Carter County, Kentucky

Founding: 1838
Parent counties: Greenup and Lawrence

Namesake: William Carter, Kentucky politician
Seat: Grayson (1838–)

Land area: 409 square miles

Population (2020): 26,627

Population (historic): 2,905 (1840); 8,516 (1860); 12,345 (1880); 20,228 (1900); 23,839 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1860; 1870–1940; 1970s; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: Two cities

National Register listings: Five

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 767 (6.2%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 20.1%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 7.9%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 32.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 27.1%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $407
Average outbuilding value (1930): $200
Average farmhouse size (1940): 4.6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,644
Average farm size (1920): 45.2 acres
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Grayson

Namesake: William Grayson, Virginia politician

Founding: 1838 (platting); 1840 (post office); 1860 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 3,834

Population (historic): 152 (1870); 433 (1890); 735 (1910); 1,022 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1880; 1890–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 88 (5.5%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. House (c. 1860). 6740 State Route 1. Greek Revival.
2. House (c. 1895). State Route 2, east of Carter. Queen Anne.
3. *Elijah Horton Log House (c. 1838). State Route 7, east of the Grayson Lake Dam.
4. House (c. 1925). 803 State Route 773. Eclectic/Craftsman.