Kentucky

Letcher

21,548
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Letcher

Letcher, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 2,512. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 21,548.

Its recorded population peaked at 40,592 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 47 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Whitesburg (Letcher County), Action at Isom (Letcher County), Engagement at Whitesburg (Letcher County, 1864), and 5 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202021,548
201024,519
200025,277
199027,000
198030,687
197023,165
196030,102
195039,522
194040,592
193035,702
192024,467
191010,623
19009,172
18906,920
18806,601
18704,608
18603,904
18502,512
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Letcher

Military engagements that took place in Letcher, Kentucky.

Action at Whitesburg (Letcher County)
1862
Action at Isom (Letcher County)
1863
Engagement at Whitesburg (Letcher County, 1864)
1864

Historic places in Letcher

National Register of Historic Places listings in Letcher, Kentucky.

Jenkins School
Jenkins
Whitesburg Historic District
Whitesburg
Back, David, Log House and Farm
Blackley
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Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Letcher County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Letcher County, Kentucky. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Letcher

When does Letcher first appear in the US census?
Letcher, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 2,512.
What is the population of Letcher?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Letcher had a recorded population of 21,548.
When did Letcher's population peak?
Letcher's recorded population peaked at 40,592 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Letcher?
3 documented military engagements took place in Letcher, including Action at Whitesburg (Letcher County), Action at Isom (Letcher County), Engagement at Whitesburg (Letcher County, 1864).
How many historic places are in Letcher?
5 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Letcher, Kentucky.
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