Madison County, Kentucky

Madison County
Madison County Courthouse in Richmond
Map of Kentucky highlighting Madison County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°43′N 84°17′W / 37.72°N 84.28°W / 37.72; -84.28
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 15, 1785
Named forJames Madison
SeatRichmond
Largest cityRichmond
Area
 • Total443 sq mi (1,150 km2)
 • Land437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total92,701
 • Estimate 
(2023)
96,735 Increase
 • Density210/sq mi (81/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.madisoncountyky.us

Madison County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. At the 2020 census, its population was 92,701.[1] Its county seat is Richmond.[2] The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States.[3]

The county is part of the Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area.

Madison County is considered a moist county, meaning that although the county prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages (and is thus a dry county), it contains a city where retail alcohol sales are allowed. Nevertheless, two of the county's 19 precincts are completely dry.[4] Alcohol can also be sold by the drink in Berea,[5] Richmond, and at Arlington and The Bull golf clubs. In 2023, the county voted to become wet.[6]

Madison County is home to Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, and historic Boone Tavern.[7] Famous pioneer Daniel Boone lived in Madison County and built Fort Boonesborough, now a state historic site.

History[edit]

Indian trader John Findley, Daniel Boone, and four others first came into the area that is now Madison County in 1769 on a hunting and exploring expedition. In 1774, the Transylvania Company, led by Judge Richard Henderson of North Carolina, purchased 20,000,000 acres (8,100,000 ha) of land west of the Appalachians (including present-day Madison County) from the Cherokee Nation. Daniel Boone was hired to cut a trail through the Cumberland Gap and establish a settlement on the Kentucky River. The settlement at Fort Boonesborough began in April 1775.

In 1785, Madison County was established from a portion of Lincoln County, Virginia.[8][9]

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 443 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (1.3%) is water.[10]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
17905,772
180010,49081.7%
181015,54048.1%
182015,9542.7%
183018,75117.5%
184016,355−12.8%
185015,727−3.8%
186017,2079.4%
187019,54313.6%
188022,05212.8%
189024,34810.4%
190025,6075.2%
191026,9515.2%
192026,284−2.5%
193027,6215.1%
194028,5413.3%
195031,1799.2%
196033,4827.4%
197042,73027.6%
198053,35224.9%
199057,5087.8%
200070,87223.2%
201082,91617.0%
202092,70111.8%
2023 (est.)96,735[11]4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 70,872 people, 27,152 households, and 18,218 families residing in the county. The population density was 161 per square mile (62/km2). There were 29,595 housing units at an average density of 67 per square mile (26/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.01% White, 4.44% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 27,152 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.

By age, 21.90% were under 18, 18.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. Both the relatively large 18-to-24 population and the relatively low median age can be explained by the presence of Eastern Kentucky University, and to a considerably lesser extent Berea College. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,861, and the median income for a family was $41,383. Males had a median income of $31,974 versus $22,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,790. About 12.00% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government[edit]

The Madison County courthouse is located at 135 W Irvine Street in Richmond.

   County Judge-Executive: Reagan Taylor    County Clerk: Kenny Barger    Sheriff: Mike Coyle    Coroner: Jimmy Cornelison    Jailer: Steve Tussey    County Attorney: Jennie Haymond    Circuit Clerk: David M. Fernandez    County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA): Billy Ackerman    County Surveyor: Stuart W. Spencer 

Elections[edit]

United States presidential election results for Madison County, Kentucky[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 27,356 62.23% 15,581 35.45% 1,020 2.32%
2016 23,431 62.70% 11,793 31.56% 2,147 5.75%
2012 21,128 63.41% 11,512 34.55% 682 2.05%
2008 19,694 60.53% 12,392 38.09% 451 1.39%
2004 18,922 61.62% 11,525 37.53% 260 0.85%
2000 13,682 57.81% 9,309 39.33% 675 2.85%
1996 9,212 48.23% 8,142 42.62% 1,748 9.15%
1992 8,719 43.94% 8,005 40.35% 3,117 15.71%
1988 9,958 59.39% 6,672 39.79% 136 0.81%
1984 11,309 63.09% 6,509 36.31% 108 0.60%
1980 8,437 47.74% 8,208 46.45% 1,026 5.81%
1976 6,581 46.63% 7,299 51.71% 234 1.66%
1972 8,659 65.60% 4,328 32.79% 212 1.61%
1968 5,325 44.83% 3,884 32.70% 2,669 22.47%
1964 4,266 38.09% 6,877 61.40% 57 0.51%
1960 6,692 54.35% 5,621 45.65% 0 0.00%
1956 5,955 50.85% 5,670 48.42% 85 0.73%
1952 5,886 49.82% 5,901 49.94% 28 0.24%
1948 4,619 44.63% 5,344 51.64% 386 3.73%
1944 5,468 48.36% 5,769 51.02% 70 0.62%
1940 5,789 46.91% 6,484 52.54% 67 0.54%
1936 6,034 48.76% 6,259 50.58% 82 0.66%
1932 5,811 45.10% 6,957 54.00% 116 0.90%
1928 6,325 57.03% 4,736 42.71% 29 0.26%
1924 5,276 51.26% 4,895 47.56% 121 1.18%
1920 6,012 51.21% 5,647 48.10% 80 0.68%
1916 3,017 47.56% 3,295 51.94% 32 0.50%
1912 2,094 34.67% 2,992 49.54% 953 15.78%

Education[edit]

Schools[edit]

Madison County is served by two school districts:[18]

The county is also served by Model Laboratory School which is part of Eastern Kentucky University.

Colleges and universities[edit]

Communities[edit]

Economy[edit]

Military[edit]

The Blue Grass Army Depot is located just south of Richmond.[citation needed]

Notable people[edit]

Sister communities[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
  4. ^ Lanier, Yvette (August 1, 2007). "Berea votes down alcohol sales again". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved August 1, 2007.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Berea prepares for future with alcohol sales". Richmond Register. September 30, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "Madison County is wet, what's next?". May 23, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Foust, Michele. "200-year-old Kentucky pottery business a sight to see ", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 25, 2007. Retrieved on February 23, 2009.
  8. ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
  9. ^ "Madison County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Madison County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022. - Text list - For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: "Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Berea ISD" (PDF). Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer. Frankfort, KY: Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission. September 15, 2015. p. 93 (PDF p. 107/174). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Galbreath, Charles Burleigh (February 28, 1925). "History of Ohio". American Historical Society, Incorporated – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Tribble, Andrew A. · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database". nkaa.uky.edu.
  21. ^ "Marker Dedicated to Vaudevillian Andrew Tribble in Madison County". WEKU. October 2, 2019.
  22. ^ "Bentley, Daniel S." Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, University of Kentucky. Retrieved February 5, 2023.

External links[edit]

37°43′N 84°17′W / 37.72°N 84.28°W / 37.72; -84.28