Owsley County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the Eastern Coalfield region of the state. It had a population of 4,051 at the 2020 census and covers 198 square miles (510 km2) centred near 37°25′N 83°41′W.
Booneville is the county seat, and its postal code is 41314. The county has one incorporated city and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities, no census-designated places, and sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Owsley County
Owsley County has one incorporated city, Booneville, and about two dozen unincorporated communities scattered along its creek hollows. Unincorporated places carry no municipal government of their own and are listed here as Unincorp. Population and ZIP figures are given only where verified; unknown cells are marked with —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booneville | City · seat | — | 41314 |
| Arnett | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chestnut Gap | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Conkling | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cow Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Endee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eversole | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Island City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lerose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Levi | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lucky Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Major | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mistletoe | Unincorp. | — | 41351 |
| Pebworth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ricetown | Unincorp. | — | 41364 |
| Scoville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sebastian | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Southfork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sturgeon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Taft | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Travellers Rest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vincent | Unincorp. | — | 41386 |
| Whoopflarea | Unincorp. | — | — |
Whoopflarea appeared twice in the county’s old settlement list; the duplicate has been removed here. All names above trace to Owsley County’s own community list rather than a neighboring county’s.
ZIP Codes
- 41314 — Booneville (also serves most of the county’s outlying hollows)
- 41364 — Ricetown
- 41386 — Vincent
- 41351 — Mistletoe
Communities without their own ZIP code receive mail through one of these four Owsley County post offices, most commonly Booneville.
Geography
Owsley County lies in the rugged Eastern Coalfield of southeastern Kentucky, a landscape of narrow forested ridges and steep-sided creek hollows rather than open farmland. The South Fork of the Kentucky River runs through the county and past Booneville, and most settlement clusters along it and its tributary creeks. Land is 197 square miles and water just 0.9 square miles (0.4 percent) of the total.
Owsley County borders Lee County to the north, Breathitt County to the east (no live sibling page), Perry County to the southeast, Clay County to the south, and Jackson County to the west.
Demographics
Owsley County had 4,051 residents at the 2020 census, making it the second-least populous county in Kentucky. Booneville is by far the largest community; most other named places are small creek-hollow clusters with no separately reported population. Household income here runs well below the Kentucky median of $61,118 — Owsley has long ranked among the lowest-income counties in the United States. Population density works out to roughly 20 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Owsley County’s economy centers on Booneville as the county’s seat of government and commerce, along with small-scale forestry, coal-era legacy industries, and public-sector employment tied to the county government and local schools. The county’s terrain has historically limited large-scale farming and manufacturing, and many residents commute to jobs in neighboring counties.
History
Owsley County was organized on January 23, 1843, from parts of Clay, Estill, and Breathitt counties, and named for William Owsley (1782–1862), a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals who served as governor of Kentucky from 1844 to 1848. Later in the 19th century, parts of Owsley County were in turn used to help form Jackson County (1858) and Lee County (1870). The county remained legally “dry” for most of its history until voters approved alcohol sales in a 2013 referendum.
Getting There
Kentucky Routes 11, 28, and 30 are the main highways through Owsley County, connecting Booneville to the surrounding coalfield counties. There is no interstate access within the county.
- Booneville — 45 miles southeast of Richmond
- Booneville — 30 miles south of Jackson (Breathitt County)
- Booneville — 20 miles northeast of Manchester (Clay County)
The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, roughly 75 miles to the northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Owsley County, Kentucky?
It is in the Eastern Coalfield region of southeastern Kentucky, centred near 37°25′N 83°41′W.
What is the population of Owsley County?
4,051 people, per the 2020 census — the second-lowest total of any Kentucky county.
How big is Owsley County?
198 square miles (510 km2), of which 197 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Owsley County?
Booneville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Owsley County?
One incorporated city, Booneville, plus about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Owsley County?
41314 (Booneville), 41364 (Ricetown), 41386 (Vincent), and 41351 (Mistletoe).
Why is Owsley County named Owsley?
It honors William Owsley, a Kentucky Court of Appeals judge who served as governor from 1844 to 1848.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.