Mercer County, Kentucky
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mercer County, Kentucky | |
Map | |
Location in the state of Kentucky |
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Statistics | |
Formed | January 13, 1825 |
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Seat | Harrodsburg |
Area - Total - Land - Water |
656 km² (253 mi²) 650 km² (251 mi²) 6 km² (2 mi²), 0.87% |
Population - (2000) - Density |
20,817 32/km² |
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 20,817. Its county seat is Harrodsburg6. The county is named for General Hugh Mercer. A popular tourist attraction in Mercer County is Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a living history museum. Pleasant Hill is the site of a former Shaker community. Mercer is a prohibition or dry county.
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 km² (253 mi²). 650 km² (251 mi²) of it is land and 6 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.87%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Anderson County (north)
- Woodford County (northeast)
- Jessamine County (east)
- Garrard County (southeast)
- Boyle County (south)
- Washington County (west)
[edit] Demographics
Mercer County Population by year |
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2000 20,817 |
As of the census² of 2000, there were 20,817 people, 8,423 households, and 6,039 families residing in the county. The population density was 32/km² (83/mi²). There were 9,289 housing units at an average density of 14/km² (37/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.00% White, 3.69% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,423 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.10% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,555, and the median income for a family was $43,121. Males had a median income of $33,657 versus $22,418 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,972. About 10.00% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities and towns
- Burgin
- Harrodsburg
- Salvisa
- Talmage-Mayo
[edit] Government
County Judge/Executive: John Trisler
County Magistrate: Dennis Holiday
County Magistrate: Larry Peyton
County Magistrate: JB Claunch
County Magistrate: Wayne Jackson
County Magistrate: Wayne Russell
County Magistrate: Bill Waggener
County Attorney: Doug Greenburg
County Coroner: Sonny Ransdall
Sheriff: Ralph Anderson
County Clerk: Ronnie Compton
Circuit Clerk: Rose Bishop
District Court Judge: Jeff Dotson
Circuit Court Judge: Darren Peckler
Family Court Judge: Bruce Petrie
Jaier: Cleo Baker
[edit] Notable residents
- John Adair, member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, also governor of Kentucky[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who.