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Pike County, Kentucky

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Founded
  
1821

Largest city
  
Pikeville

Time zone
  
Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Population
  
63,380 (2013)

County seat
  
Pikeville

Named for
  
Zebulon Pike

Congressional district
  
5th

Area
  
2,044 km²

Unemployment rate
  
8.0% (Apr 2015)

Pike County, Kentucky httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Cities
  
Pikeville, Elkhorn City, Belfry, Kentucky, South Williamson

Rivers
  
Tug Fork, Levisa Fork, Russell Fork, Elkhorn Creek

Points of interest
  
Big Sandy Heritage Center, Elkhorn City Railroad, Fishtrap Lake, Fishtrap Lake State Park, Hog Trial Site

Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 65,024. Its county seat is Pikeville. The county was founded in 1821.

Contents

Map of Pike County, KY, USA

Pike is Kentucky's easternmost county, it is also the state's largest county in terms of land area. Pike County is the 11th largest county in Kentucky in terms of population preceded by Bullitt County and followed by Christian County. Pike County is Kentucky's third largest banking center, with financial institutions and holding companies having more than $1 billion in assets. In the five years spanning 1995–2000, personal income increased by 28%, and the county's per capita income exceeded the national and state average growth rates of the past decade. Pike County is the seventy-first Kentucky county in order of creation.

With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is classified as a moist county—a county in which alcohol sales are prohibited (a dry county), but containing a "wet" city, in this case two cities: Pikeville and Coal Run Village, where package alcohol sales are allowed.

History

Pike County was founded on December 19, 1821. The county was named for General Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered Pikes Peak. Between 1860 and 1891 the Hatfield-McCoy feud raged in Pike and in bordering Mingo County, West Virginia. On May 6, 1893, Pikeville officially became a city and the county seat.

Pike County is also home to Paul E. Patton, former governor of Kentucky.

The Appalachian News Express, published in Pikeville, is preserved on microfilm by the University of Kentucky Libraries. The microfilm holdings are listed in a master negative database on the UK Libraries Preservation and Digital Programs website.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 789 square miles (2,040 km2), of which 787 square miles (2,040 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.2%) is water. It is the largest county by area in Kentucky.

The main population areas of the county include the city of Pikeville and surrounding suburbs, Elkhorn City, and the unincorporated town of South Williamson.

Major highways

Pike County has a total of 486.285 miles of classified roads.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 68,736 people, 27,612 households, and 20,377 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 per square mile (34/km2). There were 30,923 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.35% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Pike County, Kentucky are:

  • 18.2% "American"
  • 16.1% English
  • 13.1% Irish
  • 6.7% German
  • 2.3% Scots-Irish
  • 1.3% Italian
  • There were 27,612 households out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.90.

    The age distribution was 23.70% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

    The median income for a household in the county was $23,930, and the median income for a family was $29,302. Males had a median income of $32,332 versus $19,229 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,005. About 20.60% of families and 23.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over. The zip codes 41502 (Pikeville), 41503 (South Williamson), and 41527 (Forest Hills) are the wealthiest portions of the county. 41502 is the 50th wealthiest zip code in Kentucky, 41503 is the 61st wealthiest, and 41527 is the 63rd wealthiest. South Williamson and Forest Hills are located on the Northeast side of the county. These three areas combine to 2,129 residents and make up around 3% of the county's population. The average income for these areas are $51,962 (41502), $49,345 (41503), and $48,484 (41527).

    Politics

    Historically, Pike County was a solidly Republican county in presidential voting from 1896 to 1928 under the Fourth Party System, then a solidly Democratic county in presidential elections from 1932 until 2004. Since 2004 it has shifted towards the Republican party in presidential voting. Local politics have been dominated by the Democratic Party throughout its history, remaining so today - while the county was carried by Republicans in the presidential races since 2004, most local offices, including judge-executive, sheriff, and the local representative to the Kentucky State Legislature, remain Democratic - there were no Republicans running in the last races for judge-executive and sheriff.

    Economy

    Pike County has vast fossil fuel, (coal and natural gas) reserves. Pike County is one of the nation's leading coal and natural gas producers. In April 2007, Pike County announced the first-in-the-nation comprehensive energy strategy which was developed in partnership with the Southern States Energy Board.

    Pike County is the second-largest coal producing county as reported in 2013 next to Union County in the western part of the state. Adding that to the counties of Harlan County, Perry County, and Martin County, Eastern Kentucky produces nearly 34 of all coal produced in the entire state. Over 150 million tons are produced annually throughout the state.

    The poverty level of counties in the Appalachian region of Kentucky is 24.4% compared to the United States Poverty Level of 12.4%. Of the top eight coal-producing counties in eastern Kentucky, Pike County is the only county that does not have a higher poverty rate than Appalachian Kentucky as a whole.

    Coal companies in Pike County

  • Alliance Resource Partners
  • Alpha Natural Resources
  • James River Coal Company
  • Rhino Resource Partners
  • TECO Coal
  • Economic growth

    Over 1,400 businesses contribute to the growing economy in Pikeville. From 2005 to 2011, downtown Pikeville experienced major growth. The Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center was constructed in 2005 and seats 7,000. It features numerous events including world-renowned concerts and shows. The county is also home to the Pikeville Concert Association which secures renowned cultural events for the area. These events usually take place at Booth Auditorium on the campus of the University of Pikeville.

    The Pikeville Medical Center received a $44 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program in 2010 to construct an eleven-story office building and adjacent parking garage in downtown. Construction was completed in 2014.

    The University of Pikeville broke ground on a nine-story building (the Coal Building) on Hambley Boulevard in downtown Pikeville in early 2011 to house the University of Pikeville's School of Osteopathic Medicine.

    In the summer of 2011, Jenny Wiley Theatre group announced their collaboration with the city of Pikeville to construct a 200-seat indoor professional theater in downtown Pikeville. The theatre opened in May 2014.

    Government

    The office of Pike County Judge Executive served as a launching pad for the governorship of Paul E. Patton (1995–2003).

    On November 8, 2016 the voters of Pike County choose to switch from a magisterial form of government to a commissioner form of government. As of 2019, the Pike County Fiscal Court will be composed of three county commissioners and the county judge/executive.

    Hospitals

  • Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville, Kentucky
  • Appalachian Regional Healthcare, South Williamson, Kentucky
  • Pike County colleges

  • University of Pikeville (UPike), Pikeville, Kentucky
  • Big Sandy Community and Technical College Pikeville Campus
  • Pike County Schools

    The Pike County School System consists of 25 high, middle, and elementary schools.

    High schools

  • Belfry High School, Belfry, Kentucky
  • East Ridge High School, Lick Creek, Kentucky
  • Phelps High School, Phelps, Kentucky
  • Pike County Central High School, Pikeville, Kentucky
  • Shelby Valley High School, Pikeville, Kentucky
  • Middle and elementary schools

    The following lists of middle and elementary schools is categorized by the high school they feed:

  • Belfry High School System
  • Belfry Middle School
  • Bevins Elementary
  • Blackberry Elementary
  • Southside Elementary
  • East Ridge High School System
  • Elkhorn City Elementary School
  • Feds Creek Elementary School
  • Millard Elementary School
  • Phelps High School System
  • Majestic-Knox Elementary School
  • Phelps Elementary School
  • Pike County Central High School System
  • Johns Creek Elementary School
  • Kimper Elementary School
  • Mullins School
  • Shelby Valley High School System
  • Dorton School
  • Valley Elementary School
  • Shelby Valley Day Treatment Center, Phelps Day Treatment Center, are all discipline facilities. Northpoint Academy is a high school drop out prevention program that focuses on the individual needs of the student. All students at Northpoint are there on a voluntary basis.

    Pikeville Independent Schools

  • High School
  • Pikeville High School, Pikeville
  • Elementary School
  • Pikeville Elementary School
  • Private schools

  • St. Francis of Assisi Pikeville, Kentucky
  • Christ Central Pikeville, Kentucky
  • Baseball

    Pike County has had several minor league teams based out of Pikeville. From 1982 to 1983, the Pikeville Cubs were located in the city. They were part of the Appalachian League and affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. In 1984, the team changed to become affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, thus changing its name to the Pikeville Brewers. In 2010 Pikeville Independent's baseball team finished in the final four at the KHSAA Baseball State Tournament. In 2012 and in 2013 Pikeville Junior High baseball finished runner up in the Kentucky Middle School State Tournament both years.

    Basketball

    In 2007, the East Kentucky Miners came to Pike County after the opening of the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center. the team played in Pikeville from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, the American Basketball Association opened an expansion franchise in Pikeville called the East Kentucky Energy. In 2011, UPike Men's Basketball won the National Championship defeating Mountain State University.

    Football

    In 2010 the Pike County Crusaders, an Indoor Arena Football team, was announced as coming to the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center, but the initiative soon failed. In 2011, The East Kentucky Drillers, an Indoor Arena Football franchise came to the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville. In 2012, the team changed its name to the Kentucky Drillers.

    Cities

  • Coal Run Village
  • Elkhorn City
  • Pikeville (county seat)
  • References

    Pike County, Kentucky Wikipedia