Ballard County | |
---|---|
![]() Ballard County Courthouse in Wickliffe | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
![]() Kentucky's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 37°04′N89°00′W / 37.06°N 89°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | 1842 |
Named for | Bland Ballard |
Seat | Wickliffe |
Largest city | LaCenter |
Area | |
• Total | 274 sq mi (710 km2) |
• Land | 247 sq mi (640 km2) |
• Water | 27 sq mi (70 km2) 9.9% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,728 |
• Estimate (2023) | 7,582 ![]() |
• Density | 28/sq mi (11/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | www |
Ballard County is a county located in the west portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,728. Its county seat is Wickliffe and its largest city is LaCenter. [1] The county was created by the Kentucky State Legislature in 1842 and is named for Captain Bland Ballard, a soldier, statesman, and member of the Kentucky General Assembly. [2] Ballard County is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Ballard County was formed from portions of Hickman County and McCracken County. It was named for Bland Ballard (1761–1853), a Kentucky pioneer and soldier who served as a scout for General George Rogers Clark during the American Revolutionary War, and later commanded a company during the War of 1812. On February 17, 1880, the courthouse was destroyed by a fire, which also destroyed most of the county's early records. [3] The county seat was transferred from Blandville to Wickliffe in 1882. [4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 274 square miles (710 km2), of which 247 square miles (640 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (9.9%) is water. [5]
Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve is a 458 acres (1.85 km2) nature preserve located in Ballard County, in the Barlow Bottoms. The preserve is part of the 3,000-acre (12 km2) Axe Lake Swamp wetlands complex which supports at least eight rare plant and animal species. The site has been recognized as a priority wetland in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. [6]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 5,496 | — | |
1860 | 8,692 | 58.2% | |
1870 | 12,576 | 44.7% | |
1880 | 14,378 | 14.3% | |
1890 | 8,390 | −41.6% | |
1900 | 10,761 | 28.3% | |
1910 | 12,690 | 17.9% | |
1920 | 12,045 | −5.1% | |
1930 | 9,910 | −17.7% | |
1940 | 9,480 | −4.3% | |
1950 | 8,545 | −9.9% | |
1960 | 8,291 | −3.0% | |
1970 | 8,276 | −0.2% | |
1980 | 8,798 | 6.3% | |
1990 | 7,902 | −10.2% | |
2000 | 8,286 | 4.9% | |
2010 | 8,249 | −0.4% | |
2020 | 7,728 | −6.3% | |
2023 (est.) | 7,582 | [7] | −1.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2021 [12] |
As of the census [13] of 2000, there were 8,286 people, 3,395 households, and 2,413 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 per square mile (13/km2). There were 3,837 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.32% White, 2.87% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 3,395 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.85.
The age distribution was 23.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,130, and the median income for a family was $41,386. Males had a median income of $32,345 versus $20,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,035. About 10.70% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.30% of those under age 18 and 15.40% of those age 65 or over.
Ballard County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of November 17,2015 [update] [14] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Political Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |||
Democratic | 4,671 | 73.37% | |||
Republican | 1,402 | 22.02% | |||
Others | 227 | 3.57% | |||
Independent | 57 | 0.90% | |||
Libertarian | 5 | 0.08% | |||
Green | 2 | 0.03% | |||
Total | 6,366 | 100% |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 3,356 | 79.43% | 825 | 19.53% | 44 | 1.04% |
2016 | 3,161 | 77.08% | 816 | 19.90% | 124 | 3.02% |
2012 | 2,647 | 67.96% | 1,189 | 30.53% | 59 | 1.51% |
2008 | 2,537 | 62.49% | 1,427 | 35.15% | 96 | 2.36% |
2004 | 2,389 | 57.19% | 1,759 | 42.11% | 29 | 0.69% |
2000 | 1,824 | 48.38% | 1,880 | 49.87% | 66 | 1.75% |
1996 | 1,064 | 28.43% | 2,255 | 60.26% | 423 | 11.30% |
1992 | 1,108 | 28.56% | 2,268 | 58.45% | 504 | 12.99% |
1988 | 1,460 | 40.23% | 2,162 | 59.58% | 7 | 0.19% |
1984 | 1,663 | 45.13% | 2,002 | 54.33% | 20 | 0.54% |
1980 | 1,190 | 31.10% | 2,583 | 67.51% | 53 | 1.39% |
1976 | 649 | 17.57% | 2,794 | 75.66% | 250 | 6.77% |
1972 | 1,542 | 49.92% | 1,411 | 45.68% | 136 | 4.40% |
1968 | 564 | 16.38% | 1,632 | 47.39% | 1,248 | 36.24% |
1964 | 519 | 15.22% | 2,867 | 84.10% | 23 | 0.67% |
1960 | 1,121 | 28.99% | 2,746 | 71.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 838 | 21.29% | 3,088 | 78.46% | 10 | 0.25% |
1952 | 851 | 22.59% | 2,910 | 77.25% | 6 | 0.16% |
1948 | 454 | 14.04% | 2,702 | 83.55% | 78 | 2.41% |
1944 | 637 | 18.25% | 2,845 | 81.50% | 9 | 0.26% |
1940 | 758 | 19.09% | 3,212 | 80.89% | 1 | 0.03% |
1936 | 773 | 17.96% | 3,523 | 81.87% | 7 | 0.16% |
1932 | 572 | 12.48% | 3,987 | 86.98% | 25 | 0.55% |
1928 | 940 | 24.49% | 2,896 | 75.44% | 3 | 0.08% |
1924 | 767 | 19.18% | 3,128 | 78.22% | 104 | 2.60% |
1920 | 1,107 | 21.24% | 3,987 | 76.48% | 119 | 2.28% |
1916 | 692 | 23.05% | 2,222 | 74.02% | 88 | 2.93% |
1912 | 555 | 21.54% | 1,706 | 66.20% | 316 | 12.26% |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | 63.72%1,691 | 36.28% 963 | 0.00% 0 |
2019 | 65.34%2,010 | 32.90% 1,012 | 1.75% 54 |
2015 | 55.20%1,312 | 41.65% 990 | 3.16% 75 |
2011 | 35.80% 773 | 59.01%1,274 | 5.19% 112 |
2007 | 34.09% 927 | 65.91%1,792 | 0.00% 0 |
2003 | 46.53% 1,433 | 53.47%1,647 | 0.00% 0 |
1999 | 6.70% 99 | 83.28%1,230 | 10.02% 148 |
1995 | 32.30% 938 | 67.46%1,959 | 0.24% 7 |
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Blandville is an inactive home rule-class city in Ballard County, Kentucky, in the United States. It was founded in 1842 and named for Captain Bland Ballard, a hero of the War of 1812. It was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1845. Blandville was the seat of Ballard County from 1842 to 1881, when the seat was moved to Wickliffe. The population was 73 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Kevil is a home rule-class city in Ballard County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 595 as of the 2020 census, It is part of the Paducah KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
LaCenter, formerly and often informally written as La Center, is a home rule-class city in Ballard County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 872 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous community in the county. It is part of the Paducah-KY IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Wickliffe is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Ballard County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 670 at the 2020 census.
Raywick is a home rule-class city in Marion County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 155 at the 2020 census.
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