History
Numerous archaeological sites are located along the Green River in Butler County. A 1989 survey found fourteen sites, many of which were a group of shell mounds, including the Carlston Annis and DeWeese Shell Mounds. [4]
The area now known as Butler County was first settled by the families of Richard C. Dellium and James Forgy, who founded a town called Berry's Lick. The first industry was salt-making. [3]
On January 18, 1810, the Kentucky General Assembly created Butler County from portions of Logan and Ohio counties. The new county was named for Major General Richard Butler, who died at the Battle of the Wabash in 1791. [3] In June of that year, the Kentucky Governor commissioned a study to locate a county seat. They selected a two-acre tract belonging to Christopher Funkhouser. This site, at first called Funkhouser Hill, was later named Morgantown. The county site has remained at that site until present times.
In 1833 a navigation plan for the Green River was initiated. As one result of this, a town was founded at Lock/Dam #3, and another at Lock/Dam #4.
The American Civil War slowed the county's growth. The county was site of a few incidents during the conflict. There was a fight near Morgantown on October 29, 1861, and a skirmish on October 30 where the rebels were encamped. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, veterans from both sides raised funds to raise a monument at the courthouse. It lists county residents who fought in the war on both sides. [5] This is one of only two Civil War monuments in Kentucky that honor the soldiers of both sides. The Confederate-Union Veterans' Monument in Morgantown, a zinc monument, was dedicated in 1907 on the Butler County Courthouse lawn.
Demographics
Historical population| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1820 | 3,083 | | — |
|---|
| 1830 | 3,058 | | −0.8% |
|---|
| 1840 | 3,898 | | 27.5% |
|---|
| 1850 | 5,755 | | 47.6% |
|---|
| 1860 | 7,927 | | 37.7% |
|---|
| 1870 | 9,404 | | 18.6% |
|---|
| 1880 | 12,181 | | 29.5% |
|---|
| 1890 | 13,956 | | 14.6% |
|---|
| 1900 | 15,896 | | 13.9% |
|---|
| 1910 | 15,805 | | −0.6% |
|---|
| 1920 | 15,197 | | −3.8% |
|---|
| 1930 | 12,620 | | −17.0% |
|---|
| 1940 | 14,371 | | 13.9% |
|---|
| 1950 | 11,309 | | −21.3% |
|---|
| 1960 | 9,586 | | −15.2% |
|---|
| 1970 | 9,723 | | 1.4% |
|---|
| 1980 | 11,064 | | 13.8% |
|---|
| 1990 | 11,245 | | 1.6% |
|---|
| 2000 | 13,010 | | 15.7% |
|---|
| 2010 | 12,690 | | −2.5% |
|---|
| 2020 | 12,371 | | −2.5% |
|---|
| 2024 (est.) | 12,551 | [7] | 1.5% |
|---|
|
As of the census [12] of 2000, there were 13,010 people, 5,059 households, and 3,708 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 per square mile (12/km2). There were 5,815 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.88% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,059 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,405, and the median income for a family was $35,317. Males had a median income of $26,449 versus $19,894 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,617. About 13.10% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 22.50% of those age 65 or over.
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United States
Kentucky 
