The Town Files

Breathitt County, Kentucky

13,276 people. The median home is worth $70,300 (typical Kentucky town: $161,450) and the median household earns $34,808.

Towns in Breathitt County

Towns in Breathitt County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Jackson2,237$77,500$32,68343.0

People and housing

Breathitt CountyTypical Kentucky town
Median home value$70,300$161,450
Median rent$548$837
Median household income$34,808$54,969
Median age42.839.1
Bachelor's degree or higher15.3%19.8%
Below the poverty line33.1%18.0%

Jobs and pay

2,635 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,008 a year.

Largest industries in Breathitt CountyRetail461 jobs · $31,979Finance & insurance80 jobs · $58,850Transportation & warehousing72 jobs · $65,881Wholesale trade70 jobs · $49,640Construction53 jobs · $65,097Other services41 jobs · $35,982
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Breathitt County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 7.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 807 storm events in Breathitt County from 1996 to 2026, with 16 deaths.

Storm events in Breathitt County by type since 1996Hail85Flood57High Wind9Ice Storm20Heavy Rain29Heavy Snow50Flash Flood80Strong Wind15Frost/Freeze13Winter Storm12
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Breathitt County has been included in 49 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3633: Severe Winter Storm
May 23, 2025Severe StormDR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
April 24, 2025Severe StormDR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
April 3, 2025Severe StormEM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 24, 2025Severe StormDR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
February 16, 2025Severe StormEM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).