# Perry County, Kentucky

Perry County is a county in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,473. Its county seat is Hazard. The county was founded in 1820. Both the county and county seat are named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, a naval hero in the War of 1812.

## History

The area presently bounded by Kentucky state lines was a part of the U.S. State of Virginia, known as Kentucky County when the British colonies separated themselves in the American Revolutionary War. In 1780, Kentucky County was divided into three counties: Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln. In 1791, this area was separated into the State of Kentucky; it became effective on June 1, 1792. From that time, the original three counties were divided several times. By 1820, the present Perry County was formed from portions of Floyd and Clay counties. In 1824 the first post office was built on the north fork of the Kentucky River, and was called the Perry Post Office. The first settlers around this area were Elijah Combs, his seven brothers and daughter Jade Miller.
The county's economy has long been based on logging and mining coal.
Perry County is home to Hazard Community and Technical College. It is also home to the Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center, a not-for-profit health system operating 10 hospitals, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, HomeCare Stores and retail pharmacies. It is the largest provider of care and single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third largest private employer in southern West Virginia.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 343 square miles (890 km$^2$), of which 340 square miles (880 km$^2$) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km$^2$) (0.9%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Breathitt County (north)
* Knott County (northeast)
* Letcher County (southeast)
* Harlan County (south)
* Leslie County (west)
* Clay County (northwest)
* Owsley County (northwest)

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,390 people, 11,460 households, and 8,491 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 per square mile (33/km$^2$). There were 12,741 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile (14/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% White, 1.64% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,460 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $22,089, and the median income for a family was $26,718. Males had a median income of $31,702 versus $20,502 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,224. About 26.10% of families and 29.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.00% of those under age 18 and 20.60% of those age 65 or over.

### Life expectancy

Of 3,142 counties in the United States in 2013, Perry County ranked 3,140 (3rd-from-last) in the life expectancy of both male and female residents. Males in Perry County lived an average of 66.5 years and females lived an average of 73.1 years compared to the national average for longevity of 76.5 for males and 81.2 for females. Moreover, the average longevity in Perry County declined by 0.1 years for males and 2.4 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. The coal-mining industry, high rates of smoking and obesity and a low level of physical activity appear to be contributing factors to the lowered longevity for both sexes.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Perry County, Kentucky :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 7,913 | 79.19% | 1,966 | 19.68% | 113 | 1.13% |
| 2020 | 8,129 | 76.50% | 2,356 | 22.17% | 141 | 1.33% |
| 2016 | 8,158 | 77.17% | 2,136 | 20.20% | 278 | 2.63% |
| 2012 | 8,040 | 78.51% | 2,047 | 19.99% | 154 | 1.50% |
| 2008 | 6,762 | 65.18% | 3,444 | 33.20% | 169 | 1.63% |
| 2004 | 6,187 | 53.08% | 5,400 | 46.33% | 68 | 0.58% |
| 2000 | 5,300 | 48.18% | 5,514 | 50.13% | 186 | 1.69% |
| 1996 | 3,382 | 32.76% | 6,015 | 58.27% | 926 | 8.97% |
| 1992 | 4,128 | 34.11% | 6,619 | 54.69% | 1,356 | 11.20% |
| 1988 | 5,154 | 47.85% | 5,557 | 51.59% | 61 | 0.57% |
| 1984 | 5,218 | 49.52% | 5,258 | 49.90% | 61 | 0.58% |
| 1980 | 4,226 | 40.76% | 6,031 | 58.17% | 110 | 1.06% |
| 1976 | 4,434 | 43.83% | 5,633 | 55.68% | 49 | 0.48% |
| 1972 | 5,373 | 59.37% | 3,601 | 39.79% | 76 | 0.84% |
| 1968 | 3,993 | 41.85% | 4,562 | 47.81% | 986 | 10.33% |
| 1964 | 3,211 | 32.28% | 6,728 | 67.64% | 8 | 0.08% |
| 1960 | 5,754 | 53.65% | 4,971 | 46.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 6,591 | 59.05% | 4,545 | 40.72% | 25 | 0.22% |
| 1952 | 5,210 | 48.41% | 5,538 | 51.46% | 14 | 0.13% |
| 1948 | 3,755 | 39.37% | 5,614 | 58.87% | 168 | 1.76% |
| 1944 | 4,333 | 43.94% | 5,527 | 56.04% | 2 | 0.02% |
| 1940 | 4,693 | 40.59% | 6,852 | 59.26% | 18 | 0.16% |
| 1936 | 4,595 | 40.45% | 6,753 | 59.45% | 11 | 0.10% |
| 1932 | 5,240 | 44.96% | 6,393 | 54.85% | 22 | 0.19% |
| 1928 | 6,099 | 61.44% | 3,814 | 38.42% | 14 | 0.14% |
| 1924 | 4,357 | 59.09% | 2,658 | 36.05% | 359 | 4.87% |
| 1920 | 4,345 | 66.10% | 2,203 | 33.52% | 25 | 0.38% |
| 1916 | 2,217 | 69.28% | 904 | 28.25% | 79 | 2.47% |
| 1912 | 1,023 | 60.25% | 560 | 32.98% | 115 | 6.77% |
| 1908 | 1,274 | 69.88% | 524 | 28.74% | 25 | 1.37% |
| 1904 | 979 | 68.94% | 431 | 30.35% | 10 | 0.70% |
| 1900 | 1,019 | 68.34% | 467 | 31.32% | 5 | 0.34% |
| 1896 | 824 | 68.84% | 340 | 28.40% | 33 | 2.76% |
| 1892 | 560 | 61.14% | 346 | 37.77% | 10 | 1.09% |
| 1888 | 699 | 70.11% | 296 | 29.69% | 2 | 0.20% |
| 1884 | 566 | 70.22% | 236 | 29.28% | 4 | 0.50% |
| 1880 | 559 | 63.74% | 318 | 36.26% | 0 | 0.00% |

### Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 :
| U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R) | KY 5 |
| Ky. Senate | Brandon Smith (R) | 30 |
| Ky. House | Chris Fugate (R) | 84 |

## Education
### Public

The county has two school districts:

#### Perry County Schools

This district covers the entire county except for the city of Hazard.
* Buckhorn Elementary School
* Buckhorn High School
* East Perry Elementary School
* Perry County Central High School
* Robinson Elementary School
* R.W. Combs Elementary School
* West Perry Elementary School
* Viper Elementary School

#### Hazard Independent Schools

This district essentially encompasses the city of Hazard. See this link for a more accurate map of the Hazard district boundary.
* Hazard High School
* Hazard Middle School
* Roy G. Eversole Elementary School

### Private

* Hazard Christian Academy

## Economy
### Coal companies in Perry County

* Arch Coal
* James River Coal Company
* TECO Coal

## Media
### Television

* WYMT-TV
* WKHA-TV, a satellite station of Kentucky Educational Television

### Radio

* WSGS
* WKIC
* WJMD
* WEKH, a satellite station of WEKU
* WQXY
* WLZD-LP

### Newspapers

* Hazard Herald

## Infrastructure
### Transportation

Public transportation is provided by LKLP Community Action Partnership with demand-response service and scheduled service in Hazard, and connecting to Hindman, Hyden, and Whitesburg.

## Communities
### Cities

* Buckhorn
* Hazard (county seat)
* Vicco (part)

### Census-designated places

* Combs
* Diablock
* Jeff

### Other unincorporated places

* Allais
* Allock
* Ary
* Avawam
* Beehive
* Blue Diamond
* Boat
* Bonnyman
* Bulan
* Busy
* Butterfly
* Chavies
* Christopher
* Clemons
* Combs
* Cornettsville
* Curly Fork
* Daisy
* Darfork
* Defiance
* Delphia
* Dice
* Doorway
* Dow
* Dunraven
* Dwarf
* Eversole
* Farler
* Fourseam
* Fusonia
* Gays Creek
* Glomawr
* Grigsby
* Happy
* Happy Valley
* Hardburly
* Harveyton
* Hilton
* Hiner
* Hurricane
* Johnson
* Jones
* Kodak
* Krypton
* Lamont
* Leatherwood
* Lead Branch
* Lothair
* Middle Fork
* Miller
* Mudlick
* Napfor
* Olivers
* Otter Creek
* Red Hill
* Rock Fork
* Saul
* Scuddy
* Sixteen
* Slemp
* Stacy
* Tenmile
* Tilford
* Tribbey
* Typo
* Upper Pidgeonroost
* Viper
* Wentz
* Whitaker
* Whitsett
* Woodland Park
* Yerkes

### Ghost Towns

* Upper Squabble

## Notable residents

* Shelby Lee Adams - American photographer
* Chester Jones - American businessman, educator, and politician
* Jean Ritchie - Folk singer