McCreary County, Kentucky
McCreary County | |
|---|---|
McCreary County courthouse in Whitley City | |
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
Kentucky's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 36°44′N 84°29′W / 36.74°N 84.48°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| Founded | March 12, 1912 |
| Named after | James B. McCreary |
| Seat | Whitley City |
| Largest community | Pine Knot |
| Area | |
• Total | 431 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Land | 427 sq mi (1,110 km2) |
| • Water | 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,888 |
• Estimate (2024) | 16,824 |
| • Density | 39/sq mi (15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
McCreary County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,888. Its county seat is Whitley City. The county is named for James B. McCreary, a Confederate war soldier and two-time Governor of Kentucky (1875–1879, 1911–1915). During his second term as governor, McCreary County was created by the Legislature and was named in his honor.