Martin County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the eastern coalfields along the West Virginia line. It had a population of 11,287 at the 2020 census and covers 231 square miles (600 km2), centred near 37°48′N 82°31′W.
Inez is the county seat, and its postal code is 41224. The county has two incorporated cities and more than a dozen unincorporated communities, and it observes Eastern Time.
Towns & Villages in Martin County
Martin County has two incorporated cities, Inez and Warfield, and a scatter of unincorporated communities along its creeks and hollows. The table below lists every named place carried forward from county records; population figures reflect the 2020 census where the Census Bureau tracks the location separately, otherwise —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inez | City · seat | — | 41224 |
| Warfield | City | — | 41267 |
| Beauty | Unincorp. | — | 41203 |
| Davella | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Davisport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Debord | Unincorp. | — | 41214 |
| Hode | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Job | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laura | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lovely | Unincorp. | — | 41231 |
| McClure | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Milo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moree | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pilgrim | Unincorp. | — | 41250 |
| Stidham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Threeforks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tomahawk | Unincorp. | — | 41262 |
ZIP Codes
- 41224 — Inez (also serves Job, Threeforks and other nearby hollows)
- 41267 — Warfield
- 41203 — Beauty
- 41214 — Debord
- 41231 — Lovely
- 41250 — Pilgrim
- 41262 — Tomahawk
Davella, Davisport, Hode, Laura, McClure, Milo, Moree and Stidham have no post office of their own; mail there is addressed through the nearest listed ZIP code.
Geography
Martin County lies in the Appalachian coalfields of eastern Kentucky. Nearly all of its 230 square miles of land is steep, forested hill country cut by narrow creek valleys; only about 1 square mile is water. The Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River runs along the county’s eastern edge, forming part of the boundary with West Virginia, while smaller streams such as Rockcastle Creek drain the interior toward the Levisa Fork.
Martin County borders six counties. Lawrence County lies to the northwest, Wayne County, West Virginia to the northeast, Mingo County, West Virginia to the southeast, Pike County to the south, Floyd County to the southwest, and Johnson County to the west.
Demographics
Martin County had 11,287 residents at the 2020 census, entirely classified as rural — the county has no urban area. Inez and Warfield are its two incorporated cities, though both are small; most residents live in unincorporated communities along the county’s hollows. The Kentucky median household income is $61,118; Martin County, one of the state’s historically coal-dependent counties, has long run below that figure, though a current verified county-level estimate is not available here. Population density works out to about 49 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Coal mining shaped Martin County’s economy for most of the 20th century, with operators including Alliance Resource Partners and Booth Energy active in the county. The federal U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy, a high-security prison, sits in an unincorporated part of the county and is a major local employer. Public schools, county government and small retail along KY 40 make up most of the remaining local economy.
History
Martin County was organized on September 1, 1870, and named for John Preston Martin, a U.S. congressman. Inez has served as the county seat since the county’s founding. The county drew national attention in April 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson visited Inez to launch his War on Poverty initiative, a moment that remains closely tied to the county’s public identity.
Getting There
KY 40 is the main highway through Martin County, running east–west and connecting Inez to Paintsville to the west and to Williamson, West Virginia, to the east.
- Paintsville, Kentucky — about 25 miles west
- Pikeville, Kentucky — about 35 miles south
- Williamson, West Virginia — about 15 miles east
- Ashland, Kentucky — about 60 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Big Sandy Regional Airport in neighboring Floyd County. Martin County has no Amtrak service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Martin County, Kentucky?
It is in eastern Kentucky, in the Appalachian coalfields along the West Virginia line.
What is the population of Martin County?
11,287 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Martin County?
231 square miles (600 km2), of which about 1 square mile is water.
What is the county seat of Martin County?
Inez is the county seat.
How many towns are in Martin County?
Two incorporated cities, Inez and Warfield, plus more than a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Martin County?
41224 (Inez), 41267 (Warfield), 41203 (Beauty), 41214 (Debord), 41231 (Lovely), 41250 (Pilgrim) and 41262 (Tomahawk).
What is the U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy?
A high-security federal prison in unincorporated Martin County, one of the county’s largest employers.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.