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 for | 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 (2023) | 17,050  |
| • 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.[1] Its county seat is Whitley City.[2] 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.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.