Powell

Formed January 7, 1852 (101^st county)

Powell County (13,128), Stanton (3,253)                

A red/brown brick Modern structure was built in 1977 at Washington, Breckinridge, Atkinson, and Court streets.  Kentucky State Highway 2476 is Court Street.  Chrisman, Miller, and Wallace provided the building designs.  The building features a tower and veteran memorials are on the grounds. 

Powell County government consists of a sheriff, County Judge Executive, and 5 Magistrates.  One Circuit Court Judge, Two District Court Judges, and One Family Court Judge serve Powell, Breathitt, and Wolfe counties.  The county is in eastern Kentucky.  Lexington, Kentucky is west and Huntington, West Virginia is northeast of the county.  Powell County was created on January 7, 1852 from parts of Clark, Estill, and Montgomery counties as the 101^st county.  It is named for Governor Lazarus W. Powell.  An 1890 courthouse served the county earlier in Stanton, the only county seat.  The county seat is named for Congressman Richard Stanton.  The county center is 3.3 miles East-Southeast of Stanton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Montgomery, Menifee, Wolfe, Lee, Estill, and Clark counties. 

The area of the county is 180 square miles.  It is 112 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 82 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 72.9 persons per square mile making it 49 out of 120 in the state.  Powell County has 33.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county is shaped like a pitcher pouring toward the west.  Stanton is located near the center of the county.  Stanton is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 24.8% of the county population.