Marion County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 37°33′N 85°16′W / 37.55°N 85.27°W / 37.55; -85.27
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marion County
Marion County courthouse in Lebanon
Marion County courthouse in Lebanon
Map of Kentucky highlighting Marion County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°33′N 85°16′W / 37.55°N 85.27°W / 37.55; -85.27
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1834
Named forFrancis Marion
SeatLebanon
Largest cityLebanon
Area
 • Total347 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Land343 sq mi (890 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total19,581
 • Estimate 
(2023)
19,834 Increase
 • Density56/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.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[edit]

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 includes the geographic center of the state of Kentucky, which is located 3 miles NNW of Lebanon, just off KY 429. 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.

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
184011,032
185011,7656.6%
186012,5937.0%
187012,8381.9%
188014,69314.4%
189015,6486.5%
190016,2904.1%
191016,3300.2%
192015,527−4.9%
193015,499−0.2%
194016,9139.1%
195017,2121.8%
196016,887−1.9%
197016,714−1.0%
198017,9107.2%
199016,499−7.9%
200018,21210.4%
201019,8208.8%
202019,581−1.2%
2023 (est.)19,834[8]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 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[edit]

Politics[edit]

United States presidential election results for Marion County, Kentucky[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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[edit]

All areas in Marion County are in the Marion County School District.[14] The district's comprehensive high school is Marion County High School.

Lebanon has a lending library, the Marion County Public Library.[15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "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)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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. ^ "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 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 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 17, 2014.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marion County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2023. - Text list
  15. ^ "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.

37°33′N 85°16′W / 37.55°N 85.27°W / 37.55; -85.27