Carter County, Kentucky

Last updated

Carter County
County
Carter County, Kentucky courthouse.jpg
Carter County courthouse in Grayson
Map of Kentucky highlighting Carter County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky in United States.svg
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°20′N83°03′W / 38.33°N 83.05°W / 38.33; -83.05
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kentucky.svg  Kentucky
Founded1838
Named for William Grayson Carter
Seat Grayson
Largest cityGrayson
Area
 • Total
412 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water2.6 sq mi (7 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
26,627
 • Estimate 
(2023)
26,366 Decrease2.svg
 • Density65/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 4th, 5th
Website cartercounty.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,627. [1] Its county seat is Grayson. [2] Carter County is in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to Carter Caves State Resort Park.

Contents

History

Carter County was formed on February 9, 1838, from portions of Greenup County and Lawrence County. [3] It was named after Colonel William Grayson Carter, a Kentucky state Senator. [4] The county seat is named for his uncle, Robert Grayson. [5]

The original courthouse was rebuilt in 1907. [6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 412 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 409 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.6%) is water. [7]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 2,905—
1850 6,241114.8%
1860 8,51636.5%
1870 7,509−11.8%
1880 12,34564.4%
1890 17,20439.4%
1900 20,22817.6%
1910 21,9668.6%
1920 22,4742.3%
1930 23,8396.1%
1940 25,5457.2%
1950 22,559−11.7%
1960 20,817−7.7%
1970 19,850−4.6%
1980 25,06026.2%
1990 24,340−2.9%
2000 26,88910.5%
2010 27,7203.1%
2020 26,627−3.9%
2023 (est.)26,366 [8] −1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2021 [1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,889 people, 10,342 households, and 7,746 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 per square mile (25/km2). There were 11,534 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.02% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,342 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% 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 $26,427, and the median income for a family was $31,278. Males had a median income of $28,690 versus $20,554 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,442. About 19.20% of families and 22.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.90% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Carter County, Kentucky [13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 8,98178.63%2,30520.18%1361.19%
2020 8,77575.74%2,64222.80%1691.46%
2016 7,58773.82%2,27622.14%4154.04%
2012 5,27959.26%3,38337.98%2462.76%
2008 5,25253.52%4,31643.98%2452.50%
2004 5,42248.77%5,57750.17%1181.06%
2000 4,61751.53%4,18246.68%1601.79%
1996 3,24041.69%3,72847.97%80310.33%
1992 3,30538.61%4,22449.35%1,03112.04%
1988 4,32548.36%4,57051.10%490.55%
1984 4,65653.67%3,98545.94%340.39%
1980 3,93450.18%3,78248.25%1231.57%
1976 3,18544.65%3,91554.89%330.46%
1972 4,08260.68%2,59138.52%540.80%
1968 3,23449.67%2,34436.00%93314.33%
1964 2,82140.37%4,13659.20%300.43%
1960 4,95658.76%3,47941.24%00.00%
1956 5,12762.09%3,11237.68%190.23%
1952 4,22158.12%3,01941.57%220.30%
1948 3,47252.61%3,08246.70%460.70%
1944 4,11760.01%2,73339.84%100.15%
1940 4,52056.88%3,40342.83%230.29%
1936 4,37255.98%3,40343.57%350.45%
1932 4,37648.51%4,56550.61%790.88%
1928 5,34268.73%2,39230.77%390.50%
1924 4,47261.50%2,55235.10%2473.40%
1920 4,59561.98%2,75737.19%620.84%
1916 2,81858.48%1,95440.55%470.98%
1912 1,17428.64%1,50636.74%1,41934.62%

Carter County leaned increasingly Republican during the 2010s, with Donald Trump dramatically shifting it to the right in 2016. In 8 out of 28 presidential elections since 1912 has the Democratic candidate carried this county, even though they carried it three times in a row from 1988 to 1996. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing the state of Kentucky. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered. [14]

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [15] [16]
U.S. House Thomas Massie (R) KY4
Hal Rogers (R) KY5
Ky. Senate Robin L. Webb (D) 18
Ky. House Patrick Flannery (R)96

Education

Alcohol sales

Carter County is a moist county, meaning that sale of alcohol in the county is prohibited except in certain areas as voted on by the residents of the area, with at least one area approving full retail alcohol sales. In the case of Carter County, alcohol sales are only permitted as follows:

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Transportation

Carter County is accessible by U.S. Route 60 and Interstate 64. [22] Until 2010, the city of Olive Hill owned an airport. [23]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "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. ↑ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 52. ISBN   0813126312 . Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp.  34.
  5. ↑ "Historical Views Of Carter County" (PDF). Printworks Unlimited, Grayson, KY. 2007. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 24, 2010.
  6. ↑ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 212. ISBN   9780916489496 . Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  12. ↑ "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 13, 2014.
  13. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Carter County, KY | Data USA". datausa.io. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  16. ↑ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Carter County, KY | Data USA". datausa.io. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ The Next Step: Grayson council has the task of controlling alcohol sales.
  19. ↑ Grayson takes the first step toward alcohol sales.
  20. ↑ Council approves equipment purchases.
  21. ↑ Olive Hill Votes Wet
  22. ↑ kytc.maps.arcgis.com http://kytc.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=9539ce58046c4890867ae2c0bea8882c . Retrieved April 19, 2019.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ "Proud Past~ Hope for the Future Olive Hill, Kentucky Long Term Community Recovery Plan". City of Olive Hill. February 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2019.

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