Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 2019, the population was estimated to be 92,987.[1] Its county seat is Richmond.[2] The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States.[3]
Madison County | |
|---|---|
![]() Madison County Courthouse in Richmond | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
![]() Kentucky's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°43′N 84°17′W | |
| Country | |
| State | |
| Founded | December 15, 1785 |
| Named for | James Madison |
| Seat | Richmond |
| Largest city | Richmond |
| Area | |
| • Total | 443 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
| • Land | 437 sq mi (1,130 km2) |
| • Water | 6.0 sq mi (16 km2) 1.3%% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate (2019) | 92,987 |
| • Density | 209/sq mi (81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
The county is part of the Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area which is also included in the Lexington–Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY Combined Statistical Area.
Madison County is considered a moist county, meaning that although the county prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages (and is thus a dry county), it contains a city where retail alcohol sales are allowed. Nevertheless, two of the county's 19 precincts are completely dry.[4] Alcohol can also be sold by the drink in Berea,[5] Richmond, and at Arlington and The Bull golf clubs.
Madison County is home to Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, and historic Boone Tavern.[6] Famous pioneer Daniel Boone lived in Madison County and built Fort Boonesborough, now a state historic site.
History
Indian trader John Findley, Daniel Boone, and four others first came into the area that is now Madison County in 1769 on a hunting and exploring expedition. In 1774, the Transylvania Company, led by Judge Richard Henderson of North Carolina, purchased 20,000,000 acres (8,100,000 ha) of land west of the Appalachians (including present-day Madison County) from the Cherokee Nation. Daniel Boone was hired to cut a trail through the Cumberland Gap and establish a settlement on the Kentucky River. The settlement at Fort Boonesborough began in April 1775.
In 1785, Madison County was established from a portion of Lincoln County, Virginia.[7][8]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 443 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (1.3%) is water.[9]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Fayette County (north)
- Clark County (northeast)
- Estill County (east)
- Jackson County (southeast)
- Rockcastle County (south)
- Garrard County (southwest)
- Jessamine County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 5,772 | — | |
| 1800 | 10,490 | 81.7% | |
| 1810 | 15,540 | 48.1% | |
| 1820 | 15,954 | 2.7% | |
| 1830 | 18,751 | 17.5% | |
| 1840 | 16,355 | −12.8% | |
| 1850 | 15,727 | −3.8% | |
| 1860 | 17,207 | 9.4% | |
| 1870 | 19,543 | 13.6% | |
| 1880 | 22,052 | 12.8% | |
| 1890 | 24,348 | 10.4% | |
| 1900 | 25,607 | 5.2% | |
| 1910 | 26,951 | 5.2% | |
| 1920 | 26,284 | −2.5% | |
| 1930 | 27,621 | 5.1% | |
| 1940 | 28,541 | 3.3% | |
| 1950 | 31,179 | 9.2% | |
| 1960 | 33,482 | 7.4% | |
| 1970 | 42,730 | 27.6% | |
| 1980 | 53,352 | 24.9% | |
| 1990 | 57,508 | 7.8% | |
| 2000 | 70,872 | 23.2% | |
| 2010 | 82,916 | 17.0% | |
| 2020 (est.) | 92,701 | [10] | 11.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[1] 2017[15] | |||
As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 70,872 people, 27,152 households, and 18,218 families residing in the county. The population density was 161 per square mile (62/km2). There were 29,595 housing units at an average density of 67 per square mile (26/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.01% White, 4.44% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 27,152 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.
By age, 21.90% were under 18, 18.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. Both the relatively large 18-to-24 population and the relatively low median age can be explained by the presence of Eastern Kentucky University, and to a considerably lesser extent Berea College. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,861, and the median income for a family was $41,383. Males had a median income of $31,974 versus $22,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,790. About 12.00% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.
Elections
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 62.2% 27,356 | 35.5% 15,581 | 2.3% 1,020 |
| 2016 | 62.7% 23,431 | 31.6% 11,793 | 5.7% 2,147 |
| 2012 | 63.4% 21,128 | 34.6% 11,512 | 2.1% 682 |
| 2008 | 60.5% 19,694 | 38.1% 12,392 | 1.4% 451 |
| 2004 | 61.6% 18,922 | 37.5% 11,525 | 0.9% 260 |
| 2000 | 57.8% 13,682 | 39.3% 9,309 | 2.9% 675 |
| 1996 | 48.2% 9,212 | 42.6% 8,142 | 9.2% 1,748 |
| 1992 | 43.9% 8,719 | 40.4% 8,005 | 15.7% 3,117 |
| 1988 | 59.4% 9,958 | 39.8% 6,672 | 0.8% 136 |
| 1984 | 63.1% 11,309 | 36.3% 6,509 | 0.6% 108 |
| 1980 | 47.7% 8,437 | 46.5% 8,208 | 5.8% 1,026 |
| 1976 | 46.6% 6,581 | 51.7% 7,299 | 1.7% 234 |
| 1972 | 65.6% 8,659 | 32.8% 4,328 | 1.6% 212 |
| 1968 | 44.8% 5,325 | 32.7% 3,884 | 22.5% 2,669 |
| 1964 | 38.1% 4,266 | 61.4% 6,877 | 0.5% 57 |
| 1960 | 54.4% 6,692 | 45.7% 5,621 | 0.0% 0 |
| 1956 | 50.9% 5,955 | 48.4% 5,670 | 0.7% 85 |
| 1952 | 49.8% 5,886 | 49.9% 5,901 | 0.2% 28 |
| 1948 | 44.6% 4,619 | 51.6% 5,344 | 3.7% 386 |
| 1944 | 48.4% 5,468 | 51.0% 5,769 | 0.6% 70 |
| 1940 | 46.9% 5,789 | 52.5% 6,484 | 0.5% 67 |
| 1936 | 48.8% 6,034 | 50.6% 6,259 | 0.7% 82 |
| 1932 | 45.1% 5,811 | 54.0% 6,957 | 0.9% 116 |
| 1928 | 57.0% 6,325 | 42.7% 4,736 | 0.3% 29 |
| 1924 | 51.3% 5,276 | 47.6% 4,895 | 1.2% 121 |
| 1920 | 51.2% 6,012 | 48.1% 5,647 | 0.7% 80 |
| 1916 | 47.6% 3,017 | 51.9% 3,295 | 0.5% 32 |
| 1912 | 34.7% 2,094 | 49.5% 2,992 | 15.8% 953 |
Education
Schools
Madison County is served by two school districts:
- Madison County Schools, currently consisting of 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 2 high schools.
- Berea Independent Schools, currently consisting of 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school.
The county is also served by Model Laboratory School which is part of Eastern Kentucky University.
Colleges and universities
- Eastern Kentucky University, located in Richmond
- Berea College, located in Berea
- National College of Business & Technology, located in Richmond
Communities
- Boonesborough
- Berea
- Kirksville
- Richmond (county seat)
- Waco
- Kingston
Economy
Military
The Blue Grass Army Depot is located just south of Richmond.
Notable people
- Mary Kavanaugh Eagle (1854–1903), American activist, clubwoman, book editor.
- Daniel Boone - American frontiersman and explorer of Kentucky.
- Lonnie Napier (1940–) – former representative for House District 36 in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
- Kit Carson - Christopher Houston Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868), better known as Kit Carson, was an American frontiersman. He was a mountain man (fur trapper), wilderness guide, Indian agent, and U.S. Army officer. Carson became a frontier legend in his own lifetime via biographies and news articles.[18]
See also
United States portal
References
- "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
- Lanier, Yvette (August 1, 2007). "Berea votes down alcohol sales again". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- "Berea prepares for future with alcohol sales". Richmond Register. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- Foust, Michele. "200-year-old Kentucky pottery business a sight to see ", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2007-02-25. Retrieved on February 23, 2009.
- Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
- "Madison County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- "QuickFacts. Madison County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- Carson. "Kit Carson". Retrieved December 31, 2019.
External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Madison County, Kentucky. |



