Letcher County, Kentucky

Letcher County
Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N 82°51′W / 37.12°N 82.85°W / 37.12; -82.85
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1842
Named afterRobert P. Letcher
SeatWhitesburg
Largest cityJenkins
Area
  Total
339 sq mi (880 km2)
  Land338 sq mi (880 km2)
  Water1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
21,548
  Estimate 
(2024)
20,139
  Density64/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websiteletchercounty.ky.gov

Letcher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,548. Its county seat is Whitesburg. It was created in 1842 from Harlan and Perry counties, and named for Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844.