Paintsville, Kentucky

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Paintsville, Kentucky
City
Looking east on Main Street toward the Court Street intersection in downtown Paintsville
Looking east on Main Street toward the Court Street intersection in downtown Paintsville
Nickname(s): 
"City Between the Lakes"
Location of Paintsville in Johnson County, Kentucky
Location of Paintsville in Johnson County, Kentucky
Template:Location map
Coordinates: 37°48′41″N 82°48′24″W / 37.81139°N 82.80667°W / 37.81139; -82.80667Coordinates: 37°48′41″N 82°48′24″W / 37.81139°N 82.80667°W / 37.81139; -82.80667
CountryFile:Flag of the United States.svg United States
StateTemplate:Country data Kentucky
CountyJohnson
EstablishedFebruary 24, 1834[1]
IncorporatedFebruary 5, 1843[1]
Named forPaint Creek[2]
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorBill Mike Runyon
Area
[3]
 • TotalTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
 • LandTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
 • WaterTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
Elevation
Template:Infobox settlement/lengthdisp
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,312
 • Estimate 
(2024)[4]
4,129
 • DensityTemplate:Infobox settlement/densdisp
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
41240
Area code(s)606
FIPS code21-58962
GNIS feature ID0500128
Websitewww.cityofpaintsville.net

Paintsville (locally /ˈpeɪntsvəl/)[2] is a home rule-class city[5] in Johnson County, Kentucky, United States. Located along Paint Creek, it is the county seat of Johnson County. The population was 4,312 at the 2020 census.

History

A Paint Lick Station was referred to in United States Army dispatches as early as 1780.[citation needed] The site was named for tribal art painted on the debarked trees near a local salt lick when the first white settlers arrived and was originally part of a 19,050-acre (7,710 ha) tract belonging to George Lewis.[2] The trading post was purchased by Henery Dixon from North Carolina in 1812 and laid out as the town of Paint Lick Station in 1826.[2] The town was formally established under that name in 1834,[1] although the post office was probably named Paint Creek.[2] It was incorporated as a city under its present name of Paintsville in 1843,[1] the same year it became the county seat of Johnson County.

The Civil War found Johnson County Fiscal Court passing an ordinance barring both Union and Confederate flags from being flown in its jurisdiction. This was quickly repealed when then-Col. James A. Garfield marched his brigade into the city.

During the early twentieth century, Paintsville began to transform into a modern American city. In 1902, the city's first bank – First National – opened for business. In 1906, the city received telephone service and, two years later, all of its streets were paved. In 1912, Paintsville received electricity and natural gas services. In 1926, Paintsville residents received public water and the city's fire department was established.[6] Library services were originally provided through the Pack Horse Library Project.[7]

Since the 1990s, Paintsville has seen a steady loss of population (4,345 in 1990 to 3,459 in 2010[8]), in part due to a downturn in the economy, and the loss of coal jobs.[9][10] Despite this, there have been some business developments in the past few years, as well as growing tourist interest. Paintsville has been in the process of revitalizing the downtown area to rejuvenate its original business district. On June 9, 2009, Paintsville became a "wet" city for the first time since March 14, 1945, permitting stores located within the city limits to sell alcoholic beverages.[11]

Geography

File:Levisa Fork in Paintsville.jpg
Levisa Fork River in Paintsville

Paintsville is located at 37°48′41″N 82°48′24″W / 37.81139°N 82.80667°W / 37.81139; -82.80667 (37.811324, −82.806780)[12] in the bottomland at the confluence of Paint Creek and the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River amid the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the Cumberland Plateau. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (14 km2), all of it land.

Climate

Paintsville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa).[13] Summers are hot and humid with frequent severe storms. July is the warmest month, with an average high 86 °F (30 °C) and an average low of 66 °F (19 °C). Winters are cold with occasional mild periods. January is the coldest month with an average high of 44 °F (7 °C) and an average low of 24 °F (−4 °C). The highest recorded temperature was 105 °F (41 °C) in 1988 and the lowest recorded temperature was −26 °F (−32 °C) in 1994. May has the highest average rainfall (4.54 inches) and October has the lowest average rainfall (2.97 inches).[14]

Template:Weather box

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Paintsville had a population of 4,312. The median age was 41.9 years. 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.4 males age 18 and over.[15][16]

90.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.6% lived in rural areas.[17]

There were 1,829 households in Paintsville, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.1% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]

There were 2,119 housing units, of which 13.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.1%.[15]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[16]
Race Number Percent
White 4,086 94.8%
Black or African American 23 0.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native 5 0.1%
Asian 61 1.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 3 0.1%
Some other race 27 0.6%
Two or more races 107 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 65 1.5%

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[18] there were 3,459 people, 1,604 households, and 856 families residing in the city. The population density[19] was 1300.1 people per square mile. There were 1,844 housing units at an average density of 693.2 per square mile. The racial makeup[20] of the city was 99.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 0.2% from other races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.4% of the population.

In the city, the population[20] was spread out, with 20.5% under 19, 6.1% from 20 to 24, 11.0% from 25 to 34, 11.9% from 35 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 54, 14.4% from 55 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 or older. The median age is 41.9 years. There were 1,574 males and 1,885 females.

Income and poverty

The median income for a household in the city was $25,259, and the median income for a family was $30,575. Males had a median income of $30,478 versus $25,640 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,876. About 21.0% of families and 29.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.

Crime

In 2019, the following crime rate was reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the city police department: per 100,000 people, there were four violent crimes (including one forcible rape and three aggravated assaults), and 31 property crimes (including four burglaries, 18 larceny thefts and nine vehicle thefts).[21] Five people died in a 2018 shooting spree.[22]

Arts and culture

File:Mayo Mansion (distant).jpg
Mayo Mansion
File:U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum.jpg
U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum
File:First National Bank (Paintsville).jpg
Paintsville First National Bank

Festivals

The Kentucky Apple Festival has been held in Paintsville annually since 1962. Events include live music, carnival rides, a pageant, various competitions, a parade, and a car show. The festival occurs annually on the first full weekend in October.[23]

The Awaken Conference, an annual Christian concert event attracting thousands of people to the area, is held each July in the city.[24]

Paintsville also holds a Spring Fling on Main Street in May.[25]

Museums and historical sites

Main articles: U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum; Mayo Mansion; and Mayo Memorial United Methodist Church (Paintsville, Kentucky)

The U.S. 23 County Music Highway Museum gives information on the country music entertainers who grew up near U.S. 23 in Eastern Kentucky. Country music entertainers profiled in the museum include Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, and Hylo Brown.[26]

The historic Mayo Mansion was built for John C. C. Mayo between 1905 and 1912. It now serves as Our Lady of the Mountains School.[27]

The Mayo Memorial United Methodist Church was designed by one hundred Italian masons hired by John C. C. Mayo. It has several stained glass windows and has a pipe organ donated by Andrew Carnegie. The first church service was in the fall of 1909.[28]

The Mountain Homeplace is a living history museum located within Paintsville Lake State Park, in Staffordsville, Kentucky. The museum is a re-creation of a mid-nineteenth-century farming community and includes a blacksmith shop, one-room schoolhouse, church, cabin, and barn with farm grounds. These structures were all moved from nearby locations in the early 1980s to prevent them from being submerged underneath the planned Paintsville Lake. The museum officially opened in July 1995.

Tour guides and park workers wearing traditional period attire demonstrate old skills and crafts such as forging horseshoes, quilting, and tending to farm animals. There is also a Welcome Center, consisting of the Museum of Appalachian History and a gift shop featuring regional arts and crafts.

The In the Pines Amphitheater was built in the early 2000s and was modeled after the amphitheaters of Ancient Greece. The 700-seat facility is open year-round and annually hosts the Red Bud Gospel Sing.

The museum is open from April 1 through December 31.

Parks and recreation

Main article: Paintsville Country Club

The Paintsville Country Club includes an 18-hole golf course established on September 27, 1929, making it one of the oldest golf courses in Eastern Kentucky.[29] The country club was built in 1930 by the WPA and is on the National Register of Historic Places.[30]

The Paintsville Recreation Center contains a volleyball court, a basketball court, a walking track, and a playground. There is also a small community garden on site.[31]

Government

Paintsville has a mayor–council form of government.[32]

Former mayors:[33]

  • Richard C. Thomas (1920–1922)
  • Dr. J.C. Sparks (1924)
  • James N. Meek (1924–1925)
  • Dr. E.E. Archer (1926–1933)
  • F.S. Vanhoose (1934–1939)
  • J.B. Wells Jr. (1940–1945)
  • Escom Chandler (1946–1949)
  • J.B. Wells Jr. (1949–1955)
  • Ralph B. "Tiny" Preston (1955–1965)
  • J.B. Wells Jr. (1966–1969)
  • John E. Chandler (1969–1975)
  • Jim T. Newman (1975)
  • Allen S. Perry (1975)
  • James S. Trimble (1975–1985)
  • Robert Wiley (1986–1988)
  • John David Preston (1988–1993)
  • Robin T. Cooper (1994–2002)
  • Douglas W. Pugh (2003–2006)
  • Bob Porter (2007–2016)

Template:Col div end

The representative body of the city of Paintsville is the city council. The council members include Roger "Bo" Belcher, Tim Hall, David Vanhoose, Michael Conley, Ashley McKenzie and Eva Holbrook.[32][needs update]

Departments

The city mayor oversees the following departments:[32]

  • Community Planning and Zoning Services
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Police
  • Public Works
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Tourism
  • Fire/EMS

Education

File:Paintsville High School HR.jpg
Paintsville High School

The Paintsville Independent School District includes Paintsville High School (7th–12th grades) and Paintsville Elementary School. Paintsville Independent has consistently had college attendance rates between 95% and 100% since 2008.[34] In 2012, the district had a composite ACT score of 22.7.[35] It was the 4th highest composite ACT score out of the 169 school districts in the state of Kentucky.[35][36]

Johnson County Schools also operates three schools within the city of Paintsville: Johnson Central High School, Johnson County Middle School (Kentucky), and Central Elementary School. Johnson County is also well known for its academics. Johnson Central High School has won five international Future Problem Solving titles while the middle school has won 10 Governor's Cup state titles along with three international FPS titles.[37][38]

Our Lady of the Mountains School is a private institution operated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Lexington.[39]

Big Sandy Community and Technical College operates a campus in Paintsville that offers two-year degrees in various fields of study.[40]

Paintsville has a lending library, the Johnson County Public Library.[41]

Media

Main article: The Paintsville Herald

The Paintsville Herald is a semi-weekly newspaper printed on Wednesday and Friday with a circulation of about 5,200 copies. The newspaper serves Paintsville and the surrounding area.[42]

Call sign Frequency Format
WKLW 94.7 FM Hot AC
WSIP 98.9 FM Country
WSIP 1490 AM News/Talk
WKYH 600 AM News/Talk
WQHY 95.5 FM Top 40

Transportation

U.S. Route 23 serves as the bypass for Paintsville. The four-lane divided highway links Paintsville to Interstate 64 to the north and U.S. Route 119 and Kentucky Route 80 to the south. U.S. Route 460 links Paintsville to the Mountain Parkway in Salyersville. Kentucky Route 40 forms both Euclid Avenue and Third Street in Paintsville. It links the city to Inez and also serves as an alternative route to Salyersville. Kentucky Route 321, locally known as South Mayo Trail, serves as the city's main business route and passes through Mayo Plaza.

Located southeast of Paintsville in neighboring Martin County is Big Sandy Regional Airport. The publicly owned, private-use airport is used for general aviation. Its main runway is 5,000 ft (1,524 m) long.[43] The nearest airport that provides commercial aviation services is Tri-State Airport, 55 miles (89 km) northeast in Ceredo, West Virginia.

Healthcare

Paintsville ARH Hospital is a full-service hospital providing healthcare to the region. It has a full-service emergency room with a pediatric trauma room, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a special birthing room, and full service surgical services, including a daVinci Si robotic system providing state-of-the-art laparoscopic surgery for the greater Paintsville region.[44]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Paintsville, Kentucky". Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Rennick, Robert. Kentucky Place Names, p. 225. University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1987. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  3. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP-21)". May 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  6. ↑ Johnson County, Kentucky, History. "Template:Usurped". Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  7. ↑ Blackstone, Lillian (September 25, 1938). "'Pack Horse Library' Aids Cumberland Mountain Folk". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "US Census Bureau Publications – Census of Population and Housing". census.gov. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Economics of Coal in Kentucky: Current Impacts and Future Prospects" (PDF). Mountain Association for Community Economic Development. June 25, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Coal industry sheds jobs, leaving Eastern Kentucky economy in tatters". mcclatchydc. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  11. ↑ Commonwealth of Kentucky. "Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control". Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  12. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Paintsville, Kentucky : Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Monthly Averages for Paintsville, KY". The Weather Channel. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  17. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. ↑ "Kentucky: 2010: Populations and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). US Census. September 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Searching Paintsville, KY. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Crime in the United States: Offenses Known to Law Enforcement". U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. September 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  22. ↑ "'Horrific murder spree' leaves 5 dead in Kentucky: Sheriff". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  23. ↑ Kentucky Apple Festival Retrieved August 18, 2013
  24. ↑ Awaken Conference. Retrieved April 1, 2016
  25. ↑ Event Information City of Paintsville. Retrieved August 18, 2013
  26. ↑ U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  27. ↑ Our School's History Archived September 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Our Lady of the Mountains School. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  28. ↑ National Register of Historic Places Building Profile Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  29. ↑ Template:Usurped Retrieved on February 26, 2010
  30. ↑ Powell, Helen Template:NRHP url January 26, 1989. Retrieved February 26, 2010
  31. ↑ Recreation Information City of Paintsville. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Kentucky Secretary of State-Land Office, Apps.sos.ky.gov, Retrieved on November 21, 2009 Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  33. ↑ List of Mayors for the City of Paintsville Retrieved on August 10, 2010
  34. ↑ Modern Curriculum-Traditional Approach Archived October 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Paintsville Independent Schools. Retrieved August 1, 2013
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Average ACT Scores by School District Archived January 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Kentucky Department of Education. Retrieved August 1, 2013
  36. ↑ Best High Schools in Kentucky U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved August 1, 2013
  37. ↑ Johnson County Middle School Awards, Ourladyschool.cdlex.org, Retrieved August 1, 2013
  38. ↑ "Johnson County schools win big at international competition". WYMT. June 18, 2013. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  39. ↑ Our Lady of the Mountains School Retrieved August 1, 2013
  40. ↑ BSCTC-Mayo Campus Archived March 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 1, 2013
  41. ↑ "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  42. ↑ Paintsville Herald Echo Media. Retrieved August 19, 2013
  43. ↑ Template:FAA-airport Retrieved January 6, 2013
  44. ↑ Template:Usurped Retrieved November 6, 2012
  45. ↑ Kentucky Woman filming locations Retrieved on January 31, 2010
  46. ↑ Passenger Pigeons filming locations Retrieved on January 31, 2010
  47. ↑ McGinnis, Ray (March 7, 2017). "#1061: Harlan County by Jim Ford". Vancouver Pop Music Signature Sounds. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Welcome". Tribliveoffers.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Paintsville, Ky. native Chris Stapleton performing on CMA Awards tonight". The Herald-Dispatch. November 6, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  50. ↑ Dunning, Jennifer. "Richard S. Thomas, City Ballet Soloist, and Teacher, Dies at 87," The New York Times. August 4, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2014.

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