Marion County, Kentucky
Marion County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
Marion County courthouse in Lebanon | |
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
| Coordinates: 37°33′N 85°16′W / 37.55°N 85.27°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| Founded | 1834 |
| Named after | Francis Marion |
| Seat | Lebanon |
| Largest city | Lebanon |
| Area | |
• Total | 347 sq mi (900 km2) |
| • Land | 343 sq mi (890 km2) |
| • Water | 3.9 sq mi (10 km2) 1.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,581 |
• Estimate (2024) | 19,851 |
| • Density | 57.1/sq mi (22.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Marion County is a county in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,581.[1] Its county seat is Lebanon.[2] The county was founded in 1834 and named for Francis Marion, the American Revolutionary War hero known as the "Swamp Fox".[3][4][5]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 347 square miles (900 km2), of which 343 square miles (890 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (1.1%) is water.[6]
Marion County was formed in 1834 from part of Washington County.[7] Marion County is Kentucky's most Catholic county. The first Catholic settlers in Kentucky came to Holy Cross in the western part of the county circa 1790. According to planar projection maps of Kentucky, Marion County includes the center of the state of Kentucky located 3 miles NNW of Lebanon just off KY 429. The actual physical center of Kentucky is disputed by surrounding counties[8] and due to use of planar methods[9] and projections used when the geographic centers of the United States were initially determined.
Adjacent counties
- Washington County (north)
- Boyle County (northeast)
- Casey County (southeast)
- Taylor County (south)
- LaRue County (southwest)
- Nelson County (northwest)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 11,032 | — | |
| 1850 | 11,765 | 6.6% | |
| 1860 | 12,593 | 7.0% | |
| 1870 | 12,838 | 1.9% | |
| 1880 | 14,693 | 14.4% | |
| 1890 | 15,648 | 6.5% | |
| 1900 | 16,290 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 16,330 | 0.2% | |
| 1920 | 15,527 | −4.9% | |
| 1930 | 15,499 | −0.2% | |
| 1940 | 16,913 | 9.1% | |
| 1950 | 17,212 | 1.8% | |
| 1960 | 16,887 | −1.9% | |
| 1970 | 16,714 | −1.0% | |
| 1980 | 17,910 | 7.2% | |
| 1990 | 16,499 | −7.9% | |
| 2000 | 18,212 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 19,820 | 8.8% | |
| 2020 | 19,581 | −1.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 19,851 | [10] | 1.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,581. The median age was 40.5 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.2 males age 18 and over.[15][16]
The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% White, 6.2% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.[16]
31.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 68.3% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 7,752 households in the county, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 8,350 housing units, of which 7.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.5% were owner-occupied and 28.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%.[15]
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,212 people, 6,613 households, and 4,754 families residing in the county. The population density was 53 per square mile (20/km2). There were 7,277 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.17% White, 9.12% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,613 households, out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.
By age, 25.20% of the population was under 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.80%were 65 years or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,387, and the median income for a family was $35,648. Males had a median income of $27,826 versus $20,699 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,472. About 15.80% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.80% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- Bradfordsville
- Lebanon (county seat)
- Loretto
- Raywick
Unincorporated communities
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 735 | 21.99% | 1,848 | 55.30% | 759 | 22.71% |
| 1916 | 1,396 | 40.15% | 2,063 | 59.33% | 18 | 0.52% |
| 1920 | 2,431 | 38.85% | 3,807 | 60.83% | 20 | 0.32% |
| 1924 | 1,975 | 38.53% | 3,055 | 59.60% | 96 | 1.87% |
| 1928 | 2,395 | 40.85% | 3,461 | 59.03% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1932 | 1,571 | 26.09% | 4,427 | 73.53% | 23 | 0.38% |
| 1936 | 1,567 | 30.45% | 3,526 | 68.52% | 53 | 1.03% |
| 1940 | 1,763 | 33.49% | 3,482 | 66.15% | 19 | 0.36% |
| 1944 | 1,673 | 35.64% | 2,996 | 63.83% | 25 | 0.53% |
| 1948 | 1,171 | 27.42% | 3,008 | 70.43% | 92 | 2.15% |
| 1952 | 2,262 | 41.67% | 3,159 | 58.19% | 8 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 2,945 | 49.98% | 2,927 | 49.68% | 20 | 0.34% |
| 1960 | 2,203 | 33.92% | 4,292 | 66.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,074 | 20.10% | 4,265 | 79.81% | 5 | 0.09% |
| 1968 | 1,620 | 33.02% | 2,436 | 49.65% | 850 | 17.33% |
| 1972 | 2,370 | 49.74% | 2,351 | 49.34% | 44 | 0.92% |
| 1976 | 1,723 | 32.38% | 3,520 | 66.14% | 79 | 1.48% |
| 1980 | 2,126 | 36.55% | 3,577 | 61.50% | 113 | 1.94% |
| 1984 | 3,305 | 53.66% | 2,835 | 46.03% | 19 | 0.31% |
| 1988 | 2,500 | 44.07% | 3,152 | 55.56% | 21 | 0.37% |
| 1992 | 2,091 | 33.06% | 3,403 | 53.81% | 830 | 13.12% |
| 1996 | 2,013 | 35.25% | 2,922 | 51.17% | 775 | 13.57% |
| 2000 | 3,259 | 52.77% | 2,778 | 44.98% | 139 | 2.25% |
| 2004 | 3,905 | 53.10% | 3,399 | 46.22% | 50 | 0.68% |
| 2008 | 3,842 | 50.45% | 3,596 | 47.22% | 177 | 2.32% |
| 2012 | 3,800 | 51.93% | 3,418 | 46.71% | 100 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 5,122 | 63.15% | 2,679 | 33.03% | 310 | 3.82% |
| 2020 | 6,113 | 68.47% | 2,722 | 30.49% | 93 | 1.04% |
| 2024 | 6,473 | 71.12% | 2,513 | 27.61% | 116 | 1.27% |
Elected officials
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[19][20] | ||
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Jimmy Higdon (R) | 14 |
| Ky. House | Michael Sarge Pollock (R) | 51 |
Education
All areas in Marion County are in the Marion County School District.[21] The district's comprehensive high school is Marion County High School.
Lebanon has a lending library, the Marion County Public Library.[22]
See also
References
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ E., Kleber, John; Kentucky, University Press of; Policy, Institute for Regional Analysis and Public; Library, Camden-Carroll; University, Morehead State (2000). "The Kentucky Encyclopedia". www.kyenc.org. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
{{cite web}}:|last3=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
- ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 538. ISBN 9780722249208.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ Kentucky County Formation Chart Archived April 24, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, accessed June 2018.
- ^ "Geographic Center of Kentucky". www.kyatlas.com. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Boundaries, areas, geographic centers and altitudes of the United States and the several States with a brief record of important changes in their territory (Report). US Geological Survey. 1923.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marion County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2023. - Text list
- ^ "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.