Carter County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 38°20′N83°03′W / 38.33°N 83.05°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kentucky |
Founded | 1838 |
Named for | William Grayson Carter |
Seat | Grayson |
Largest city | Grayson |
Area | |
• Total | 412 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
• Land | 409 sq mi (1,060 km2) |
• Water | 2.6 sq mi (7 km2) 0.6% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 26,627 |
• Estimate (2023) | 26,366 |
• Density | 65/sq mi (25/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional districts | 4th, 5th |
Website | cartercounty |
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.
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]
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]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 2,905 | — | |
1850 | 6,241 | 114.8% | |
1860 | 8,516 | 36.5% | |
1870 | 7,509 | −11.8% | |
1880 | 12,345 | 64.4% | |
1890 | 17,204 | 39.4% | |
1900 | 20,228 | 17.6% | |
1910 | 21,966 | 8.6% | |
1920 | 22,474 | 2.3% | |
1930 | 23,839 | 6.1% | |
1940 | 25,545 | 7.2% | |
1950 | 22,559 | −11.7% | |
1960 | 20,817 | −7.7% | |
1970 | 19,850 | −4.6% | |
1980 | 25,060 | 26.2% | |
1990 | 24,340 | −2.9% | |
2000 | 26,889 | 10.5% | |
2010 | 27,720 | 3.1% | |
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.
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.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 8,981 | 78.63% | 2,305 | 20.18% | 136 | 1.19% |
2020 | 8,775 | 75.74% | 2,642 | 22.80% | 169 | 1.46% |
2016 | 7,587 | 73.82% | 2,276 | 22.14% | 415 | 4.04% |
2012 | 5,279 | 59.26% | 3,383 | 37.98% | 246 | 2.76% |
2008 | 5,252 | 53.52% | 4,316 | 43.98% | 245 | 2.50% |
2004 | 5,422 | 48.77% | 5,577 | 50.17% | 118 | 1.06% |
2000 | 4,617 | 51.53% | 4,182 | 46.68% | 160 | 1.79% |
1996 | 3,240 | 41.69% | 3,728 | 47.97% | 803 | 10.33% |
1992 | 3,305 | 38.61% | 4,224 | 49.35% | 1,031 | 12.04% |
1988 | 4,325 | 48.36% | 4,570 | 51.10% | 49 | 0.55% |
1984 | 4,656 | 53.67% | 3,985 | 45.94% | 34 | 0.39% |
1980 | 3,934 | 50.18% | 3,782 | 48.25% | 123 | 1.57% |
1976 | 3,185 | 44.65% | 3,915 | 54.89% | 33 | 0.46% |
1972 | 4,082 | 60.68% | 2,591 | 38.52% | 54 | 0.80% |
1968 | 3,234 | 49.67% | 2,344 | 36.00% | 933 | 14.33% |
1964 | 2,821 | 40.37% | 4,136 | 59.20% | 30 | 0.43% |
1960 | 4,956 | 58.76% | 3,479 | 41.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 5,127 | 62.09% | 3,112 | 37.68% | 19 | 0.23% |
1952 | 4,221 | 58.12% | 3,019 | 41.57% | 22 | 0.30% |
1948 | 3,472 | 52.61% | 3,082 | 46.70% | 46 | 0.70% |
1944 | 4,117 | 60.01% | 2,733 | 39.84% | 10 | 0.15% |
1940 | 4,520 | 56.88% | 3,403 | 42.83% | 23 | 0.29% |
1936 | 4,372 | 55.98% | 3,403 | 43.57% | 35 | 0.45% |
1932 | 4,376 | 48.51% | 4,565 | 50.61% | 79 | 0.88% |
1928 | 5,342 | 68.73% | 2,392 | 30.77% | 39 | 0.50% |
1924 | 4,472 | 61.50% | 2,552 | 35.10% | 247 | 3.40% |
1920 | 4,595 | 61.98% | 2,757 | 37.19% | 62 | 0.84% |
1916 | 2,818 | 58.48% | 1,954 | 40.55% | 47 | 0.98% |
1912 | 1,174 | 28.64% | 1,506 | 36.74% | 1,419 | 34.62% |
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:
Carter County is accessible by U.S. Route 60 and Interstate 64. [18] Until 2010, the city of Olive Hill owned an airport. [19]
Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,017. Its county seat is Dixon and its largest city is Providence. It is the southernmost county in the Evansville, IN–KY Combined Statistical Area. The county was formed in 1860 from parts of Henderson, Hopkins, and Union Counties and named for American statesman Daniel Webster (1782–1852). It was mainly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War and was the site of several skirmishes and some guerrilla warfare. Since 2018 it has been a moist county, with Providence and Sebree voting to allow alcohol sales, and Clay doing so in 2022.
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Monroe County is a county located in the Eastern Pennyroyal Plateau region of the U.S. state of Kentucky. Its county seat is Tompkinsville. The county is named for President James Monroe. It was a prohibition or dry county until November 7, 2023, when voters approved the sale of alcohol.
Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,888. Its county seat is Smithland and its largest community is Ledbetter. The county was established in 1798 from land taken from Christian County and is named for Robert R. Livingston, a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The county was strongly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War and many men volunteered for the Confederate Army. Livingston County is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is a prohibition or dry county with the exception of Grand Rivers which voted to allow alcohol sales in 2016.
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Jessamine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,991. Its county seat is Nicholasville. The county was founded in December 1798. Jessamine County is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is within the Inner Blue Grass region, long a center of farming and blooded stock raising, including thoroughbred horses. The legislature established a commercial wine industry here in the late 18th century.
Greenup County is a county located along the Ohio River in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,962. The county was founded in 1803 and named in honor of Christopher Greenup. Its county seat is Greenup. Greenup County is part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Grayson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,420. Its county seat is Leitchfield. 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 and voted "wet" in 2016.
Grant County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,941. Its county seat is Williamstown. The county was formed in 1820 and named for Colonel John Grant, who led a party of settlers in 1779 to establish Grant's Station, in today's Bourbon County, Kentucky. Grant County is included in the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Grant County residents voted to allow full alcohol sales in the county by a margin of 56% to 44% in a special election on December 22, 2015. In the 19th century, Grant County had multiple saloons.
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Grayson is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Carter County, Kentucky, United States, on U.S. Route 60 and Interstate 64 in the state's northeastern region. It is approximately 21 miles west of Ashland. Within the city limits, the population was 4,217 at the 2010 census. Along with Carter County, the city is closely associated with the nearby Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area and is often erroneously included in the MSA being just 9 miles west of the M.S.A's western boundary.
Olive Hill is a home rule-class city along Tygarts Creek in Carter County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 1,599 during the year 2010 U.S. Census.
Flatwoods is a home rule-class city in Greenup County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 7,325 at the 2020 census, making it the largest city in Greenup County. Flatwoods is a part of the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area. Locally, Flatwoods is considered to be a bedroom community, as it has no large employer within the city. Many residents work for CSX Transportation, Marathon Petroleum, or King's Daughters Medical Center.
Greenup is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Greenup County, Kentucky, United States, located at the confluence of the Little Sandy River with the Ohio River. The population was 1,095 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area.
South Shore is a home rule-class city in Greenup County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,122 at the 2010 census, down from 1,226 in 2000. It is located along the Ohio River across from Portsmouth, Ohio, at the mouth of Tygarts Creek. South Shore is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Worthington is a home rule-class city on the south bank of the Ohio River in Greenup County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 1,609 as of the 2010 U.S. census.
Wurtland is a home rule-class city in Greenup County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 983 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area.
Barbourville is a home rule-class city in Knox County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 3,165 at the 2010 census, down from 3,589 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city was formally established by the state assembly in 1812. It was incorporated in 1854 and then reincorporated in 1856.
Tompkinsville is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,309 at the 2020 census. The city was named after Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins who served under President James Monroe, for whom the county was named.
Boyd County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, its population was 48,261. The county seat is Catlettsburg, and its largest city is Ashland. The county was formed in 1860. The county spans 160 square miles (410 km2), and is found at the northeastern edge of the state, near the Ohio River and Big Sandy River and situated in mountainous Appalachia. Boyd County is in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metropolitan statistical area.
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