Leslie County (KY) Free Blacks and Free Mulattoes, 1880-1910Leslie County was formed in 1878 from portions of Clay, Harlan, and Perry Counties. Located in southeastern Kentucky in the Eastern Coal Field region, it is surrounded by four counties. The county was named for Kentucky Governor Preston H. Leslie, who was later territorial governor of Montana. The county seat is Hyden, named for Kentucky Senator John Hyden. Leslie County was formed after slaves in Kentucky was freed by the 13th Amendment.
Below are the number of African Americans in the county in 1880, 1900, and 1910.
1880 U.S. Federal Census
- 11 Blacks [most with last name Walker, 2 Entoush, 1 Dosier, 1 Combs]
- 11 Colored children [Source: Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, v. 1, p. 731, Chapter 405, March 17, 1884 - online at Google Book Search]
- 76 Blacks
- 14 Blacks
- 4 Colored [Comett, Fuggle, Pennigton, and Rauss]
- 122 Mulattoes