Lewis County is near the northeastern tip of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,080. Its county seat is Vanceburg.
History
Kentucky was part of Virginia until 1792. The District of Kentucky began with three counties: Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln and Fayette. Part of Fayette County was split off as Bourbon County in 1785; a portion of Bourbon was split off in 1788 as Mason County; in 1806 Lewis County was split off from Mason and named for Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The county's elevation ranges from 485 to 1400 feet above sea level. Its heavily forested hills and hollows have produced some of the nation's best oak lumber. Lumbering was long the county's principal economic activity; today the largest categories of employment are health care and social assistance (814 persons), construction (680) and manufacturing (600).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.5%) is water. 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.
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)