Named for Henry Knox Largest city Barbourville Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4 Area 1,005 km² Population 31,790 (2013) Cities Barbourville | Seat Barbourville Congressional district 5th Website www.knoxcountyky.com Founded 1800 Unemployment rate 7.3% (Apr 2015) University Union College | |
Rivers Cumberland River, Poplar Creek, Lynn Camp Creek | ||
Knox County is a county located near the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,883. Its county seat is Barbourville. The county is named for General Henry Knox.
Contents
- Map of Knox County KY USA
- History
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- Demographics
- K12
- Higher education
- Cities
- Census designated places
- Other unincorporated places
- References
Map of Knox County, KY, USA
Knox County is included in the London, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area.
It is one of the few coal-producing counties in Kentucky not to experience massive population loss.
History
Knox County was formed on December 19, 1799, from portions of Lincoln County. It was named for Henry Knox, a general and the first United States Secretary of War.
The Civil War Battle of Barbourville was fought on September 19, 1861, between 800 Confederate soldiers from General Felix Zollicoffer's command and 300 Union troops who attempted to defend the Union's Camp Dick Robinson. The Union men tore up the planks on the bridge in an attempt to keep the Confederates from crossing, but the more numerous Confederates succeeded anyway. They destroyed the camp and seized the arms and equipment it contained.
The present courthouse, completed in 1964, is the fifth courthouse to serve the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 388 square miles (1,000 km2), of which 386 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.4%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,795 people, 12,416 households, and 8,939 families residing in the county. The population density was 82 per square mile (32/km2). There were 13,999 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.84% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,416 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 13.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $18,294, and the median income for a family was $23,136. Males had a median income of $24,833 versus $18,390 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,660. About 29.60% of families and 34.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.40% of those under age 18 and 28.90% of those age 65 or over.
K–12
Three public school districts serve the county:
Higher education
Union College, a small Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college, is located in Barbourville.