Magoffin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,637.^[1] Its county seat is Salyersville.^[2] The county was formed in 1860 from adjacent portions of Floyd, Johnson, and Morgan Counties. It was named for Beriah Magoffin who was Governor of Kentucky (1859–62).^[3][4]

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Magoffin County
County
Magoffin County justice center in Salyersville
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°42′N 83°04′W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1860
Named for	Beriah Magoffin
Seat	Salyersville
Largest city	Salyersville
Area
• Total	309 sq mi (800 km2)
• Land	308 sq mi (800 km2)
• Water	0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,637
• Estimate  (2023)	11,228
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	magoffincounty.ky.gov

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The area now encompassed by Kentucky's Magoffin County was first bounded in 1772, when all of what is now the state of Kentucky was in the frontier county of Fincastle County, Virginia. Fincastle was divided in 1776, with the western portion named Kentucky County, Virginia.^[5] In 1780, the Virginia legislature set aside all land in Kentucky County for soldiers who had served in the Revolutionary War. In 1780, Kentucky County was divided into 3 counties, Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln. Fayette County was divided in 1785, with part becoming Bourbon County.^[6][7] In 1792, the lower part of Bourbon County was partitioned off to form Clark County^[8] The area was further divided in 1796 to form Montgomery County, with Fleming County being partitioned from the area in 1798. In 1800, Floyd County was created from portions of Fleming, Mason, and Montgomery Counties. In 1843, Johnson County was carved out of the previous Bath County area,^[9] which was created in 1811 from Montgomery County, and which lost a portion of its territory in 1843 for the creation of Johnson County.

In 1860, the Kentucky Legislature partitioned parts of Johnson, Floyd, and Morgan Counties, to create Magoffin County. Its boundaries have remained unchanged since that time.

During the Civil War, Magoffin County was a border county, with a moderate unionist majority existing in the area, albeit with highly divided sentiment. While approximately 123 men enlisted in the Confederate Army, approximately 292 men served in the Union Army.^[10]

As the late 19th century progressed, Magoffin County became a leading supplier in oil and gas production in the area, with some of the first oil wells in Eastern Kentucky being built in the county.^[11]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 309 square miles (800 km²), of which 308 square miles (800 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (0.2%) is water.^[12] It is watered by Licking River.^[13]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 13,333 people living in the county. 98.6% were White, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 0.7% of two or more races. 0.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census^[20] of 2000, there were 13,332 people, 5,024 households, and 3,858 families living in the county. The population density was 43 per square mile (17/km²). There were 5,447 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.29% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. 0.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There is a significant Melungeon or mixed race group of Carmel Indians in Magoffin County. In a 2007 study by the U.S. Census Bureau, Magoffin County, along with Mitchell County in Iowa, was cited as the U.S. county having the largest percentage of individuals in the demographic category of "Non-Hispanic white alone."^[21]

There were 5,024 households, out of which 37.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,421, and the median income for a family was $24,031. Males had a median income of $27,745 versus $18,354 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,685. About 31.20% of families and 36.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.90% of those under age 18 and 29.10% of those age 65 or over.

Between 1932 and 2004, Magoffin County generally voted Democratic in presidential elections, however it has voted Republican since then. It voted for Democrat Andy Beshear for Governor in both the 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial elections, but Republican for all other statewide offices.

The last active coal mine in Magoffin County closed in 2015. In 2022, the TipTop Coal Mine in Magoffin County reopened, making the total number of coal mines in the county one. Major employers now include several coal truck businesses.^[23]

• Jimmy Flynt, co-founder of Hustler magazine
• Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler magazine
• Samuel Wilber Hager, Kentucky State Treasurer from 1900 to 1904, Kentucky State Auditor from 1904 to 1908, and Democratic nominee for governor of Kentucky in 1907

• Big Sandy Area Development District
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Magoffin County, Kentucky