Allen County, Kentucky

Last updated

Allen County
County
Allen County Kentucky courthouse.jpg
Allen County Courthouse in Scottsville
Map of Kentucky highlighting Allen County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky in United States.svg
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°45′N86°11′W / 36.75°N 86.19°W / 36.75; -86.19
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kentucky.svg  Kentucky
Founded1815
Named after John Allen
Seat Scottsville
Largest cityScottsville
Area
 • Total
352 sq mi (910 km2)
 • Land344 sq mi (890 km2)
 • Water7.5 sq mi (19 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
20,588
 • Estimate 
(2024)
22,037 Increase2.svg
 • Density58/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website www.allencountykentucky.com

Allen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,588. [1] Its county seat and only municipality is Scottsville. [2] The county is named for Colonel John Allen, a state senator and soldier who was killed leading the 1st Regiment of Kentucky Rifleman at the Battle of Frenchtown, Michigan during the War of 1812. [3] Allen County was a dry county until 2023, when it voted to legalize the sale of alcohol. [4] It was formed in 1815 from parts of Barren and Warren counties. Allen County is included in the Bowling Green, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

Allen County was established in 1815 from land given by Barren and Warren counties. A courthouse fire in 1902 resulted in the loss of some county records. [5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 352 square miles (910 km2), of which 344 square miles (890 km2) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (2.1%) is water. [6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1820 5,327—
1830 6,48521.7%
1840 7,32913.0%
1850 8,74219.3%
1860 9,1875.1%
1870 10,29612.1%
1880 12,08917.4%
1890 13,69213.3%
1900 14,6577.0%
1910 14,8821.5%
1920 16,76112.6%
1930 15,180−9.4%
1940 15,4962.1%
1950 13,787−11.0%
1960 12,269−11.0%
1970 12,5982.7%
1980 14,12812.1%
1990 14,6283.5%
2000 17,80021.7%
2010 19,95612.1%
2020 20,5883.2%
2024 (est.)22,037 [7] 7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,800 people, 6,910 households, and 5,113 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 per square mile (20/km2). There were 8,057 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (8.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.62% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,910 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,238, and the median income for a family was $36,815. Males had a median income of $27,587 versus $22,659 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,506. About 13.20% of families and 17.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.40% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Allen County, Kentucky [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 7,82483.07%1,50515.98%890.94%
2020 7,58781.02%1,64217.54%1351.44%
2016 6,46679.87%1,34916.66%2813.47%
2012 5,18473.01%1,80825.46%1081.52%
2008 5,25871.15%2,02427.39%1081.46%
2004 5,20272.62%1,92326.85%380.53%
2000 4,41568.67%1,95030.33%641.00%
1996 3,03257.97%1,78134.05%4177.97%
1992 2,74750.73%2,04037.67%62811.60%
1988 3,34267.89%1,57331.95%80.16%
1984 3,42769.04%1,52130.64%160.32%
1980 3,18660.36%2,01038.08%821.55%
1976 2,50852.49%2,23146.69%390.82%
1972 3,02569.83%1,25929.06%481.11%
1968 2,95261.63%92719.35%91119.02%
1964 2,30953.18%2,02346.59%100.23%
1960 3,41067.22%1,66332.78%00.00%
1956 3,20061.62%1,97538.03%180.35%
1952 2,94662.45%1,75037.10%210.45%
1948 2,28055.81%1,60539.29%2004.90%
1944 3,12063.86%1,74235.65%240.49%
1940 3,23261.11%2,03638.49%210.40%
1936 3,07055.77%2,42244.00%130.24%
1932 3,21950.55%3,11648.93%330.52%
1928 4,25373.14%1,56226.86%00.00%
1924 3,13256.52%2,37342.83%360.65%
1920 3,47660.24%2,25539.08%390.68%
1916 2,14756.03%1,64742.98%380.99%
1912 1,18635.67%1,36641.08%77323.25%

Allen County, like most of Kentucky, is increasingly solidly Republican, although it was like those counties to its east in Appalachia never a part of the "Solid South". The last Democrat to carry the county in a presidential election was Woodrow Wilson in 1912, although a number of other elections have given Democratic majorities as recently as the 1999 gubernatorial election. [13]

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [14] [15]
U.S. House James Comer (R) KY1
Ky. Senate Max Wise (R) 16
Ky. House Shawn McPherson (R)22

Voter registration

Allen County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of July 2024 [16]
Political PartyTotal VotersPercentage
Republican 10,33267.17%
Democratic 3,69624.03%
Others7955.17%
Independent4753.09%
Libertarian 600.39%
Green 130.08%
Constitution 70.04%
Socialist Workers 30.02%
Reform 10.01%
Total15,382100%

Statewide elections

Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2019 67.13%3,56431.06% 1,6491.81% 96
2015 69.00%2,34428.76% 9772.24% 76
2011 53.21%1,54042.19% 1,2214.60% 133
2007 51.79%1,95548.21% 1,8200.00% 0
2003 64.99%2,20235.01% 1,1860.00% 0
1999 28.68% 33962.69%7418.63% 102
1995 57.95%1,82942.05% 1,3270.00% 0

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Notable residents

See also

36°45′N86°11′W / 36.75°N 86.19°W / 36.75; -86.19

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  3. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp.  34.
  4. ↑ Parham, Derek (May 17, 2023). "Prohibition comes to an end in Allen County with wet/dry decision". www.wbko.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  5. ↑ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 187. ISBN   9780916489496 . Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  10. ↑ Forstall, Richard, ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "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 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  13. ↑ Sullivan, Robert David; "How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century"; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  14. ↑ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  15. ↑ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Commonwealth of Kentucky - State Board of Elections Voter Registration Statistics Report" (PDF). July 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
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