Lewis County, Kentucky

Lewis County
Lewis County
County
	Lewis County courthouse in Vanceburg
	Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
	Kentucky's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°32′N 83°23′W / 38.53°N 83.39°W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	December 2, 1806
Named for	Meriwether Lewis
Seat	Vanceburg
Largest city	Vanceburg
Area
• Total	495 sq mi (1,280 km2)
• Land	483 sq mi (1,250 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (30 km2) 2.5%
Population (2020)
• Total	13,080
• Estimate (2023)	12,973
• Density	26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	lewiscounty.ky.gov

Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,080.^[1] Its county seat is Vanceburg.^[2]

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, the Virginia legislature divided the previous Kentucky County into three smaller units: 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. A portion of Fayette County was split off as Bourbon County in 1785; a portion of Bourbon was split off as Mason County in 1788; in 1806 the present Lewis County was split off from Mason. The new county was named for Meriwether Lewis.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The county's hilly country, heavily forested, has produced some of the nation's best oak lumber. Lumbering has been the county's principal economic activity from the start.

The county's elevation ranges from 485 to 1400 feet above sea level.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 495 square miles (1,280 km²), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (2.5%) is water.^[6] The county's northern border with Ohio is formed by the Ohio River. Its border with the river is the longest of all the Kentucky counties.^[7]

Adjacent counties

Adams County, Ohio (north)
Scioto County, Ohio (northeast)
Greenup County (east)
Carter County (southeast)
Rowan County (south)
Fleming County (southwest)
Mason County (west)

National protected area

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	2,357		—
1820	3,973		68.6%
1830	5,229		31.6%
1840	6,306		20.6%
1850	7,202		14.2%
1860	8,361		16.1%
1870	9,115		9.0%
1880	13,154		44.3%
1890	14,803		12.5%
1900	17,868		20.7%
1910	16,887		−5.5%
1920	15,829		−6.3%
1930	14,315		−9.6%
1940	15,686		9.6%
1950	13,520		−13.8%
1960	13,115		−3.0%
1970	12,355		−5.8%
1980	14,545		17.7%
1990	13,029		−10.4%
2000	14,092		8.2%
2010	13,870		−1.6%
2020	13,080		−5.7%
2023 (est.)	12,973	^[8]	−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010-2020^[1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,092 people, 5,422 households, and 4,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 per square mile (11/km²). There were 6,173 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.92% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,422 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,208, and the median income for a family was $26,109. Males had a median income of $25,522 versus $18,764 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,031. About 23.50% of families and 28.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.40% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over. Over forty percent of this county gets some kind of government benefit.^[13]

Education

A view of the Lewis County Middle School near Vanceburg from KY 10

The residents of Lewis County are served by the Lewis County Schools school district. There are 4 elementary schools within the county, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The elementary schools are as follows: Lewis County Central Elementary, located in Vanceburg, Garrison Elementary, located east of Vanceburg in the town of Garrison, Tollesboro Elementary, located west of Vanceburg in the town of Tollesboro, and Laurel Elementary, located south east of Vanceburg in the Laurel area of Lewis County. Upon entering 7th grade all 7th grade students attend Lewis County Middle School located west of Vanceburg on KY 10. LCMS hosts two grade levels, 7th and 8th. Upon completing 8th grade students attend Lewis County High School, which sets adjacent to the middle school. LCHS hosts grades 9-12 and was a nationally distinguished school in 2015, 2016, and 2018. Lewis County Middle School and Lewis County High School are located west of Vanceburg on KY 10, the AA Highway.

Elementary Schools:

Lewis County Central Elementary School, Vanceburg. Mascot-Lions, Colors-Royal blue, red, and white.
Garrison Elementary School, Garrison. Mascot-Patriots, Colors-Red, black, and white.
Tollesboro Elementary School, Tollesboro. Mascot-Wildcats, Colors-Royal blue, yellow, and white.
Laurel Elementary School, Laurel. Mascot-Bombers, Colors-Kelly green and white.

Middle Schools:

Lewis County Middle School, Vanceburg. Mascot-Lions, Colors-Royal blue, red, and white.

High Schools:

Lewis County High School, Vanceburg. Mascot-Lions, Colors-Royal blue, red, and white.

Closed Schools:

Tollesboro High School, Tollesboro. Closed in 1994 due to low enrollment numbers and loss of state funding. Tollesboro High students then had to attend Lewis County High School. This was an issue that caused controversy within the county as Tollesboro High School and Lewis County High School had a long-standing, bitter rivalry with one another. Tollesboro officials and residents claimed that the closure of the school by the Lewis County Board of Education was not justified. Some residents went as far as to send their children to the schools of surrounding counties, such as Mason Co. and Fleming Co. However, with time the controversy died down and is now non-existent. The main school building which housed offices, class rooms, etc. as well as the Field Hall, which contained the gymnasium for the school still stand today. They set just off of KY Route 57 near the intersection with old highway 10. The building was later used as the Tollesboro Christian Academy, however that organization was short lived and is now defunct.
Laurel High School, Laurel. The building which housed the Laurel High School burned in the late 1930s. The building was made of local stone which was largely undamaged by the fire, so the exterior of the building could have been reused. However, the interior was burnt beyond repair. High School students of the Laurel area then had to attend Lewis County High School, where they still go to this day. The building sat just off of the intersection of KY Route 59 and highway 1068 (near Laurel Point). The remnants of the building are still visible today.

Politics

Lewis County is one of the most Republican leaning counties in Kentucky. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election was Samuel J. Tilden in 1876.^[14]

United States presidential election results for Lewis County, Kentucky^[15]^[16]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,986	84.75%	823	13.99%	74	1.26%
2016	4,363	82.35%	785	14.82%	150	2.83%
2012	3,326	69.74%	1,342	28.14%	101	2.12%
2008	3,213	67.06%	1,510	31.52%	68	1.42%
2004	3,778	68.89%	1,667	30.40%	39	0.71%
2000	3,217	70.42%	1,293	28.31%	58	1.27%
1996	2,365	54.12%	1,415	32.38%	590	13.50%
1992	2,493	50.84%	1,713	34.93%	698	14.23%
1988	3,108	66.18%	1,568	33.39%	20	0.43%
1984	3,445	69.64%	1,484	30.00%	18	0.36%
1980	2,802	63.78%	1,543	35.12%	48	1.09%
1976	2,383	55.01%	1,929	44.53%	20	0.46%
1972	3,124	71.57%	1,200	27.49%	41	0.94%
1968	2,760	64.83%	1,017	23.89%	480	11.28%
1964	2,300	50.58%	2,230	49.04%	17	0.37%
1960	3,816	69.41%	1,682	30.59%	0	0.00%
1956	3,333	67.65%	1,585	32.17%	9	0.18%
1952	3,317	67.86%	1,556	31.83%	15	0.31%
1948	2,708	64.68%	1,449	34.61%	30	0.72%
1944	3,275	69.43%	1,434	30.40%	8	0.17%
1940	3,371	64.22%	1,878	35.78%	0	0.00%
1936	3,255	61.92%	1,985	37.76%	17	0.32%
1932	3,212	55.88%	2,488	43.28%	48	0.84%
1928	4,077	78.36%	1,120	21.53%	6	0.12%
1924	3,067	65.13%	1,447	30.73%	195	4.14%
1920	4,186	71.84%	1,550	26.60%	91	1.56%
1916	2,324	62.66%	1,276	34.40%	109	2.94%
1912	1,185	34.52%	1,017	29.62%	1,231	35.86%
1908	2,549	65.26%	1,268	32.46%	89	2.28%
1904	2,374	62.74%	1,286	33.99%	124	3.28%
1900	2,311	60.01%	1,482	38.48%	58	1.51%
1896	2,348	61.29%	1,433	37.41%	50	1.31%
1892	1,531	53.36%	1,044	36.39%	294	10.25%
1888	1,880	57.02%	1,379	41.83%	38	1.15%
1884	1,498	55.94%	1,152	43.02%	28	1.05%
1880	1,388	54.28%	1,075	42.04%	94	3.68%
1876	1,134	49.72%	1,147	50.28%	0	0.00%
1872	952	59.65%	644	40.35%	0	0.00%
1868	983	55.16%	799	44.84%	0	0.00%
1864	645	62.26%	391	37.74%	0	0.00%
1860	31	2.79%	73	6.57%	1,007	90.64%
1856	0	0.00%	631	51.85%	586	48.15%
1852	400	44.05%	503	55.40%	5	0.55%
1848	521	47.93%	566	52.07%	0	0.00%
1844	506	48.24%	543	51.76%	0	0.00%
1840	523	61.97%	321	38.03%	0	0.00%
1836	345	53.32%	302	46.68%	0	0.00%

Communities

Notable people

James Baird (1873–1953) - Quarterback at the University of Michigan 1892–1895. After graduation served as an Assistant Coach for the football program from 1897 to 1898. Later as a Civil Engineer, his construction company executed the building of prominent buildings such as the Lincoln Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Charles A. Baird (1870–1944) - University of Michigan's first Athletic Director from 1898 to 1909. Hired legendary coach Fielding H. Yost. Oversaw construction of Ferry Field. Older brother of James Baird.
Thomas Marshall (1793–1853) – United States Army general of the Mexican–American War.
The founder of "Pillar of Fire Church" and KKK advocate Alma Bridwell White was born there.
Thomas Massie, Current Congressman, Kentucky's 4th Congressional District
Ralph Davis, (Ralph E. Davis Jr.) University of Cincinnati Basketball. Started on two NCAA Final Four teams for the Bearcats. Went on to play professional basketball in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Cincinnati Royals, a Pre-NBA merger franchise which is now the Sacramento Kings.
Faith Esham, (b. 1948) Famous opera performer and recitalist. Voice Professor at Westminster Choir College of Rider University since 2000.
Thomas H. Paynter, United States Senator 1907–1913
George M. Thomas (American politician), (November 23, 1828 – January 7, 1914) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 9th district: In office March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889. Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives: In office 1859–1863, 1872–1873. Commonwealth's Attorney for the tenth judicial district 1862–1868. Was elected Lewis county judge in 1868. Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1871. Circuit Judge of the fourteenth judicial district from 1874 to 1880 and United States District Attorney from 1881 to 1885. Elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). Was appointed Solicitor of Internal Revenue by President William McKinley on May 20, 1897, and served until May 31, 1901.