Floyd

Formed June 1, 1800 (42^nd county)

Floyd County (35,948), Prestonsburg (3,924)

The Modern 1964 masonry and metal structure is located at Central and Francis streets.  Kentucky State Highway 1428 passes 1 block west of the courthouse.  There was an 1888 courthouse previously since the June 1, 1800 county establishing.  George Lee Shannon is the courthouse architect.  Veteran memorials are on the courthouse grounds.  Preston’s Station was the original county seat until 1829 when Prestonsburg assumed the role.  A Justice Center was built in 1998 across the street from the courthouse.  The county was taken from parts of Fleming, Montgomery, and Mason counties as the 42^nd county.  Colonel John Floyd is the namesake for the county.  City founder John Preston was the inspiration for the county seat name. 

Floyd County government consists of a County Judge Executive, a sheriff, a clerk, an attorney, a treasurer, a coroner, and an appraiser (executive).  It has 4 Magistrates (legislative.)  Two Circuit Court Judges, Three District Court Judges, One Family Court Judge and a court clerk serve Floyd County (judicial.) The county is in the eastern part of Kentucky.  Huntington, West Virginia is northeast and Lexington, Kentucky is northwest of the county.  The county center is 10.7 miles South of Prestonsburg nearer Langley.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Martin, Pike, Knott, Magoffin, and Johnson counties. 

The area of the county is 394 square miles.  It is 34 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 31 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 91.2 persons per square mile making it 35 out of 120 in the state.  Floyd County has 15.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highways 23/460 cross the county north to south from Johnson County to Pike County.  The county is funnel shaped.  Prestonsburg is in the northwest quarter of the county.  Prestonsburg is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 10.9% of the county population.