The Town Files

McCreary County, Kentucky

16,867 people. The median home is worth $85,300 (typical Kentucky town: $161,450) and the median household earns $33,750.

Towns in McCreary County

Towns in McCreary County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Pine Knot1,380——55.4
Stearns1,365$160,700$55,93138.8
Whitley City968$116,700$33,71934.6

People and housing

McCreary CountyTypical Kentucky town
Median home value$85,300$161,450
Median rent$577$837
Median household income$33,750$54,969
Median age39.039.1
Bachelor's degree or higher8.5%19.8%
Below the poverty line38.9%18.0%

Jobs and pay

2,873 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,870 a year.

Largest industries in McCreary CountyManufacturing351 jobs · $45,118Retail327 jobs · $30,893Hotels & restaurants223 jobs · $14,769Administrative & support39 jobs · $53,463Professional & technical serv…30 jobs · $37,737
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in McCreary County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 5.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 395 storm events in McCreary County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in McCreary County by type since 1996Hail66Flood22High Wind8Ice Storm5Heavy Rain15Heavy Snow17Flash Flood24Strong Wind17Frost/Freeze12Winter Storm13
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

McCreary County has been included in 23 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 29, 2026Winter StormDR-4913: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3633: Severe Winter Storm
May 23, 2025Severe StormDR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
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).