Rockcastle County, Kentucky

Last updated

Rockcastle County
County
Rockcastle County Kentucky Courthouse.jpg
Rockcastle County courthouse in Mount Vernon
Map of Kentucky highlighting Rockcastle County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky in United States.svg
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°22′N84°19′W / 37.36°N 84.32°W / 37.36; -84.32
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky
Founded1810
Named after Rockcastle River
Seat Mount Vernon
Largest cityMount Vernon
Area
 • Total
318 sq mi (820 km2)
 • Land317 sq mi (820 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
16,037
 • Estimate 
(2024)
16,226 Increase2.svg
 • Density50/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th
Website rockcastlecountyky.com

Rockcastle County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,037. [1] Its county seat is Mt. Vernon. [2]

Contents

The county was founded in 1810 [3] and named for the Rockcastle River, which runs through it; the river, in turn, is named for its rock cliffs. Rockcastle County is part of the Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 318 square miles (820 km2), of which 317 square miles (820 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.5%) is water. [4]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1820 2,249—
1830 2,86527.4%
1840 3,40919.0%
1850 4,69737.8%
1860 5,34313.8%
1870 7,14533.7%
1880 9,67035.3%
1890 9,8411.8%
1900 12,41626.2%
1910 14,47316.6%
1920 15,4066.4%
1930 15,149−1.7%
1940 17,16513.3%
1950 13,925−18.9%
1960 12,334−11.4%
1970 12,305−0.2%
1980 13,97313.6%
1990 14,8035.9%
2000 16,58212.0%
2010 17,0562.9%
2020 16,037−6.0%
2024 (est.)16,226 [5] 1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8]
1990-2000 [9] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,582 people, 6,544 households, and 4,764 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 per square mile (20/km2). There were 7,353 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (8.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.81% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,544 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,475 and the median income for a family was $30,278. Males had a median income of $26,770 versus $18,388 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,337. About 19.10% of families and 23.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.30% of those under age 18 and 21.60% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Rockcastle County, Kentucky [10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 1,08243.16%85934.26%56622.58%
1916 1,93266.28%96833.21%150.51%
1920 3,56170.96%1,43828.66%190.38%
1924 2,71266.24%1,27731.19%1052.56%
1928 3,85880.95%90819.05%00.00%
1932 3,57764.29%1,97635.51%110.20%
1936 3,87571.19%1,56828.81%00.00%
1940 3,53668.08%1,65231.81%60.12%
1944 3,80274.03%1,32725.84%70.14%
1948 3,23670.61%1,30928.56%380.83%
1952 3,50372.35%1,32627.39%130.27%
1956 3,78774.08%1,31325.68%120.23%
1960 3,98277.73%1,14122.27%00.00%
1964 2,82963.20%1,63136.44%160.36%
1968 3,07266.96%86818.92%64814.12%
1972 3,43777.31%96821.77%410.92%
1976 2,58364.37%1,40835.09%220.55%
1980 3,54371.62%1,34527.19%591.19%
1984 4,32879.73%1,08920.06%110.20%
1988 3,88078.42%1,04121.04%270.55%
1992 3,28767.12%1,14423.36%4669.52%
1996 3,10666.80%1,16024.95%3848.26%
2000 3,99276.08%1,17422.37%811.54%
2004 4,80477.91%1,32021.41%420.68%
2008 4,75775.82%1,41022.47%1071.71%
2012 5,02880.89%1,09717.65%911.46%
2016 5,60983.83%91513.68%1672.50%
2020 6,57784.49%1,13414.57%730.94%
2024 6,63585.76%98612.74%1161.50%

Rockcastle County has been a Republican stronghold since the 1880s. It has only voted for the Democratic presidential nominee four times: in 1868, 1872, 1876, and 1880.[ citation needed ]

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [11] [12]
U.S. House Hal Rogers (R) KY5
Ky. Senate Brandon J. Storm (R) 21
Ky. House Josh Bray (R) 71

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Rockcastle County". Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "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 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.

37°22′N84°19′W / 37.36°N 84.32°W / 37.36; -84.32

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