Magoffin County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the eastern Appalachian coalfield region of the state. It had a population of 11,637 at the 2020 census and covers 308 square miles (800 km2) of land centred near 37°42′N 83°04′W.
Salyersville is the county seat and only incorporated city; its postal code is 41465. The county has one city and roughly 30 unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and sits entirely in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Magoffin County
Magoffin County has one incorporated city, Salyersville, and a large number of small unincorporated communities scattered along the forks of the Licking River. Type legend: City · seat is the sole incorporated place; CDP marks a Census-designated place with its own tallied population; Unincorp. covers rural crossroads communities and coal camps with no separate census count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salyersville | City · seat | 1,655 | 41465 |
| Bethanna | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Burning Fork | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Cisco | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Duco | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Edna | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Elsie | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Falcon | Unincorp. | — | 41426 |
| Flat Fork | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Foraker | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Fritz | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Gapville | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Gunlock | Unincorp. | — | 41632 |
| Gypsy | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Harper | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Hendricks | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Ivyton | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Lickburg | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Logville | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Maggard | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Mason | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Ova | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Plutarch | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Royalton | Unincorp. | — | 41464 |
| Sublett | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Swampton | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Wheelersburg | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
| Wonnie | Unincorp. | — | 41465 |
ZIP Codes
- 41465 — Salyersville (also serves most of the county’s rural communities)
- 41632 — Gunlock
- 41464 — Royalton
- 41426 — Falcon (PO Box only)
Salyersville’s 41465 ZIP covers the large majority of county residents; the remaining three ZIPs each serve a small cluster of communities around their post office.
Geography
Magoffin County lies in the rugged, forested hill country of eastern Kentucky’s coal belt. The Licking River and its numerous forks — including Burning Fork, Elk Fork, and Middle Fork — drain the county’s steep terrain, and most of its communities sit along these narrow valley bottoms rather than on open ground. The county has almost no flat land outside these creek floors.
Magoffin County borders Morgan County to the north, Johnson County to the east, Floyd County to the southeast, Knott County to the south, Breathitt County to the southwest, and Wolfe County to the west.
Demographics
Magoffin County had 11,637 residents at the 2020 census, spread across a mostly rural landscape at a density of about 38 people per square mile. Salyersville, the only incorporated place, is by far the largest community; Royalton and Gunlock are the next-largest unincorporated clusters. Median household income in the county runs well below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting the area’s dependence on a shrinking coal economy and comparatively few local job opportunities.
Economy & Local Life
Coal mining historically anchored Magoffin County’s economy; the last long-running mine in the county closed in 2015, though the TipTop Coal Mine reopened operations in 2022. Coal-hauling and trucking businesses remain significant local employers, alongside county government, the Magoffin County school system, and small-scale farming and timber work in the surrounding hollows.
History
Magoffin County was formed in 1860 from parts of Floyd, Johnson, and Morgan counties. It is named for Beriah Magoffin, who served as governor of Kentucky from 1859 to 1862 and who, notably, resigned the governorship in 1862 rather than fully commit the state’s cooperation to the Union war effort. Salyersville, the county seat, predates the county itself and grew up as a trading point on the Licking River.
Getting There
Kentucky Route 114 and Mountain Parkway (KY 9007/KY 15 corridor) provide the main routes into and through Magoffin County, connecting Salyersville to the wider eastern Kentucky highway network.
- Jackson, Kentucky — about 25 miles southwest
- Prestonsburg, Kentucky — about 25 miles east
- Paintsville, Kentucky — about 20 miles northeast
- Morehead, Kentucky — about 30 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, roughly 80 miles to the northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Magoffin County, Kentucky?
It is in the eastern Appalachian coalfield region of Kentucky, bordered by Morgan, Johnson, Floyd, Knott, Breathitt, and Wolfe counties.
What is the population of Magoffin County?
11,637 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Magoffin County?
It covers 308 square miles (800 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Magoffin County?
Salyersville is the county seat and its only incorporated city.
How many towns and communities are in Magoffin County?
One incorporated city, Salyersville, plus roughly 30 unincorporated communities along its creek valleys.
What ZIP codes are in Magoffin County?
41465 (Salyersville), 41632 (Gunlock), 41464 (Royalton), and 41426 (Falcon).
Why is it called Magoffin County?
It is named for Beriah Magoffin, governor of Kentucky from 1859 to 1862.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.