Case Study Martin County, Kentucky

By: Heath Wilson

● Formed on September 1, 1870 from parts of Pike, Floyd, Johnson and Lawrence Counties.

● County seat is Inez, originally called Arminta Ward's Bottom and Eden for its beautiful mountain scenery.

● Coal mining, a huge part of the local economy, first began in Warfield in the late 19th century. One of the early major operations was in 1918 at Himlerville, now known as Beauty.

● President Lyndon Johnson initiated his "War on Poverty" in Inez on April 24, 1964. Since then, Martin County's economic situation has changed, particularly after 1970, when the area became Kentucky's second largest coal producer.

● In 1986, about 100 mines were in operation. They produced more than 12.5 million tons of coal. Other noteable county resources are oil, natural gas and timber.

History of Martin County

Map

Martin County Courthouse

Built from 1938-41 with the help of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal/Work Progress Administration Program.

Stones from nearby mountains were used for the structure and local forests provided the lumber for the building's ornate woodwork.

The first sheriff of Martin CountyPhillip Cassady

Warfield Then and Now

First courthouse, originally a barn

Main St., Inez in the 1950sChurch, 1905

Violent Crime in Martin County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 2000-2009

2000 2003 2006 2009

Martin Co.

Kentucky

Property Crime in Martin County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 2000-2009

Martin Co.

2000

Martin Co.

2003 2006 2009

Kentucky

Economic Indicators

Economic Indicators

Percentage of students completing high school or college for Martin County and the Commonwealth of

Kentucky from 1980 to 2000

Completed High School

Martin CountyKentucky

Completed College

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Poverty Rate for Martin County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 2000 to 2001

Martin Co.

Kentucky

Per Capita Income for Martin County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 2008 to 2010

Martin Co.

Kentucky

Poverty Rates for Martin County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 2009 to 2011

Martin Co.

Kentucky

2009 2010 2011

Martin County Criminal Justice System

Police Officers per capita: Inez has two police officers, meaning 1 police officer for every 217 people

Victim Services: Inez Outpatient Clinic

Women's Shelter: No facility. Closest one is Sandy Valley Abuse Center, located in Prestonsburg, KY

Drug Rehabilitation Services: Inez Outpatient Clinic or Mountain Comprehensive Care Center

Jail: Big Sandy Regional Detention Center for Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin and Martin Counties residents