Mercer County, Kentucky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mercer County, Kentucky
Map
Map of Kentucky highlighting Mercer County
Location in the state of Kentucky
Map of the U.S. highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 1786
Seat Harrodsburg
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

253 sq mi (656 km²)
251 sq mi (650 km²)
2 sq mi (6 km²), 0.87%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

20,817
83/sq mi (32/km²)
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Named for: Hugh Mercer (1726–1777), killed at the Battle of Princeton.

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 Harrodsburg[1]. The county is named for General Hugh Mercer.

Contents

[edit] History

Pleasant Hill is the site of a former Shaker community. Mercer is a moist county.

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 253 square miles (656 km²), of which, 251 square miles (650 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (6 km²) of it (0.87%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1790 7,091
1800 9,646 36.0%
1810 12,630 30.9%
1820 15,587 23.4%
1830 17,694 13.5%
1840 18,720 5.8%
1850 14,067 -24.9%
1860 13,701 -2.6%
1870 13,144 -4.1%
1880 14,142 7.6%
1890 15,034 6.3%
1900 14,426 -4.0%
1910 14,063 -2.5%
1920 14,795 5.2%
1930 14,471 -2.2%
1940 14,629 1.1%
1950 14,643 0.1%
1960 14,596 -0.3%
1970 15,960 9.3%
1980 19,011 19.1%
1990 19,148 0.7%
2000 20,817 8.7%
http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21167.txt

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 20,817 people, 8,423 households, and 6,039 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 9,289 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile (14/km²). 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

[edit] Law and Government

County Judge/Executive:

  • John Trisler

County Magistrates:

  • Alvis Johnson
  • Larry Peyton
  • JB Claunch
  • Wayne Jackson
  • Ronnie Sims
  • Bill Waggener

County Attorney:

  • Doug Greenburg

County Coroner:

  • Sonny Ransdell

Sheriff:

  • Chris Kehrt

County Clerk:

  • Chris Horn

Circuit Clerk:

  • Rose Bishop

District Court Judge:

  • Jeff Dotson

Circuit Court Judge:

  • Darren Peckler

Family Court Judge:

  • Bruce Petrie

Jailer:

  • Cleo Baker

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Local Attractions

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 

Coordinates: 37°48′N 84°53′W / 37.80, -84.88