As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,333. Its county seat is Morehead. The county was created in 1856 from parts of Fleming and Morgan counties, and named after John Rowan, who represented Kentucky in the U.S. House and Senate. The county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km2), of which 280 square miles (730 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (2.3%) is water. Its highest point is “Limestone Knob” at about 1,409 feet (429 m) above mean sea level.

County Profile

Government

Demographics

Education

Employment

Utilities

Tourism

Utilities

Electrical

  • Clark Energy Cooperative

    2640 Iron Works Road
    Winchester, KY 40392

    Phone: 859-744-4251

  • Kentucky Utilities Company

    209 West Locust Street
    Mount Sterling, KY 40353

    Phone: 800-981-0600

  • American Electric Power

    1 Riverside Plaza
    Columbus, OH 43215

    Phone: 800-572-1113

  • Fleming-Mason Energy Cooperative

    1149 Elizaville Road
    Flemingsburg, KY 41041

    Phone: 800-464-3144

  • Grayson RECC

    109 Bagby Park Street
    Grayson, KY 41143

    Phone: 606-474-5136

Gas

  • Morehead Utility Plant Board

    135 South Wilson Avenue
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 606-784-5538

  • Delta Natural Gas Company

    3617 Lexington Road
    Winchester, KY 40391

    Phone: 859-744-6171

Telecommunications

  • Spectrum

    Phone: 866-513-4900

  • Windstream KY East

    130 West New Circle Road 170
    Lexington, KY 40505

    Phone: 859-394-0137

Waste Management

  • Advanced Disposal

    600 East Main Street
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 606-784-6345

  • Rowan County Solid Waste

    300 Old Phelps Road
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 800-888-3244

  • Republic

    451 Conway Ct
    Lexington, KY 40511

    Phone: 859-263-2000

Water

  • Bath County Water District

    21 Church Street
    Salt Lick, KY 40371

    Phone: 606-683-6363

  • Morehead Utility Plant Board

    135 South Wilson Avenue
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 606-784-5538

  • Rowan Water, Inc.

    1765 Christy Creek Road
    Morehead KY 40351

    Phone: 606-748-9818

Wastewater

  • Morehead Utility Plant Board

    135 South Wilson Avenue
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 606-784-5538

Tourism

  • Cave Run Lake
  • Daniel Boone National Forest
  • Arts & Eats Festival

    (September)

  • Poppy Mountain Bluegreass Festival

    (September)

  • The Cave Run Storytelling Festival

    (September)

  • Sheltowee Trace NRT
  • Eagle Trace Golf Course
  • Kentucky Folk Art Center
  • Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery
  • Rowan County Arts Center
  • Railroad Museum
  • Morehead Tourism

    111 East First Strret
    Morehead, KY 40351
    Phone: 855-270-8733
    Email

Demographics

Total Population

2000 SF 122,094
2010 SF 123,333
2011-2015 ACS23,608

Population by Sex (2011-2015 ACS)

Male11,316
Female12,292

Population by Age (2011-2015 ACS)

Under 51,344
5-9 Years1,197
10-14 Years1,340
15-19 Years2,481
20-24 Years3,629
25-34 Years2,670
35-44 Years2,540
45-54 Years2,747
55-59 Years1,445
60-64 Years1,114
65-74 Years1,815
75-84 Years924
85 Years and Older362

Median Age

2000 SF 129.8
2010 SF 131.7
2011-2015 ACS32.2

Media Household Income

2006-2010 ACS$31,604
2011-2015 ACS$36,860

Perent Poverty Rates

199028.9%
200021.3%
201028.3%
US Census Bureau

Education

Rowan County Board of Education
415 Sun Street
Morehead, KY 40351
606-784-8928 | Website
Superintendent: John Maxey
2016-2017 Enrollment: 3293

Educational Attainment (2011-2015)

Less Than High School2,447
High School Graduate4,223
Some College2,367
Associate's Degree916
Bachelor's Degree1,512
Master's, PhD, or Professional Degree2,152

District Statistics

DesignationProficient
2016 Overall Score69.5
2015 Overall Score68.6
2014 Overall Score67
2016 Graduation Rate98.2
2015 Graduation Rate98.7
Courier-Journal
  • Morehead State University

    150 University Blvd
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 800-585-6781
    Website

  • MCTCS Rowan County Campus

    609 Viking Dr.
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 606-783-1538
    Website

Government

Local Government

  • Rowan County Fiscal Court

    600 West Main Street
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 606-784-5151

  • Harry Clark

    Judge Executive

  • Charlie Winkleman

    Magistrate

  • Stanley Messer

    Magistrate

  • Darrell Glover

    Magistrate

  • Ray White

    Magistrate

State/Federal Legislators

  • Steve West (R)

    202 Vimont Ln
    Paris, KY 40361

    Phone: 502-564-8100

  • Representative Rocky Adkins (D)

    1240 Knapp Avenue
    Morehead, KY 40351

    Phone: 606-928-0407

  • Congressman Hal Rogers (R)

    Website

Employment

Percent Unemployment Rates

20129%
20138.7%
20147.5%
20156.7%
20166.1%
www.workforcekentucky.ky.gov

Largest Employers

EmploymentEstablished
SRG Global5771997
Family Dollar Stores, Inc.4002000
Regal Beloit Corporation 2001976
Fannin Industries, Inc. 601965
American Stave Company 632015
www.thinkkentucky.com

2000 Commuting Patters

Working & Residing In County77.00%
Commuting Out of County23.00%

2010 Commuting Patterns

Working & Residing In County54.30%
Commuting Out of County45.70%
Morehead

Mayor

Laura White-Brown
314 Bridge Street
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 784-8505 – Office

City Council

  • Bruce Adkins
  • Jan Bishop
  • Tom Carew
  • Carolyn Franzini
  • Beth Ousley
  • Glenn Teager

City Clerk

Crissy Cunningham
(606) 784-8505 – Office

Lakeview Heights

Mayor

Sam Mason
385 Circle Drive
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 780-7613 – Office

City Council

  • Bob Camuel
  • Jim Fluty
  • James Hood
  • Tim Miller

City Clerk

Jennifer Bolt
(606) 780-7613 – Office