Marion County, Kentucky

For counties with a similar name, see Marion County (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Marion, Kentucky.

Marion County
County
Marion County courthouse in Lebanon
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°33′N85°16′W / 37.55°N 85.27°W / 37.55; -85.27
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1834
Named for	Francis Marion
Seat	Lebanon
Largest city	Lebanon
Area
• Total	347 sq mi (900 km2)
• Land	343 sq mi (890 km2)
• Water	3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  1.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,581
• Estimate  (2023)	19,834
• Density	56/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.marioncounty.ky.gov

Marion County is a county in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,581. ^[1] Its county seat is Lebanon. ^[2] The county was founded in 1834 and named for Francis Marion, the American Revolutionary War hero known as the "Swamp Fox". ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 347 square miles (900 km²), of which 343 square miles (890 km²) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km²) (1.1%) is water. ^[6]

Marion County was formed in 1834 from part of Washington County. ^[7] Marion County is Kentucky's most Catholic county. ^{[ citation needed ]}The first Catholic settlers in Kentucky came to Holy Cross in the western part of the county circa 1790. According to planar projection maps of Kentucky, Marion County includes the center of the state of Kentucky located 3 miles NNW of Lebanon just off KY 429. The actual physical center of Kentucky is disputed by surrounding counties ^[8] and due to use of planar methods ^[9] and projections used when the geographic centers of the United States were initially determined.

Adjacent counties

• Washington County (north)
• Boyle County (northeast)
• Casey County (southeast)
• Taylor County (south)
• LaRue County (southwest)
• Nelson County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	11,032		—
1850	11,765		6.6%
1860	12,593		7.0%
1870	12,838		1.9%
1880	14,693		14.4%
1890	15,648		6.5%
1900	16,290		4.1%
1910	16,330		0.2%
1920	15,527		−4.9%
1930	15,499		−0.2%
1940	16,913		9.1%
1950	17,212		1.8%
1960	16,887		−1.9%
1970	16,714		−1.0%
1980	17,910		7.2%
1990	16,499		−7.9%
2000	18,212		10.4%
2010	19,820		8.8%
2020	19,581		−1.2%
2023 (est.)	19,834	[10]	1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790-1960 [12] 1900-1990 [13] 1990-2000 [14] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,212 people, 6,613 households, and 4,754 families residing in the county. The population density was 53 per square mile (20/km²). There were 7,277 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile (8.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.17% White, 9.12% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,613 households, out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.

By age, 25.20% of the population was under 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.80%were 65 years or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,387, and the median income for a family was $35,648. Males had a median income of $27,826 versus $20,699 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,472. About 15.80% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.80% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Bradfordsville
• Lebanon (county seat)
• Loretto
• Raywick

Unincorporated communities

• Gravel Switch
• Nerinx

Politics

United States presidential election results for Marion County, Kentucky ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	6,473	71.12%	2,513	27.61%	116	1.27%
2020	6,113	68.47%	2,722	30.49%	93	1.04%
2016	5,122	63.15%	2,679	33.03%	310	3.82%
2012	3,800	51.93%	3,418	46.71%	100	1.37%
2008	3,842	50.45%	3,596	47.22%	177	2.32%
2004	3,905	53.10%	3,399	46.22%	50	0.68%
2000	3,259	52.77%	2,778	44.98%	139	2.25%
1996	2,013	35.25%	2,922	51.17%	775	13.57%
1992	2,091	33.06%	3,403	53.81%	830	13.12%
1988	2,500	44.07%	3,152	55.56%	21	0.37%
1984	3,305	53.66%	2,835	46.03%	19	0.31%
1980	2,126	36.55%	3,577	61.50%	113	1.94%
1976	1,723	32.38%	3,520	66.14%	79	1.48%
1972	2,370	49.74%	2,351	49.34%	44	0.92%
1968	1,620	33.02%	2,436	49.65%	850	17.33%
1964	1,074	20.10%	4,265	79.81%	5	0.09%
1960	2,203	33.92%	4,292	66.08%	0	0.00%
1956	2,945	49.98%	2,927	49.68%	20	0.34%
1952	2,262	41.67%	3,159	58.19%	8	0.15%
1948	1,171	27.42%	3,008	70.43%	92	2.15%
1944	1,673	35.64%	2,996	63.83%	25	0.53%
1940	1,763	33.49%	3,482	66.15%	19	0.36%
1936	1,567	30.45%	3,526	68.52%	53	1.03%
1932	1,571	26.09%	4,427	73.53%	23	0.38%
1928	2,395	40.85%	3,461	59.03%	7	0.12%
1924	1,975	38.53%	3,055	59.60%	96	1.87%
1920	2,431	38.85%	3,807	60.83%	20	0.32%
1916	1,396	40.15%	2,063	59.33%	18	0.52%
1912	735	21.99%	1,848	55.30%	759	22.71%

Education

All areas in Marion County are in the Marion County School District. ^[16] The district's comprehensive high school is Marion County High School.

Lebanon has a lending library, the Marion County Public Library. ^[17]

See also

• United States portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Kentucky

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. E., Kleber, John; Kentucky, University Press of; Policy, Institute for Regional Analysis and Public; Library, Camden-Carroll; University, Morehead State (2000). "The Kentucky Encyclopedia". www.kyenc.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.{{cite web}}: |last3= has generic name (help)
4. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp.  36.
5. Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 538. ISBN   9780722249208.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
7. Kentucky County Formation Chart, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, accessed June 2018.
8. "Geographic Center of Kentucky". www.kyatlas.com. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
9. Boundaries, areas, geographic centers and altitudes of the United States and the several States with a brief record of important changes in their territory (Report). US Geological Survey. 1923.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
14. "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 17, 2014.
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marion County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved November 7, 2023. - Text list
17. "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.

37°33′N85°16′W / 37.55°N 85.27°W / 37.55; -85.27