Estill County is a county in Kentucky, United States, on the Cumberland Plateau where the Bluegrass region meets the mountains, along the Kentucky River. It had a population of 14,163 at the 2020 census and covers 256 square miles (663 km2), centred near 37°41′N 83°58′W.
Irvine is the county seat, and its postal code is 40336. The county has two incorporated cities — Irvine and Ravenna — plus a scatter of unincorporated communities and rural post-office place names. Estill County runs on Eastern time and does not use civil townships.
Towns & Villages in Estill County
Estill County’s people concentrate in its twin river cities, Irvine and Ravenna, with the rest of the county made up of small unincorporated communities and rural crossroads. The table below lists the incorporated cities and the named communities carried on county maps and postal records; population figures are 2020 census counts where the place is a defined census entity, and — where no separate figure exists for a small unincorporated place.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine | City · seat | 2,281 | 40336 |
| Ravenna | City | 574 | 40472 |
| North Irvine | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| South Irvine | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| West Irvine | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Fitchburg | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Cobhill | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Furnace | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Pilot | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Pitts | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Palmer | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Patsey | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Fox | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Crystal | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Cressy | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Evelyn | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Hargett | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Iron Mound | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Jinks | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Kimbrell | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Leighton | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Locust Branch | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Millers Creek | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Noland | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Shade | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Spout Springs | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Tipton Ridge | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Wagersville | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Winston | Unincorp. | — | 40472 |
| Wisemantown | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Witt | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Alumbaugh | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
| Calloway Crossing | Unincorp. | — | 40336 |
Two names from older county lists — Texola and Witt Springs — could not be confirmed against current gazetteer or postal records and are omitted here rather than published unverified.
ZIP Codes
- 40336 — Irvine (serves most of the county, including North, South and West Irvine, Fitchburg, Cobhill and the rural communities north and west of the Kentucky River)
- 40472 — Ravenna (also serves Winston)
Estill County has only two post offices; most of its named crossroads communities share Irvine’s 40336 ZIP.
Geography
Estill County lies where the rolling Bluegrass region gives way to the Cumberland Plateau foothills, split by the Kentucky River, which flows past Irvine and Ravenna on its way toward the Ohio. The terrain is hilly and heavily wooded in the county’s eastern half, with the Fitchburg iron-furnace district among its more rugged sections.
Estill County borders Clark County to the north, Madison County to the west, Powell County to the northeast, Lee County to the east, and Jackson County to the south.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 14,163 residents. Irvine and Ravenna, the county’s twin cities on the Kentucky River, are its two largest communities. Estill County’s median household income runs well below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting the county’s rural, historically coal- and iron-dependent economy. Population density works out to roughly 55 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Estill County’s economy centers on Irvine as the county’s commercial and government hub, with agriculture, small manufacturing and health care among the leading employers. Wild morel mushrooms grow across the county’s wooded hillsides each spring, and Irvine marks the season with its annual Mountain Mushroom Festival on the last weekend of April. Ravenna, built up as a Louisville & Nashville Railroad division point, still holds its own Ravenna Railroad Festival each year.
History
Estill County was formed in 1808 from land taken from Clark and Madison counties, becoming Kentucky’s 50th county. It is named for Captain James Estill, a Kentucky militia officer killed in the Battle of Little Mountain during the American Revolutionary War. Iron smelting began in the county as early as 1810, and the Fitchburg Furnace — at 81 feet, among the largest charcoal-fired iron furnaces built in the United States — still stands as a reminder of that early industry. The county has voted heavily Republican in presidential elections since Reconstruction, a legacy of its Union sympathies during the Civil War.
Getting There
Kentucky Route 52 and Kentucky Route 89 cross through Irvine, connecting the county to the Mountain Parkway a few miles to the north.
- Winchester — 20 miles northwest
- Richmond — 22 miles west
- Berea — 27 miles southwest
- Beattyville — 22 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, about an hour’s drive northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Estill County?
It is in east-central Kentucky, on the Kentucky River where the Bluegrass region meets the mountains, about 45 miles southeast of Lexington.
What is the population of Estill County?
14,163 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Estill County?
256 square miles (663 km2), including about 3 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Estill County?
Irvine.
How many towns are in Estill County?
Two incorporated cities, Irvine and Ravenna, plus around 30 smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Estill County?
40336 (Irvine) and 40472 (Ravenna).
What is Estill County known for?
The Fitchburg Furnace, one of the largest charcoal-iron furnaces ever built, and its annual Mountain Mushroom Festival in Irvine.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.