Madison County, Kentucky

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This article is about the Kentucky county formed in 1785 as Madison County, Virginia. For the Virginia county of the same name formed in 1792, see Madison County, Virginia.
Madison County
U.S. county
Madison County Courthouse in Richmond
Madison County Courthouse in Richmond
Map of Kentucky highlighting Madison County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°43′N 84°17′W / 37.72°N 84.28°W / 37.72; -84.28
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 15, 1785
Named forJames Madison
SeatRichmond
Largest cityRichmond
Area
 • Total443 sq mi (1,150 km2)
 • Land437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  1.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
92,987
 • Density209/sq mi (81/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.madisoncountyky.us

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]

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. %±
17905,772—
180010,49081.7%
181015,54048.1%
182015,9542.7%
183018,75117.5%
184016,355−12.8%
185015,727−3.8%
186017,2079.4%
187019,54313.6%
188022,05212.8%
189024,34810.4%
190025,6075.2%
191026,9515.2%
192026,284−2.5%
193027,6215.1%
194028,5413.3%
195031,1799.2%
196033,4827.4%
197042,73027.6%
198053,35224.9%
199057,5087.8%
200070,87223.2%
201082,91617.0%
2019 (est.)92,987[10]12.1%
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[]

Presidential elections results

Education[]

Schools[]

Madison County is served by two school districts:

The county is also served by Model Laboratory School which is part of Eastern Kentucky University.

Colleges and universities[]

Communities[]

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][circular reference]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
  4. ^ Lanier, Yvette (2007-08-01). "Berea votes down alcohol sales again". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2007-08-01.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Berea prepares for future with alcohol sales". Richmond Register. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  6. ^ Foust, Michele. "200-year-old Kentucky pottery business a sight to see ", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2007-02-25. Retrieved on February 23, 2009.
  7. ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
  8. ^ "Madison County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  15. ^ "QuickFacts. Madison County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  18. ^ Carson. "Kit Carson". Retrieved 31 December 2019.

External links[]

Coordinates: 37°43′N 84°17′W / 37.72°N 84.28°W / 37.72; -84.28

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