Simpson County, Kentucky

Last updated

Simpson County
County
Old Simpson County, Kentucky courthouse.jpg
Old Simpson County Courthouse in Franklin
Map of Kentucky highlighting Simpson County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky in United States.svg
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°44′N86°35′W / 36.74°N 86.58°W / 36.74; -86.58
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kentucky.svg  Kentucky
Founded1819
Named for John Simpson
Seat Franklin
Largest cityFranklin
Area
 • Total
236 sq mi (610 km2)
 • Land234 sq mi (610 km2)
 • Water2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
19,594
 • Estimate 
(2023)
20,195 Increase2.svg
 • Density83/sq mi (32/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website simpsoncountyky.gov

Simpson County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,594. [1] Its county seat is Franklin. [2]

Contents

History

Simpson County was established in 1819 from Allen, Logan, and Warren Counties. [3] The county is named for Captain John Simpson, a Kentucky militia officer who fought in Battle of Fallen Timbers in the Northwest Indian War, and was killed during the War of 1812 in the Battle of River Raisin. [4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 236 square miles (610 km2), of which 234 square miles (610 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (1.0%) is water. [5] The county is located in the Pennyroyal Plateau region of the state.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1820 4,852—
1830 5,81519.8%
1840 6,53712.4%
1850 7,73318.3%
1860 8,1465.3%
1870 9,57317.5%
1880 10,64111.2%
1890 10,8782.2%
1900 11,6246.9%
1910 11,460−1.4%
1920 11,150−2.7%
1930 11,3361.7%
1940 11,7523.7%
1950 11,678−0.6%
1960 11,548−1.1%
1970 13,05413.0%
1980 14,67312.4%
1990 15,1453.2%
2000 16,4058.3%
2010 17,3275.6%
2020 19,59413.1%
2023 (est.)20,195 [6] 3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9]
1990-2000 [10] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,405 people, 6,415 households, and 4,638 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 per square mile (27/km2). There were 7,016 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.84% White, 10.22% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 6,415 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% 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 2.97.

The age distribution was 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,432, and the median income for a family was $42,525. Males had a median income of $32,160 versus $22,667 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,150. About 8.50% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Simpson County, Kentucky [11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 6,25371.25%2,40327.38%1201.37%
2020 5,88867.43%2,68130.70%1631.87%
2016 5,07767.41%2,14428.47%3104.12%
2012 4,35561.40%2,65037.36%881.24%
2008 4,43760.71%2,77537.97%971.33%
2004 4,27360.67%2,73038.76%400.57%
2000 3,16954.41%2,58344.35%721.24%
1996 2,18640.80%2,74951.31%4237.89%
1992 2,28039.04%2,83448.53%72612.43%
1988 2,69955.55%2,13844.00%220.45%
1984 3,07358.69%2,14040.87%230.44%
1980 2,02041.92%2,71356.30%861.78%
1976 1,48134.45%2,78264.71%360.84%
1972 2,28562.57%1,32536.28%421.15%
1968 1,43533.07%1,50534.69%1,39932.24%
1964 96723.33%3,16876.45%90.22%
1960 1,92742.18%2,64257.82%00.00%
1956 1,45433.43%2,87966.18%170.39%
1952 1,31032.43%2,72467.43%60.15%
1948 76220.46%2,75273.90%2105.64%
1944 1,01226.29%2,82173.27%170.44%
1940 98725.02%2,95074.78%80.20%
1936 1,24028.97%3,02770.72%130.30%
1932 1,20324.92%3,60374.64%210.44%
1928 1,63539.64%2,49060.36%00.00%
1924 1,29432.08%2,68866.63%521.29%
1920 1,68034.24%3,20665.34%210.43%
1916 95533.41%1,88766.03%160.56%
1912 54720.96%1,63962.80%42416.25%

In contrast to the Western Coalfield and the eastern part of the Pennyroyal Plateau, Simpson County was not highly pro-Union during the Civil War. [12] Consequently, Simpson was as reliably Democratic as the Jackson Purchase and Bluegrass during the following century: no Republican carried Simpson County until Richard Nixon’s 1972 landslide. As with all of rural Kentucky, the social liberalism of the Democratic Party – rejected by many southern whites [13] – has led to an increase in registered Republicans, and many people registered as Democrats vote for Republican candidates, especially at the national level. In 2014, of a population of 17,800, there were 12,700 registered voters in Simpson County: 8,040 (63%) were Democrats, 3,587 (28%) were Republican, and 1073 (9%) were unaffiliated or registered with another party. [14]

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [15] [16]
U.S. House James Comer (R) KY1
Ky. Senate Mike Wilson (R) 32
Ky. House Shawn McPherson (R)22

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, Kentucky
  4. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp.  37.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "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 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  12. ↑ Copeland, James E.; ‘Where Were the Kentucky Unionists and Secessionists’; The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, volume 71, no. 4 (October 1973), pp. 344-363
  13. ↑ Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times , April 24, 2014
  14. ↑ KY VOTER REGISTRATION STATISTICS REPORT
  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.

Sources

36°44′N86°35′W / 36.74°N 86.58°W / 36.74; -86.58

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