Kenton County, Kentucky

Kenton County, Kentucky

Kenton County Courthouse in Independence
Map of Kentucky highlighting Kenton County
Location in the state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1840
Named for Simon Kenton
Seat Covington and Independence
Largest city Covington
Area
 • Total 164 sq mi (425 km2)
 • Land 160 sq mi (414 km2)
 • Water 4.1 sq mi (11 km2), 2.5%
Population
 • (2010) 159,720
 • Density 997/sq mi (385/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.kentoncounty.org

Kenton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,720,[1] making it the third most populous county in Kentucky (behind Jefferson County and Fayette County). Its county seats are Covington and Independence.[2] It was, until November 24, 2010, the only county in Kentucky to have two legally recognized county seats. The county was formed in 1840 and is named for Simon Kenton, a frontiersman notable in the early history of the state.

Kenton County is included in the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Kenton County was established on January 29, 1840, from land given by Campbell County. It was named in honor of Simon Kenton, a pioneer of Kentucky.[3][4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 164 square miles (420 km2), of which 160 square miles (410 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (2.5%) is water.[5] The county is located at the confluence of the Licking River and Ohio River, in the outer Bluegrass area of the Bluegrass region of the state. The elevation in the country ranges from 455 feet (139 m) to 960 feet (293 m) above sea level.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
185017,038—
186025,46749.5%
187036,09641.7%
188043,98321.9%
189054,16123.1%
190063,59117.4%
191070,35510.6%
192073,4534.4%
193093,53427.3%
194093,139−0.4%
1950104,25411.9%
1960120,70015.8%
1970129,4407.2%
1980137,0585.9%
1990142,0313.6%
2000151,4646.6%
2010159,7205.5%
Est. 2014163,929[6]2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 151,464 people, 59,444 households, and 39,470 families living in the county. The population density was 935 per square mile (361/km2). There were 63,571 housing units at an average density of 392 per square mile (151/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.99% White, 3.84% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 59,444 households out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.10% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 26.30% under 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,906, and the median income for a family was $52,953. Males had a median income of $37,845 versus $27,253 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,085. About 7.10% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.00% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

Historical marker for the county in Independence

The public education in Kenton County is extensive, with five school districts providing education to those in all parts of Kenton County, including the extremely southern rural areas and the highly urbanized north. The districts are:

Private schools

The Catholic educational system is as extensive as the public system. These schools are operated by the Diocese of Covington's Department of Schools. The Diocese runs 17 schools in Kenton County.

Higher education

Thomas More College is the only institute of higher learning wholly in the county itself. Northern Kentucky University had a Covington campus located at 1401 Dixie Highway until it closed at the end of 2008. NKU's main campus is not far from Kenton County - only about 4 miles from the Licking River. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System also operates the Gateway Community and Technical College. Classes are provided at GCTC locations in Boone County, Covington, Park Hills and Edgewood.

Libraries

Kenton County is served by a county library with branches in Covington, Erlanger, and Independence. The Erlanger Branch has grown to be the busiest branch library in the state of Kentucky.[12]

In 2008, Kenton County Public Library received the highest score of any Kentucky library ranked by Hennen's American Public Library Ratings.[13]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Visalia and Latonia Lakes have been dissolved as cities within Kenton County.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Kenton County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 35.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 173.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ "Kenton County Library website". February 25, 2010.
  13. ↑ Hennen Jr., Thomas J. (October 7, 2008). "Hennen's American Public Library Ratings: State HAPLR Scores: Kentucky". haplr-index.com.

External links

Coordinates: 38°56′N 84°32′W / 38.93°N 84.54°W / 38.93; -84.54

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