energy to take more action to control this pest.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Powell County (north)
* Wolfe County (northeast)
* Breathitt County (southeast)
* Owsley County (south)
* Jackson County (southwest)
* Estill County (northwest)

### National protected area

[edit]

* Daniel Boone National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 4,254| | —
1890| 6,205| | 45.9%
1900| 7,988| | 28.7%
1910| 9,531| | 19.3%
1920| 11,918| | 25.0%
1930| 9,729| | −18.4%
1940| 10,860| | 11.6%
1950| 8,739| | −19.5%
1960| 7,420| | −15.1%
1970| 6,587| | −11.2%
1980| 7,754| | 17.7%
1990| 7,422| | −4.3%
2000| 7,916| | 6.7%
2010| 7,719| | −2.5%
2020| 7,395| | −4.2%
2024 (est.)| 7,313| [8]| −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2021[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 7,916 people, 2,985 households, and 2,122 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 per square mile (15/km2). There were 3,321 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.10% White, 3.79% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,985 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 109.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $18,544, and the median income for a family was $24,918. Males had a median income of $25,930 versus $19,038 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,325. About 25.20% of families and 30.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.00% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.

### Life expectancy

[edit]

Of 3,142 counties in the United States in 2013, Lee County ranked no. 3,111 for the life expectancy of males and 2,989 for longevity of females. Males in Lee County lived an average of 68.5 years and females lived an average of 76.7 years compared to the national average for life expectancy of 76.5 for males and 81.2 for females. Moreover, the average life expectancy in Lee Country was stable for males and declined by 1.5 years for females between 1985 and 2013, compared to a national average for the same period of an increased life span of 5.5 years for men and 3.1 years for women. High rates of smoking and obesity, and a low level of physical activity appear to be contributing factors to the low life expectancy for both sexes.[15]

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Lee County, Kentucky[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 2,227  | 82.63% | 406  | 15.06%  | 62  | 2.30%
2020 | 2,273  | 81.15% | 481  | 17.17%  | 47  | 1.68%
2016 | 2,151  | 80.65% | 444  | 16.65%  | 72  | 2.70%
2012 | 1,977  | 75.37% | 595  | 22.68%  | 51  | 1.94%
2008 | 1,978  | 71.33% | 752  | 27.12%  | 43  | 1.55%
2004 | 2,018  | 69.11% | 878  | 30.07%  | 24  | 0.82%
2000 | 1,893  | 68.49% | 836  | 30.25%  | 35  | 1.27%
1996 | 1,302  | 51.63% | 1,023  | 40.56%  | 197  | 7.81%
1992 | 1,617  | 51.20% | 1,170  | 37.05%  | 371  | 11.75%
1988 | 1,588  | 61.31% | 984  | 37.99%  | 18  | 0.69%
1984 | 1,862  | 70.53% | 768  | 29.09%  | 10  | 0.38%
1980 | 1,650  | 60.53% | 1,017  | 37.31%  | 59  | 2.16%
1976 | 1,449  | 56.54% | 1,091  | 42.57%  | 23  | 0.90%
1972 | 1,629  | 68.22% | 744  | 31.16%  | 15  | 0.63%
1968 | 1,339  | 58.27% | 674  | 29.33%  | 285  | 12.40%
1964 | 1,162  | 45.69%  | 1,376  | 54.11% | 5  | 0.20%
1960 | 2,012  | 67.74% | 958  | 32.26%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 1,774  | 65.32% | 938  | 34.54%  | 4  | 0.15%
1952 | 1,572  | 58.70% | 1,100  | 41.08%  | 6  | 0.22%
1948 | 1,233  | 52.62% | 1,058  | 45.16%  | 52  | 2.22%
1944 | 1,468  | 57.57% | 1,072  | 42.04%  | 10  | 0.39%
1940 | 1,866  | 53.39% | 1,622  | 46.41%  | 7  | 0.20%
1936 | 1,812  | 55.69% | 1,440  | 44.25%  | 2  | 0.06%
1932 | 1,628  | 45.17%  | 1,970  | 54.66% | 6  | 0.17%
1928 | 2,005  | 63.91% | 1,131  | 36.05%  | 1  | 0.03%
1924 | 1,348  | 49.25%  | 1,348  | 49.25%  | 41  | 1.50%
1920 | 1,856  | 59.56% | 1,246  | 39.99%  | 14  | 0.45%
1916 | 1,135  | 58.48% | 793  | 40.86%  | 13  | 0.67%
1912 | 570  | 33.37%  | 728  | 42.62% | 410  | 24.00%
1908 | 1,171  | 59.47% | 783  | 39.77%  | 15  | 0.76%
1904 | 879  | 61.68% | 527  | 36.98%  | 19  | 1.33%
1900 | 857  | 56.79% | 637  | 42.21%  | 15  | 0.99%
1896 | 881  | 59.09% | 587  | 39.37%  | 23  | 1.54%
1892 | 565  | 51.98% | 507  | 46.64%  | 15  | 1.38%
1888 | 514  | 54.22% | 432  | 45.57%  | 2  | 0.21%
1884 | 410  | 51.57% | 385  | 48.43%  | 0  | 0.00%
1880 | 418  | 51.41% | 394  | 48.46%  | 1  | 0.12%

### Elected officials

[edit]

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[17][18]

U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R)  | KY 5
Ky. Senate | Brandon Smith (R)  | 30
Ky. House | Timmy Truett (R)  | 89

## Economy

[edit]

Lee County, Kentucky is often listed as one of the poorest counties in the United States. In 2014, 35 percent of its population lived in poverty and the median family income was $23,968 compared to 14.8 percent poor and a $53,482 median family income for the United States as a whole.[19]

## Communities

[edit]

### City

[edit]

* Beattyville (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Airedale
* Athol
* Bear Track
* Belle Point
* Canyon Falls
* Congleton
* Cressmont
* Crystal
* Delvinta
* Earnestville
* Enoch
* Evelyn
* Fillmore
* Fincastle
* Fixer
* Greeley
* Heidelberg
* Idamay
* Leeco
* Lower Buffalo
* Maloney
* Monica
* Mount Olive
* Old Landing
* Primrose
* Proctor
* Saint Helens
* Standing Rock
* Tallega
* White Ash
* Williba
* Willow Shoals
* Yellow Rock
* Zacharia
* Zoe

## See also

[edit]

* United States portal

* List of memorials to Robert E. Lee
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee County, Kentucky

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lee County, Kentucky.

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Lee County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ a b c Kendrick, Debi (January 3, 2014). "Lee County Kentucky Genealogy". USGenNet.
4. ^ "About Lee County, KY". Retrieved January 24, 2023.
5. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
6. ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. Library Reprints, Incorporated. p. 461\. ISBN 978-0-7222-4920-8. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
12. ^ "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.
13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. ^ "Lee County, Kentucky" (PDF). Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
17. ^ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
18. ^ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
19. ^ "Lee County, Kentucky," https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045213/21129/embed/accessible; "United States" https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/INC110214/00, accessed August 6, 2016

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Lee County, Kentucky, United States

County seat: Beattyville

City|

* Beattyville

Location of Lee County, Kentucky

Unincorporated
communities|

* Airedale
* Arvel
* Athol
* Belle Point
* Canyon Falls
* Congleton
* Cressmont
* Delvinta
* Earnestville
* Enoch
* Fillmore
* Fincastle
* Fixer
* Greeley
* Heidelberg
* Idamay
* Leeco
* Lone
* Lower Buffalo
* Maloney
* Monica
* Mount Olive
* Old Landing
* Primrose
* Proctor
* St. Helens
* Standing Rock
* Tallega
* White Ash
* Williba
* Willow Shoals
* Yellow Rock
* Zacharia
* Zoe

* Kentucky portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Eastern Kentucky Coal Field region

Counties|

* Bell
* Boyd
* Breathitt
* Carter
* Clay
* Elliott
* Floyd
* Greenup
* Harlan
* Jackson
* Johnson
* Knott
* Knox
* Laurel
* Lawrence
* Lee
* Leslie
* Letcher
* Magoffin
* Martin
* McCreary
* Menifee
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* Owsley
* Perry
* Pike
* Powell
* Rowan
* Whitley
* Wolfe

Cities and towns
Over 10k|

* Ashland

Cities and towns
5k-10k|

* Corbin
* Flatwoods
* Hazard
* London
* Middlesboro
* Morehead
* Mount Sterling
* Pikeville
* Williamsburg

Cities and towns
1k-5k|

* Barbourville
* Beattyville
* Catlettsburg
* Clay City
* Coal Run Village
* Cumberland
* Grayson
* Greenup
* Harlan
* Jackson
* Jeffersonville
* Jenkins
* Louisa
* Manchester
* Olive Hill
* Paintsville
* Pineville
* Prestonsburg
* Raceland
* Russell
* Salyersville
* South Shore
* Stanton
* West Liberty
* Whitesburg
* Worthington
* Wurtland

Cities and towns
under 1k|

* Allen
* Annville
* Bellefonte
* Benham
* Blackey
* Blaine
* Booneville
* Buckhorn
* Camargo
* Campton
* Elkhorn City
* Evarts
* Fleming-Neon
* Frenchburg
* Hindman
* Hyden
* Inez
* Lakeview Heights
* Loyall
* Lynch
* Martin
* McKee
* Oneida
* Pippa Passes
* Sandy Hook
* Vicco
* Wallins Creek
* Warfield
* Wayland
* Wheelwright

Statistical areas|

* Ashland
* London
* Middlesboro
* Mount Sterling

See also|

* Kentucky portal

* v
* t
* e

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Frankfort (capital)

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25 largest
cities|

* Louisville
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* Mount Washington
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Metropolitan
areas|

* Ashland
* Bowling Green
* Clarksville, TN
* Elizabethtown
* Evansville, IN
* Lexington–Fayette
* Louisville/Jefferson County
* Northern Kentucky
* Owensboro

Counties|

* Adair
* Allen
* Anderson
* Ballard
* Barren
* Bath
* Bell
* Boone
* Bourbon
* Boyd
* Boyle
* Bracken
* Breathitt
* Breckinridge
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* Clark
* Clay
* Clinton
* Crittenden
* Cumberland
* Daviess
* Edmonson
* Elliott
* Estill
* Fayette
* Fleming
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* Fulton
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* Grayson
* Green
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* Hancock
* Hardin
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* Henderson
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* Hickman
* Hopkins
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Jessamine
* Johnson
* Kenton
* Knott
* Knox
* LaRue
* Laurel
* Lawrence
* Lee
* Leslie
* Letcher
* Lewis
* Lincoln
* Livingston
* Logan
* Lyon
* Madison
* Magoffin
* Marion
* Marshall
* Martin
* Mason
* McCracken
* McCreary
* McLean
* Meade
* Menifee
* Mercer
* Metcalfe
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* Muhlenberg
* Nelson
* Nicholas
* Ohio
* Oldham
* Owen
* Owsley
* Pendleton
* Perry
* Pike
* Powell
* Pulaski
* Robertson
* Rockcastle
* Rowan
* Russell
* Scott
* Shelby
* Simpson
* Spencer
* Taylor
* Todd
* Trigg
* Trimble
* Union
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Whitley
* Wolfe
* Woodford

Kentucky portal

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37°35′N 83°43′W﻿ / ﻿37.59°N 83.72°W﻿ / 37.59; -83.72
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