Meade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,003.[1] Its county seat is Brandenburg.[2] The county was founded December 17, 1823, and named for Captain James M. Meade, who was killed in action at the Battle of River Raisin during the War of 1812.[3][4][5] Meade County is part of the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Louisville/Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Madison, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area.
Meade County | |
|---|---|
 Meade County courthouse in Brandenburg | |
 Flag Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°59′N 86°13′W / 37.98°N 86.22°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1823 |
| Named for | James Meade |
| Seat | Brandenburg |
| Largest city | Brandenburg |
| Area | |
| • Total | 325 sq mi (840 km2) |
| • Land | 305 sq mi (790 km2) |
| • Water | 19 sq mi (50 km2) 5.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 30,003 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 30,131  |
| • Density | 92/sq mi (36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | meadeky.gov |
Geography
editAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 325 square miles (840 km2), of which 305 square miles (790 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (5.9%) is water.[6] All 56 miles (90 km) of the county's northern border faces Indiana, across from the Ohio River.
Outdoor attractions
editAdjacent counties
edit- Hardin County (southeast)
- Breckinridge County (southwest/CST Border)
- Harrison County, Indiana (northeast)
- Perry County, Indiana (northwest/CST Border)
- Crawford County, Indiana (north)
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 4,131 | — | |
| 1840 | 5,780 | 39.9% | |
| 1850 | 7,393 | 27.9% | |
| 1860 | 8,898 | 20.4% | |
| 1870 | 9,485 | 6.6% | |
| 1880 | 10,323 | 8.8% | |
| 1890 | 9,484 | −8.1% | |
| 1900 | 10,533 | 11.1% | |
| 1910 | 9,783 | −7.1% | |
| 1920 | 9,442 | −3.5% | |
| 1930 | 8,042 | −14.8% | |
| 1940 | 8,827 | 9.8% | |
| 1950 | 9,422 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 18,938 | 101.0% | |
| 1970 | 18,796 | −0.7% | |
| 1980 | 22,854 | 21.6% | |
| 1990 | 24,170 | 5.8% | |
| 2000 | 26,349 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 28,602 | 8.6% | |
| 2020 | 30,003 | 4.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 30,131 | [7] | 0.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 per square mile (33/km2). There were 10,293 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.37% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,470 households, out of which 42.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.90% were non-families. Of all households 18.40% were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.80% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 32.70% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,966, and the median income for a family was $40,592. Males had a median income of $30,835 versus $22,038 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,000. About 9.30% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
editCities
edit- Brandenburg (county seat)
- Ekron
- Muldraugh (partly in Hardin County)
Census-designated places
edit- Doe Valley
- Fort Knox, a military base (partly in Hardin County)
Other unincorporated places
editPolitics
edit| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 10,630 | 75.29% | 3,279 | 23.22% | 210 | 1.49% |
| 2020 | 10,185 | 72.17% | 3,632 | 25.74% | 296 | 2.10% |
| 2016 | 8,660 | 70.80% | 3,026 | 24.74% | 545 | 4.46% |
| 2012 | 6,606 | 60.52% | 4,122 | 37.76% | 188 | 1.72% |
| 2008 | 6,691 | 59.71% | 4,343 | 38.76% | 172 | 1.53% |
| 2004 | 7,152 | 65.31% | 3,724 | 34.01% | 75 | 0.68% |
| 2000 | 5,319 | 58.64% | 3,596 | 39.64% | 156 | 1.72% |
| 1996 | 2,855 | 38.33% | 3,653 | 49.04% | 941 | 12.63% |
| 1992 | 2,641 | 35.86% | 3,387 | 45.99% | 1,337 | 18.15% |
| 1988 | 3,441 | 52.57% | 3,079 | 47.04% | 25 | 0.38% |
| 1984 | 3,820 | 60.19% | 2,503 | 39.44% | 24 | 0.38% |
| 1980 | 2,740 | 45.22% | 3,205 | 52.90% | 114 | 1.88% |
| 1976 | 1,755 | 36.05% | 3,030 | 62.24% | 83 | 1.71% |
| 1972 | 2,492 | 60.93% | 1,541 | 37.68% | 57 | 1.39% |
| 1968 | 1,385 | 32.98% | 1,926 | 45.86% | 889 | 21.17% |
| 1964 | 1,055 | 25.51% | 3,076 | 74.37% | 5 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 1,826 | 43.36% | 2,385 | 56.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,670 | 45.23% | 2,016 | 54.60% | 6 | 0.16% |
| 1952 | 1,265 | 38.22% | 2,040 | 61.63% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1948 | 773 | 27.99% | 1,915 | 69.33% | 74 | 2.68% |
| 1944 | 1,040 | 36.11% | 1,828 | 63.47% | 12 | 0.42% |
| 1940 | 995 | 31.88% | 2,114 | 67.73% | 12 | 0.38% |
| 1936 | 785 | 26.47% | 2,102 | 70.87% | 79 | 2.66% |
| 1932 | 1,050 | 29.46% | 2,488 | 69.81% | 26 | 0.73% |
| 1928 | 1,610 | 48.54% | 1,700 | 51.25% | 7 | 0.21% |
| 1924 | 1,106 | 37.43% | 1,802 | 60.98% | 47 | 1.59% |
| 1920 | 1,468 | 39.75% | 2,195 | 59.44% | 30 | 0.81% |
| 1916 | 803 | 37.11% | 1,317 | 60.86% | 44 | 2.03% |
| 1912 | 337 | 16.58% | 1,145 | 56.35% | 550 | 27.07% |
Education
editMost of the county is zoned to Meade County Schools,[14] which operates Meade County High School.
However people living on Fort Knox are instead zoned to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA),[14] which operates Fort Knox Middle High School.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Meade County". Kyenc.org. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
- ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. Library Reprints, Incorporated. p. 598. ISBN 978-0-7222-4920-8.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Meade County, KY" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022. – Text list Archived July 5, 2022, at the Wayback Machine – "Fort Knox Dependent Schools" refers to the DoDEA schools.