Floyd County

Images of America: Kentucky

by Lisa Perry, Wheelwright Historical Society

Floyd County, named for Kentucky pioneer John Floyd, was formed in 1799. Originally encompassing all of the Big Sandy River Valley and much of eastern Kentucky, the boundaries included portions of what are now Pike, Martin, Knott, Magoffin, and Johnson Counties. Because of its river access, Floyd County developed earlier than many counties in eastern Kentucky. Prestonsburg, the county seat, became a major river port and center of trade in the region. With the coming of the railroad in 1903 and the coal industry, which began booming in the early 20th century, the county rapidly grew. This growth included a rapid rise in population due to the migration of native-born whites from around the country, European immigrants, and African Americans from southern plantations and coalfields. What had been an agrarian, white population suddenly took on a whole new face, one more reflective of the nation. The railroads and coal industry permanently changed both the economy and culture of Floyd County.

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2010

Reviews

[Caroline McGlone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very cool and interesting book about my county! It’s crazy how little I know about the history of where I grew up. Most of it was about the city of Wheelwright and coal camps, but since it was created by the Wheelwright historical society I can’t be mad about that.

My favorite tidbit in this book was Ruth Rainey whose great great niece I actually went to elementary school and college with. According to the book “Ruth Rainey began her more-than-five-decade teaching career in the 1930s. When she began teaching, on Sundays she rode a mantrip (electric cart used to carry workers into and out of the mines) through the mine to the other side of the mountain, where she would spend the week with the family of one of her students, then ride back through the mountain again on Friday evening to spend the weekend at home with her family. One of 13 children, Rainey never married, but her extended family also includes the hundreds of children who passed through her classes in southern Floyd County.” She seems pretty awesome.

[Jordan Damron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discovering the history of one's home is akin to learning what is extraordinary about something wholly ordinary. Truly, though, there never is anything ordinary about it, since your life would be nonexistent or completely different without it.

The book can be repetitive, and maybe that's what 20th century Floyd County was. Floyd County was not just Wheelright, however, and it would have been nice to see some more variety. The book was interesting though and it always does strike some existential chord when you see your city in genuine black and white.

You will see the coal-mining lifestyle but not really in it's true grit. You will not see the standards of segregated people represented to the actual nth degree in which it was. If you can read under the glazed writing though you will find something enlightening I'm sure.

Also this is the first review for this book ever.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but I think i was expecting something different, and not so much about the Coal Industry.