Wolfe County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau east of Lexington. It had a population of 6,562 at the 2020 census and covers 222 square miles (570 km2) of land, centred near 37°44′N 83°29′W.
Campton is the county seat, and its postal code is 41301. The county has one incorporated city and one census-designated place, plus a scatter of unincorporated communities along Kentucky’s Red River Gorge country. Wolfe County is in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Wolfe County
Campton is the only incorporated municipality; Hazel Green is a census-designated place. Everywhere else in the county is unincorporated, with communities named for early families, post offices, and local landmarks.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campton | City · seat | 316 | 41301 |
| Hazel Green | CDP | — | — |
| Baptist | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethany | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Booth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burkhart | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Daysboro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flat | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gillmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glencairn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grannie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Helechawa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| High Falls | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hollonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Landsaw | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lee City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leeco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lexie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lower Gillmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Malaga | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mary | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rogers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rosefork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Standing Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stillwater | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Toliver | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Torrent | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trent | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Upper Gillmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valeria | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vortex | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zachariah | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 41301 — Campton
- 41342 — Campton (second ZIP code)
Most of Wolfe County’s smaller communities, including Hazel Green, Lee City, and Pine Ridge, do not have a separately confirmed ZIP code and are served by mail through Campton’s post offices.
Geography
Wolfe County sits in the rugged, forested hill country of eastern Kentucky, cut by the Red River and its tributaries. The Red River Gorge, a canyon system of sandstone cliffs and natural arches within the Daniel Boone National Forest, lies largely within the county’s northern half. Terrain is steep and heavily wooded, with narrow valley bottoms holding most of the settled land; the county’s total area of 222 square miles (570 km2) is almost entirely land, with 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) of water.
Wolfe County borders six other counties: Menifee County to the north, Morgan County to the northeast, Magoffin County to the east, Breathitt County to the southeast, Lee County to the southwest, and Powell County to the northwest.
Demographics
Wolfe County had 6,562 residents at the 2020 census. Campton and Hazel Green are the two largest named communities, though most of the county’s population lives outside either place in dispersed rural settlement. Kentucky’s 2023 ACS median household income is $61,118; Wolfe County’s own household income runs well below the state figure, and the county has historically ranked among the poorest in the country by that measure. Population density across the county’s mostly mountainous terrain is low, well under 30 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Government, education, and health care are the leading employers, centred on the Wolfe County school system and Campton’s county offices. Outdoor recreation tied to the Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest brings rock climbers, hikers, and campers into the county year-round and supports a small tourism economy of cabins, outfitters, and campgrounds. Timber and small-scale farming remain part of the rural economy in the county’s valleys.
History
Wolfe County was formed on March 5, 1860, from parts of Breathitt, Morgan, Owsley, and Powell Counties. It is named for Nathaniel Wolfe, a Louisville lawyer and Kentucky legislator who helped secure the county’s creation. Campton, the seat, takes its name from an early camp town on the site. Like much of eastern Kentucky, the county’s 20th-century history was shaped by isolation, subsistence farming, and later the growth of outdoor tourism around the Red River Gorge, which drew increasing conservation and recreation interest from the 1960s onward.
Getting There
Kentucky Route 15 and the Mountain Parkway (KY 645/Route 9007) run through the county, connecting Campton to Lexington and the Appalachian coalfields.
- Stanton (Powell County) — 12 miles northwest
- Jackson (Breathitt County) — 20 miles southeast
- West Liberty (Morgan County) — 22 miles northeast
- Beattyville (Lee County) — 20 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, roughly 60 miles northwest. The nearest Amtrak service is also in the Lexington/Cincinnati corridor; no station serves Wolfe County directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wolfe County, Kentucky?
It is in the eastern Kentucky foothills of the Cumberland Plateau, about 60 miles east of Lexington.
What is the Campton postcode?
Campton’s ZIP code is 41301.
What is the county seat of Wolfe County?
Campton is the county seat.
How many people live in Wolfe County?
The 2020 census counted 6,562 residents.
How big is Wolfe County?
It covers 222 square miles (570 km2) of land.
What is Wolfe County known for?
Much of the Red River Gorge, a canyon and rock-climbing destination within the Daniel Boone National Forest, lies inside the county.
Which counties border Wolfe County?
Menifee, Morgan, Magoffin, Breathitt, Lee, and Powell Counties.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.