Hart County, Kentucky
| Hart County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Hart County Courthouse in Munfordville, Kentucky | |
 Location in the state of Kentucky | |
 Kentucky's location in the U.S. | |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Named for | Nathaniel G. S. Hart (1784–1813), lawyer and soldier captured at the Battle of River Raisin and killed by Indians. |
| Seat | Munfordville |
| Largest city | Horse Cave |
| Area | |
| • Total | 417.91 sq mi (1,082 km2) |
| • Land | 415.93 sq mi (1,077 km2) |
| • Water | 1.98 sq mi (5 km2), 0.47% |
| Population | |
| • (2000) | 17,445 |
| • Density | 42/sq mi (16/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www.hartcountyky.org |
Hart County is a county located in the U.S. state — or, more correctly, "Commonwealth" — of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 17,445. Its county seat is Munfordville[1]. Hart County is a prohibition or dry county.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 417.91 square miles (1,082.4 km2), of which 415.93 square miles (1,077.3 km2) (or 99.53%) is land and 1.98 square miles (5.1 km2) (or 0.47%) is water.[2]
Adjacent counties
- Hardin County (north)
- LaRue County (northeast)
- Green County (east)
- Metcalfe County (southeast)
- Barren County (south)
- Edmonson County (southwest)
- Grayson County (northwest)
Cities and towns
- Bonnieville
- Hardyville
- Horse Cave
- Munfordville
- Rowletts
- Uno
- Canmer
- Monroe
- Cub Run
- Priceville
- Legrande
Mammoth Cave National Park
A portion of Mammoth Cave National Park and the cave for which it is named is located in western Hart County.
National protected area
- Mammoth Cave National Park (part)
History
Hart County was formed in 1819 from portions of Hardin and Barren counties.[3] The county is named for Captain Nathaniel G. S. Hart, a Kentucky militia officer in the War of 1812 who was wounded at the Battle of Frenchtown and died in the Massacre of the River Raisin.[4]
The Battle of Munfordville, a Confederate victory, was fought in the county in 1862, during the American Civil War.
A courthouse fire in January, 1928 resulted in the loss of some county records.[5]
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 4,184 | ||
| 1830 | 5,191 | 24.1% | |
| 1840 | 7,031 | 35.4% | |
| 1850 | 9,093 | 29.3% | |
| 1860 | 10,348 | 13.8% | |
| 1870 | 13,687 | 32.3% | |
| 1880 | 17,133 | 25.2% | |
| 1890 | 16,439 | −4.1% | |
| 1900 | 18,390 | 11.9% | |
| 1910 | 18,173 | −1.2% | |
| 1920 | 18,544 | 2.0% | |
| 1930 | 16,169 | −12.8% | |
| 1940 | 17,239 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 15,321 | −11.1% | |
| 1960 | 14,119 | −7.8% | |
| 1970 | 13,980 | −1.0% | |
| 1980 | 15,402 | 10.2% | |
| 1990 | 14,890 | −3.3% | |
| 2000 | 17,445 | 17.2% | |
| 2010 | 18,199 | 4.3% | |
| Est. 2012 | 18,366 | 0.9% | |
2012 Estimate[7] | |||
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 17,445 people, 6,769 households, and 4,812 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 per square mile (16 /km2). There were 8,045 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.58% White, 6.20% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,769 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,378, and the median income for a family was $31,746. Males had a median income of $26,994 versus $19,418 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,495. About 18.60% of families and 22.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 22.00% of those age 65 or over.
Wildlife
A female wolf shot in 2013 in Hart County by a hunter was the first gray wolf seen in Kentucky in modern times.[9]
See also
- Dry counties
- James Greene Hardy Local politician of the 1850s, was Lt. Gov. of Kentucky.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hart County, Kentucky
References
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ↑ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). "Kentucky Place Names". University Press of Kentucky. p. 133. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
- ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 35.
- ↑ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). "Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research". Ancestry Publishing. p. 249. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ Russ McSpadden (August 19, 2013). "Wild Wolf in Kentucky, First in 150 Years, Killed by Hunter". Earth First! News. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
Coordinates: 37°17′N 85°53′W / 37.29°N 85.89°W
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