Letcher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,548. Its county seat is Whitesburg. It was created in 1842 from Harlan and Perry counties, and named for Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844.
History
Letcher County was formed in 1842 as Kentucky's 95th county, from portions of Harlan and Perry counties, and named for Robert P. Letcher, who was the governor of Kentucky at that time. Its county seat, Whitesburg, was called Summit City before becoming the seat, the city was renamed in honor of John D. White, who introduced the county's enactment bill in the State legislature. In 1884 Letcher County contributed 80 square miles toward the formation of Knott County.
In the early 1900s coal arrived in Letcher County, a once small and sparsely populated county, began a population and economic boom, and by 1940 the county had reached a population of over 40,000. Between 1990 and 2014, Letcher County had produced over 600,000,000 tons of coal.
On March 9, 1976, in the community of Oven Fork, an explosion caused by coal dust and gasses occurred at the Scotia Mine, resulting in the deaths of 15 miners. Two days later another explosion occurred, killing 11 miners. Investigators believe that the explosions were caused by Methane gasses that were ignited by a spark caused by a battery-powered device. The accidents are often considered two of the worst mining disasters in U.S. history. The two explosions led to the passage of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
Letcher County is a dry county, with the only exceptions being the Highland Winery, the city of Whitesburg, and the city of Jenkins. Harry M. Caudill's 1963 book, Night Comes to the Cumberlands: A Biography of a Depressed Area, brought the county to national attention. The CBS documentary Christmas in Appalachia (1964) hosted by Charles Kuralt also brought the nation's attention to Letcher County as citizens sent clothes and gifts in response to the conditions of those featured.In July–August 2022, floods came through Eastern Kentucky. A total of 45 people died, three of those deaths occurred in Letcher County. As a result of the floods, many people were left homeless.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water. Letcher County's natural areas include Bad Branch Falls and the Lilley Cornett Woods.
Adjacent counties
Knott County (northwest) Pike County (northeast) Wise County, Virginia (southeast) Harlan County (south) Perry County (southwest)
National protected area
Jefferson National Forest (part)
State protected area
Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve
Lilley Cornett Woods Experiment Station (Eastern Kentucky University)
State Parks
Kingdom Come State Park (part) Pine Mountain Trail State Scenic Trail (part)
Pioneer Horse Trail controversy
In an effort to bring tourists to Letcher County and to revitalize the local economy, the Pioneer Horse Trail was constructed on Pine Mountain. The trail, part of an "adventure tourism" initiative spearheaded by then Governor Steve Beshear, Beshear's wife Jane, and Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo, was completed in 2009.
However, controversy arose about whether the environment would be harmed during construction. In the summer of 2008, the Letcher County Fiscal Court had signed an agreement with state officials stating that the county would do an environmental impact study before construction would begin. Documents obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader under Kentucky's Open Records Act showed that construction actually began before the study was to take place. County-owned bulldozers started clearing trees in part of a wildlife management area in which heavy equipment was not permitted. Environmental groups are asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if any species on the threatened or endangered list were harmed.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,277 people, 10,085 households, and 7,462 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 11,405 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.71% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.