COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Powell County: higher-rate fatality band
Powell County (KY) is in the higher per-capita third: 38.5/100k (#206 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 31
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 5
- Latest Year Deaths
- Low count
- 38.5
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Decreasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Powell County ranks #206 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (38.5/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Powell County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Powell County sits in the higher-rate third at 38.5 per 100k (#206 of 2,328), #11 of 98 in KY.
- #206 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,968 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #11 of 98
- in KY by rate
- Decreasing
- fatality trend
Highway fatality milepost
Milepost POWELL-197 · Powell 38.5/100k · #206 of 2,328
Powell County · 38.5/100k · decreasing
- CRASH 38.5/100k
- FARS #206 of 2,328
- NHTSA 31 book
- MILE Decreasing
- POST 26 crash
- BAND +79.8% vs KY
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Kentucky state profile →
How does Powell County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Powell County is 80% deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Kentucky, Powell County ranks 11 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 21.4 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the most dangerous one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Powell County's rate and the state average is 17.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Jackson County, at 38.2 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.3). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Breathitt County (54.0), Breckinridge County (52.1), Todd County (48.0), Caldwell County (47.8), Webster County (47.1), Floyd County (46.5), Carroll County (45.5), Butler County (40.4), Simpson County (39.6), Logan County (38.9), Jackson County (38.2), Ohio County (38.1), Pike County (37.5), Clay County (35.6).
Powell County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
39 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 9% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Powell County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Powell County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Kentucky statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for KY
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with PLetter index including KY counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Powell County, Kentucky?
Powell County recorded 31 total traffic fatalities across 26 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 5 fatalities. The county averages approximately 3.4 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Powell County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Powell County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Kentucky may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Powell County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Powell County is decreasing. This suggests road safety improvements are having a positive effect in the county.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Powell County?
Powell County has a fatality rate of 38.5 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the most dangerous one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Powell County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Powell County ranks #206 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #11 of 98 rated counties in KY, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Powell County compare to the rest of Kentucky?
Powell County's per-capita rate of 38.5 per 100,000 residents is above the Kentucky county average of 21.4. Visit the Kentucky state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Powell County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.