McCracken County, Kentucky

McCracken County, Kentucky

McCracken County courthouse in Paducah
Map of Kentucky highlighting McCracken County
Location in the state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1825
Named for Virgil McCracken
Seat Paducah
Largest city Paducah
Area
 • Total 268 sq mi (694 km2)
 • Land 249 sq mi (645 km2)
 • Water 19 sq mi (49 km2), 7.2%
Population
 • (2010) 65,565
 • Density 264/sq mi (102/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website mccrackencounty.org

McCracken County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 65,565.[1] The county seat and only municipality is Paducah.[2] McCracken County was the 78th county formed, having been created in 1825.[3]

McCracken County is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is part of the Jackson Purchase, located at the extreme western end of Kentucky.

History

McCracken County was founded in 1825, from Hickman County and was named for Captain Virgil McCracken of Woodford County, Kentucky, who was killed in the Battle of Frenchtown in southeastern Michigan during the War of 1812.[4][5]

The Battle of Paducah occurred in McCracken County on March 25, 1864. The skirmish between the Union and Confederate troops ended in a Confederate victory. Altogether 140 men fell in the battle.

Law and government

McCracken County is represented congressionally as District 1 of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 268 square miles (690 km2), of which 249 square miles (640 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (7.2%) is water.[6] The county's northern border with Illinois is formed by the Ohio River, and its northeastern border by the Tennessee River.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18301,297—
18404,745265.8%
18506,06727.9%
186010,36070.8%
187013,98835.0%
188016,26216.3%
189021,05129.4%
190028,73336.5%
191035,06422.0%
192037,2466.2%
193046,27124.2%
194048,5344.9%
195049,1371.2%
196057,30616.6%
197058,2811.7%
198061,3105.2%
199062,8792.6%
200065,5144.2%
201065,5650.1%
Est. 201465,316[7]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 65,514 people, 27,736 households, and 18,444 families residing in the county. The population density was 261 per square mile (101/km2). There were 30,361 housing units at an average density of 121 per square mile (47/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.76% White, 10.88% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.

There were 27,736 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,865, and the median income for a family was $42,513. Males had a median income of $36,417 versus $22,704 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,533. About 11.40% of families and 15.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public elementary and secondary education in the county is provided by two school districts:

Several private schools also provide K-12 education.

Higher education is provided by West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Like all other schools in this system, WKCTC offers associate degrees. The state's largest public university, the University of Kentucky, operates a branch campus of its College of Engineering at WKCTC. Murray State University offers bachelor's degree programs and master's degrees. A new 43,000 square foot facility located on a 23-acre campus adjacent to WKCTC was opened in 2014. Private Daymar College/Paducah Technical College offers several technical degree programs. In addition, Lindsey Wilson College offers a human services degree program at WKCTC and McKendree University operates a Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion degree.

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 593.
  4. ↑ http://www.kyenc.org/entry/m/McCRA02.html
  5. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 36.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

Coordinates: 37°04′N 88°43′W / 37.06°N 88.72°W / 37.06; -88.72

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