KYGENWEB: Magoffin County Home

KYGENWEB: Magoffin County Home

	Welcome to KYGenWeb Project Magoffin County, Kentucky Old Courthouse 1890 - 1957
Salyersville, the Magoffin County seat, is located on the Licking River. A settlement was attempted nearby in 1794. The settlers, Archibald Prather (Prater), John Williams, Ebenezer Hanna, Clayton Cook and others, were subsequently driven off by Indians but returned in 1800. The original settlement was known as Prater's Fort. The first post office, Licking Station, was established at Prater's Fort in 1839. The post office moved to the present site of Salyersville in 1849 and was renamed Adamsville for William "Uncle Billy" Adams, a prominent local resident. Magoffin County was formed in 1860 out of parts of Floyd, Johnson and Morgan Counties. It was named after Gov. Beriah Magoffin (1815-1885). The county seat Adamsville was renamed Salyersville in 1861 for Rep. Samuel Salyers, who sponsored the bill creating the new county.
Salyersville in 1937 Photo courtesy of James E. Allen Salyersville, KY
Looking north on Church Street, the two-story stone house on the left and the long single-story building beside it were the residence and department store of Eugene B. Arnett. The Magoffin County Historical Society cabins are now located in this spot. The large brick building next to the store is Salyersville Grade and High School, built in 1936. The courthouse tower is visible near the center of the photo.
About Magoffin County Population (2010): 13,333 Area: 309 Square Miles County Seat: Salyersville, population (2010) 1,833 Other communities: Ever, Bethanna, Cutuno, Elsie, Foraker, Fritz, Gapville, Gunlock, Gypsy, Harper, Hendricks, Ivyton, Royalton, Stella, Swampton, Waldo, Wheelersburg, Wonnie. Neighboring Counties: Morgan, Johnson, Floyd, Knott, Breathitt and Wolfe. Research prior to 1860: Magoffin was formed in 1860 mainly from Morgan to the north and Floyd to the south. Floyd was formed in 1800 mainly from Montgomery to the west and Mason to the east. Morgan was formed in 1822 mainly from Floyd to the south. Montgomery was formed in 1797 mainly from Bourbon, which had been formed in 1785 when Kentucky was still part of Virginia. County records are retained in whatever county had jurisdiction during the years being researched. Researchers should also be aware of which parent counties have lost records. Bourbon: some records lost in a fire on 8 May 1872. Floyd some records destroyed by fire in Apr 1808. Montgomery fires on 4 Mar 1851 and 2 Dec 1863 destroyed many records. Morgan records were lost twice: in Oct 1862 and in 1925.
Area Churches Coal Camps County Court Jurisdiction Early State Road in Magoffin Post offices Maps Formation of Kentucky County, Virginia and other counties before statehood in 1792. Historic Maps Magoffin County Formation Maps Families Family Group Sheets - submitted families Photo Album - submitted photos Surnames	Records Births Births 1911-1920, 1921-1930[limited] Deaths Death & Obituary Records Cemeteries and Gravestone Photos African American Cemeteries Cemetery Records Project Census Scot Matheson's transcription of the 1870 census Marriages Marriages - 1860 to 1900 Other Marriages (possible Magoffin connections) Military WWII Casualties Military (Other) Military Abbreviations
Links Books & Publications FamilySearch Page for Magoffin - lots of great information and resources Findagrave for Magoffin County - 726 cemeteries listed Kentucky Genealogy - a comprehensive list of what's available somewhere for Magoffin albeit chargeable Magoffin Fiddlers in the Old-Time Fiddlers Hall of Fame John Morgan Salyer William Hamilton Stepp Magoffin County Archives Magoffin County Funeral Home - recent obituaries Magoffin County Government - county clerk's address & phone number Magoffin County Historical Society Magoffin County Public Library Melungeons in Magoffin County in 1900 & 1910 Carmel Indians of Magoffin County Ordering Kentucky Vital Records
Contacts Tricia Aanderud, County Coordinator Jeff Kemp, State Coordinator Tricia Aanderud, Assistant State Coordinator
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