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Grayson County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 37°28′N 86°21′W / 37.46°N 86.35°W / 37.46; -86.35
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Not to be confused with Grayson, Kentucky.

Grayson County
County
Grayson County courthouse in Leitchfield
Grayson County courthouse in Leitchfield
Map of Kentucky highlighting Grayson 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°28′N 86°21′W / 37.46°N 86.35°W / 37.46; -86.35
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1810
Named forWilliam Grayson
SeatLeitchfield
Largest cityLeitchfield
Area
 • Total511 sq mi (1,320 km2)
 • Land497 sq mi (1,290 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total26,420
 • Estimate 
(2023)
26,825 Increase
 • Density52/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitegraysoncountyky.gov

Grayson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,420.[1] Its county seat is Leitchfield.[2] The county was formed in 1810 and named for William Grayson (1740–1790), a Revolutionary War colonel and a prominent Virginia political figure. Grayson County was formerly a prohibition or dry county, but Leitchfield allowed limited alcohol sales in restaurants in 2010[3] and voted "wet" in 2016.[4]

History

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Grayson County was established in 1810 from land taken from Hardin and Ohio counties.[5] The county is named for William Grayson (1740–1790), a Revolutionary War colonel and U.S. Senator from Virginia.[6]

Three courthouses were destroyed by fire; in 1864 by Confederate troops, and again in 1896 and 1936.[7]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 497 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.8%) is water.[8]

Grayson County is part of the Western Coal Field region of Kentucky. Only the western third of the county has coal; the rest lies in the Clifty Area, which has similar sandstone bedrock, some of it is bituminous but never commercially exploited as tar sands or rock asphalt. The county lies in the Rough Creek Fault System, considered a potential hydrocarbon resource.[9]

Grayson County is home to two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes, Rough River Lake on the northern border of the county and Nolin River Lake on the southeast border. The lakes attract many tourists and have led to the use of "Twin Lakes" to identify some businesses and institutions, such as the Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center in Leitchfield.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18204,055—
18303,880−4.3%
18404,46115.0%
18506,83753.3%
18607,98216.7%
187011,58045.1%
188015,78436.3%
189018,68818.4%
190019,8786.4%
191019,9580.4%
192019,927−0.2%
193017,055−14.4%
194017,5623.0%
195017,063−2.8%
196015,834−7.2%
197016,4453.9%
198020,85426.8%
199021,0500.9%
200024,05314.3%
201025,7467.0%
202026,4202.6%
2023 (est.)26,825[10]1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 24,053 people, 9,596 households, and 6,966 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 per square mile (19/km2). There were 12,802 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (9.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.26% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,596 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,639, and the median income for a family was $33,080. Males had a median income of $27,759 versus $19,302 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,759. About 13.90% of families and 18.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.10% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Grayson County, Kentucky[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 9,710 80.28% 2,235 18.48% 150 1.24%
2020 9,453 78.87% 2,400 20.03% 132 1.10%
2016 8,219 77.71% 1,959 18.52% 398 3.76%
2012 6,404 69.08% 2,744 29.60% 123 1.33%
2008 6,605 66.70% 3,154 31.85% 144 1.45%
2004 7,170 70.69% 2,905 28.64% 68 0.67%
2000 5,843 68.28% 2,604 30.43% 111 1.30%
1996 4,249 55.02% 2,716 35.17% 757 9.80%
1992 4,533 53.29% 2,909 34.20% 1,065 12.52%
1988 5,186 66.13% 2,575 32.84% 81 1.03%
1984 5,524 71.03% 2,200 28.29% 53 0.68%
1980 5,084 62.95% 2,788 34.52% 204 2.53%
1976 3,658 53.87% 3,064 45.13% 68 1.00%
1972 4,155 67.99% 1,839 30.09% 117 1.91%
1968 3,598 61.14% 1,595 27.10% 692 11.76%
1964 2,974 50.46% 2,920 49.54% 0 0.00%
1960 4,807 67.12% 2,355 32.88% 0 0.00%
1956 4,565 69.25% 2,021 30.66% 6 0.09%
1952 4,011 63.05% 2,341 36.80% 10 0.16%
1948 2,880 56.14% 2,174 42.38% 76 1.48%
1944 3,629 59.64% 2,436 40.03% 20 0.33%
1940 3,156 53.85% 2,678 45.69% 27 0.46%
1936 2,907 51.87% 2,676 47.75% 21 0.37%
1932 3,721 48.81% 3,872 50.79% 31 0.41%
1928 3,937 63.07% 2,295 36.77% 10 0.16%
1924 3,183 52.16% 2,858 46.84% 61 1.00%
1920 4,174 59.21% 2,830 40.15% 45 0.64%
1916 2,368 54.29% 1,953 44.77% 41 0.94%
1912 1,075 27.12% 1,685 42.51% 1,204 30.37%

Events and attractions

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Grayson County is the home of the Historic Jack Thomas House which is owned and maintained by the Grayson County Historical Society. The Jack Thomas House contains a museum dedicated to the history and families of Grayson County as well as the most extensive genealogical research library for the county. It is open Monday – Friday for tours and research. Three general meetings with guest speakers relevant to the county each year are held for the membership. They are held in March, June, and October and are always open to the public. The house is open during the Twin Lakes National Fiddlers Contest (see below), the Hometown Christmas Parade as well as other special events.

Every July, Grayson County and Leitchfield host the Twin Lakes National Fiddlers Contest, which brings many elite fiddlers from several states to the Town Square area. The contest is a weekend event. Also in July, the City of Leitchfield hosts the annual Freedom Festival which features music, fireworks, and a carnival. In late August and early September, Grayson County hosts the annual Grayson County Fair, which entertains locals and guests with music, a carnival, a Truck and Tractor Pull, a Demolition Derby, and ends on Labor Day with a parade through Leitchfield. In September the city of Clarkson hosts the annual Honeyfest. The Honeyfest kicks off with a parade in which the Grayson County High School Band and the Grayson County Middle School Band perform. Many floats with the main subject of bees and honey are presented and advertise the many businesses in and surrounding Grayson County. This festival celebrates the city and the contributions of Clarkson's Walter T. Kelley Beehive Factory.

In early October, the city of Caneyville holds the annual Caneyville Fair.

Also, the county is home to several attractions. In addition to the previously mentioned lakes is the historic Pine Knob Theatre, located in the community of Pine Knob. Other attractions are three golf courses, including the 18-hole Lafayette Golf Course in Falls of Rough.

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated places

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Transportation

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Railroads

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Highways

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Airport

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  • Grayson County Airport

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Leitchfield Passes Limited 100 Vote". Wbko.com. March 23, 2010. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  4. ^ "Leitchfield votes to go wet". gcnewsgazette. June 22, 2016. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  5. ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 293. ISBN 9780722249208.
  6. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 35.
  7. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 240. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  9. ^ "Rough Creek Graben".
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  14. ^ "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 14, 2014.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
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37°28′N 86°21′W / 37.46°N 86.35°W / 37.46; -86.35

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