Johnson County, Kentucky

Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,680. Its county seat is Paintsville. The county was formed in 1843 and named for Richard Mentor Johnson, a colonel of the War of 1812, United States Representative, Senator, and Vice President of the United States.

Johnson County is classified as a moist county, which is a county in which alcohol sales are not allowed (a dry county), but containing a "wet" city, in this case Paintsville, where alcoholic beverage sales are allowed.

History

thumb|right|100px|Eastern Kentucky around 1820. Future Johnson County is marked in red.

Formation

Johnson County was formed on February 24, 1843, by the Kentucky General Assembly from land given by Floyd, Lawrence, and Morgan counties. At that time, its county seat of Paintsville had already been a chartered city for nine years. Homes had been built in Paintsville as early as the 1810s.

Many of the families at the beginning of Johnson County's formation were of Scottish, Irish, English, or German descent. Also, a fact lost to most historians is the large population of French Huguenots who were confused as English because they fled via England en route to the United States. Many of these settlers migrated from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia following their participation in the Revolutionary War.

For about its first twenty-five years, Johnson County and Paintsville struggled along. Roads and highways were nonexistent. Mail and supplies reached Johnson County from the Bluegrass region by horseback and steamboat. Years later, stage coaches began to connect eastern Kentucky and Johnson County to the bluegrass region and the rest of civilization.

Geography

thumb|right|210px|A typical mountain vista.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.

The county's highest point is Stuffley Knob, with an elevation of . Its lowest point is the Levisa Fork on the Lawrence County border, with an elevation of about .

Adjacent counties

Lawrence County (north)
Martin County (east)
Floyd County (south)
Magoffin County (southwest)
Morgan County (northwest)

Transportation

Major highways

20px|link= |alt= U.S. Route 23
20px|link= |alt= U.S. Route 460
20px|link= |alt= Kentucky Route 40
20px|link= |alt= Kentucky Route 321
20px|link= |alt= Kentucky Route 3

Air

Big Sandy Regional Airport, located in adjacent Martin County, is the nearest airport. It is used as a general aviation airport.

The nearest airport that provides commercial aviation services is Tri-State Airport, which is located northeast in Ceredo, West Virginia.

Demographics

Johnson County is at present and historically a powerfully Republican county. No Democrat has ever won a majority of the county's vote since at least 1880, though Bill Clinton did gain narrow pluralities in 1992 and 1996, and Lyndon Johnson lost to Barry Goldwater by a mere twenty-two votes in 1964.

Local government

County Judge/Executive: Mark McKenzie
Commissioner District 1: Jessica Click
Commissioner District 2: Mike Jarrell
Commissioner District 3: Tim Salyer
County Attorney: Michael S. Endicott
County Court Clerk: Sallee Holbrook
Circuit Court Clerk: Penny Adams Castle
PVA: Michael "Dip" Stafford
Sheriff: Scott Hazlette
Jailer: Steve Rose
Coroner: J.R. Frisby
Constable District 1: James Castle
Constable District 2: Bruce Ritz
Constable District 3: David Pridemore
County Surveyor: Clarence Scarberry

Elected officials

{| class=wikitable

| colspan="3" |Elected officials as of January 3, 2025

! scope=row|U.S. House

| |Hal Rogers (R)

| |

! scope=row|Ky. Senate

| |Phillip Wheeler (R)

| |31

! scope=row|Ky. House

| |Bobby McCool (R)

| |97

Education

Public

Johnson County is home to two public school districts.

Johnson County Schools

thumb|left|210px|Johnson Central High School

The Johnson County School District, which operates schools throughout the county, including the city of Paintsville, operates the following schools:

Porter Elementary, W.R. Castle Elementary, Highland Elementary, Flat Gap Elementary, Central Elementary, Johnson County Middle School, and Johnson Central High School.

Central Elementary was ranked top-performing elementary school in 5-6 statewide CTBS/CATS testing. Central Elementary was also the top-performing elementary school (based on national CTBS testing) in the Southeastern US.

Johnson County Middle School's academic team has won the most State Governor's Cups. It has won the Cup in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014. It has won numerous state Quick Recall awards and its Future Problem Solving team has won state and international awards and acclaim.

Johnson Central High School performs well in various areas and is well known statewide for their academic, football, and basketball teams. The high school was recently named a U.S. News & World Report Top American High School, being given a bronze award. Johnson Central offers many clubs including STLP, FBLA, DECA, Beta, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA and FCCLA. Johnson Central is also home to a new Career Technology Center.

Paintsville Independent Schools

right|thumb|200px|Paintsville High School

The Paintsville Independent School District also operates two schools: Paintsville Elementary School, a K-6 facility, and the 7-12 Paintsville High School. Paintsville High also has earned numerous sport titles. The school has won boys' state championships in football, basketball, baseball and golf. Note that in Kentucky, the only sports in which schools are divided into enrollment classes are football, cross-country and track.

Both the Johnson County and Paintsville Independent districts met all of the No Child Left Behind standards set by the national government.

Private

right|thumb|200px|Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Two private schools also operate in the county: Our Lady of the Mountain School (K–8) and The Piarist School, a college preparatory school (6–12).

Colleges

Big Sandy Community and Technical College manages two campuses in Johnson County: Mayo and Hager Hill.

Attractions

Kentucky Apple Festival

In the same year as Mayo's death (1914), the first county fair was held in Paintsville, where the first Apple King was also crowned.

In 1962, Johnson County hosted the first Kentucky Apple Festival, which has been held annually in Paintsville since. The streets of downtown Paintsville are closed to vehicular traffic and festivities to include live music and entertainment, along with various competitions.

Parks and recreation

;Paintsville Lake State Park

right|thumb|200px|Paintsville Lake and marina

This scenic state park contains a lake, a wildlife management area, a marina, a 4 lane boat dock, a restaurant, a convenience store, boat rentals, multiple picnic shelters, playgrounds, and both developed and primitive camp sites. It is located on route 2275 at Staffordsville, just a few miles out of Paintsville.

;Paintsville Recreation Center

The Paintsville Recreation Center contains a basketball court, a playground, and a volleyball court. Located on Preston Street in Paintsville.

;Paintsville Country Club & Golf Course

This 18-hole golf course was established on September 27, 1929, making it one of the oldest golf courses in Eastern Kentucky. The country club was built in 1930 by the WPA and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located on Kentucky Route 1107 in Paintsville.

Museums

right|thumb|200px|Mayo Mansion

;U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum

This museum has many exhibits that tell the stories of the country music stars that grew up near U.S. Route 23 in Eastern Kentucky. Located at 120 Staves Branch in Paintsville.

;The Coal Miners' Museum

This museum tells the history of the local area's coal mining industry. Located on Millers Creek Road in Van Lear.

Historical sites

;Mayo Mansion

right|thumb|200px|Jenny Wiley Gravesite

This 43-room mansion was built by John C. C. Mayo between 1905 and 1912 and now serves as Our Lady of the Mountains School. Located on Third Street in Paintsville.

;Mayo Memorial United Methodist Church

The church was also constructed by John C. C. Mayo, who hired 100 Masons from Italy to construct it. The church has an organ donated by Andrew Carnegie and has several large stained glass windows. The church opened in the fall of 1909. Located on Third Street in Paintsville, beside Mayo Mansion.

;Jenny Wiley Gravesite

Jenny Wiley is a historical figure who was captured by Native Americans in Virginia. After she escaped captivity, she reunited with her husband and lived in Johnson County until her death in 1831. Her grave is located just off Highway 581 at River.

Points of interest

;Loretta Lynn Homeplace

right|thumb|200px|Loretta Lynn Birthplace

Childhood home of country music superstar, Loretta Lynn Located at Butcher Hollow in Van Lear.

;Forrest and Maxie Preston Memorial Bridge

This pedestrian only swinging bridge is the world's longest plastic bridge. The deck of the bridge is made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer. It crosses the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River and connects the communities of River and Offutt. Located on Kentucky Route 581 at River.

;Mountain Homeplace

The Mountain Homeplace gives a unique look at a replica of an Eastern Kentucky farming community from the mid-nineteenth century. It contains a one-room schoolhouse, a church, a blacksmith shop, a cabin, a barn, and farm grounds. There are also demonstrations of old time skills and crafts. It is located near the dam at Paintsville Lake State Park.

Miscellaneous

Johnson County is also the former home of the Enterprise Association of Regular Baptists, which was organized on October 26, 1894, at Enterprise (now known as Redbush), Kentucky. The association now resides at 1560 Nibert Road, Gallipolis, Ohio, 45631.

Communities

City

Paintsville (county seat)

Census-designated places

Van Lear
West Van Lear

Unincorporated communities

Asa
Boonscamp
Chandlerville
Chestnut
Collista
Denver
Dobson
East Point
Elna
Flat Gap
Fuget
Hager Hill
Hammond Creek
Hargis
Keaton
Kerz
Leander
Low Gap
Manila
Meally
Nero
Nippa
Odds
Offutt
Oil Springs
Redbush
River
Riceville
Sip
Sitka
Staffordsville
Stambaugh
Swamp Branch
Thealka
Thelma
Tutor Key
Volga
Whitehouse
Williamsport
Winifred
Wittensville

Notable residents

Loretta Lynn, legendary country singer. The title song on her 2004 album, Van Lear Rose, references her upbringing in the city of Van Lear located in Johnson County.
Tyler Childers, singer-songwriter. Went to Paintsville High School.
Crystal Gayle, country singer and younger sister of Loretta Lynn.
Chris Stapleton, Grammy award-winning country musician
Jenny Wiley, held captive by Native Americans.
John C. C. Mayo, entrepreneur, assisted in bringing railroad service to eastern Kentucky.
Jim Ford, singer-songwriter
Hylo Brown, bluegrass and country music singer
Johnnie LeMaster, former major league baseball player primarily with the San Francisco Giants
John Pelphrey, basketball standout for University of Kentucky, and former University of Arkansas head basketball coach
Willie Blair, former Major League Baseball player