Breckinridge County, Kentucky

Encyclopedia : B : BR : BRE : Breckinridge County, Kentucky

Breckinridge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1800. As of 2000, the population was 18,648. Its county seat is Hardinsburg, Kentucky ⁶. The county is named for John Breckinridge (1760-1806), Kentucky Attorney General, Legislator, U.S. Senator, U.S. Attorney General. Breckinridge is a prohibition or dry county.

Map of Kentucky highlighting Breckinridge County.png

Contents

1 Geography

1.1 Adjacent counties

2 Demographics
3 Famous people
4 Cities and towns
5 See also

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,517 km² (586 mi²). 1,483 km² (572 mi²) of it is land and 34 km² (13 mi²) of it (2.24%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Perry County, Indiana (northwest – across the Ohio River)
Meade County (northeast)
Hardin County (east)
Grayson County (south)
Ohio County (southwest)
Hancock County (west)

Demographics

'''Breckinridge County
Population by year

2000 18,648
1990 16,312
1980 16,861
1970 14,789
1960 14,734
1950 15,528
1930 17,368
1920 19,652
1910 21,034
1900 20,534
1880 17,486
1870 13,440
1850 10,593
1840 8,944
1830 7,345
1820 7,485
1810 3,430

As of the census² of 2000, there were 18,648 people, 7,324 households, and 5,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 13/km² (33/mi²). There were 9,890 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (17/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.84% White, 2.86% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,324 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,554, and the median income for a family was $36,575. Males had a median income of $31,004 versus $19,371 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,402. About 11.80% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.

Famous people

Union General John Alexander McClernand was born in this county in 1812.
NBA player and coach Butch Beard was born in Hardinsburg in 1947
Former United States Supreme Court Justice Wiley Blount Rutledge was born at Tar Springs in 1894.
Kentucky author Perry T. Ryan was raised in Hardinsburg.

Cities and towns