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Letcher County, KY
8 cities and towns and 24 ZIP codes in Letcher County, Kentucky.
Population
20,808
Land area
338sq mi
People per sq mi
62
ZIP codes
24
Cities and towns in Letcher County
Letcher County at a glance
- Letcher County is 46% less dense than Kentucky as a whole.
- The median household income is $41,793, 34% below the Kentucky median of $63,726.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $67,400 (67% below Kentucky) and median rent is $669 a month.
- Its largest cities are Whitesburg (1,761), Jenkins (1,406) and Fleming-Neon (567).
Local data for Letcher County, KY
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Letcher County, KY, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$41,793
Poverty rate
24.4%
Median home value
$67,400
Prices +0.9% in a year
Median rent
$669/mo
Homeownership
74.1%
Bachelor's or higher
12.5%
Median age
43.5
Average commute
28.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (2,046), German Americans (1,480), Italian Americans (355).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.7%
Aug 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,982
4,130 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$44,848
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$179M
FY 2026, $8,291 per person
PPP loans
$18.07M
253 loans, 2,585 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$36.61K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Letcher County, KY, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone71.5%
- Carpooled15.2%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked2.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.2%
- Worked from home7.6%
Average one-way commute: 28.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Letcher County, KY, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
536
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
160
1.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 24°F
50.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Letcher County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Letcher County, KY?
- Whitesburg is the largest city or town in Letcher County, with about 1,761 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Letcher County?
- Letcher County includes 24 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 40826, 40862, 41517, 41537, 41804.
- What is the population of Letcher County, KY?
- About 20,808 people live in Letcher County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Letcher County?
- Letcher County borders Pike County, Wise County, VA, Perry County, Harlan County, Knott County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023