Jefferson County, Kentucky

Jefferson County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 741,096.[1] It is the most populous county in the commonwealth (with more than twice the population of second ranked Fayette County).

Jefferson County
Consolidated city-county
Jefferson County Courthouse (now Louisville Metro Hall) in downtown Louisville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°11′N 85°40′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1780
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatLouisville
Largest cityLouisville
Area
 • Total398 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Land380 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  4.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
766,757
 • Density2,011/sq mi (776/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts3rd, 4th
Websitewww.louisvilleky.gov

Since a city-county merger in 2003, the county's territory, population and government have been coextensive with the city of Louisville, which also serves as county seat. The administrative entity created by this merger is the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government,[2] abbreviated to Louisville Metro.[3]

Jefferson County is the anchor of the Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, sometimes also referred to as Kentuckiana.

History
See also: History of Louisville, Kentucky

Jefferson County—originally Jefferson County, Virginia—was established by the Virginia General Assembly in June 1780, when it abolished and partitioned Kentucky County into three counties: Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln. Named for Thomas Jefferson, who was governor of Virginia at the time,[4] it was one of Kentucky's nine original counties on June 1, 1792.

Jefferson County in 1780, as established by the Virginia General Assembly

In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, George Rogers Clark's militia and 60 civilian settlers, established the first American settlement in the county on Corn Island in the Ohio River, at head of the Falls of the Ohio. They moved to the mainland the following year, establishing Louisville.

Richard Mentor Johnson, the 9th Vice President of the United States, was born in Jefferson County in 1780, while the family was living in a settlement along the Beargrass Creek.[5]

The last major American Indian raid in present-day Jefferson County was the Chenoweth Massacre on July 17, 1789.

Government

Whenever possible, the metro government generally avoids any self-reference including the name "Jefferson County" and has even renamed the Jefferson County Courthouse as Metro Hall.

Prior to the 2003 merger, the head of local government was the County Judge/Executive, a post that still exists but now has few powers. The office is currently held by Queenie Averette.[6]

Local government is effectively now led by the Mayor of Louisville Metro, Greg Fischer.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 398 square miles (1,030 km2), of which 380 square miles (980 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (4.3%) is water.[7] The Ohio River forms its northern boundary with the state of Indiana.

The highest point is South Park Hill, elevation 902 feet (275 m), located in the southern part of the county.[8] The lowest point is 383 feet (117 m) along the Ohio River just north of West Point.[9]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17904,765—
18008,75483.7%
181013,39953.1%
182020,76855.0%
183023,97915.5%
184036,34651.6%
185059,83164.6%
186089,40449.4%
1870118,95333.1%
1880146,01022.7%
1890188,59829.2%
1900232,54923.3%
1910262,92013.1%
1920286,3698.9%
1930355,35024.1%
1940385,3928.5%
1950484,61525.7%
1960610,94726.1%
1970695,05513.8%
1980685,004−1.4%
1990664,937−2.9%
2000693,6044.3%
2010741,0966.8%
2019 (est.)766,757[10]3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2019[1]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,801 per square mile (695/km2). There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of 794 per square mile (307/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.38% White, 18.88% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 287,012 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.20% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.20% were non-families. 30.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,357 (2018), and the median income for a family was $49,161 (2005). Males had a median income of $36,484 versus $26,255 for females (2005). The per capita income for the county was $31,980 (2018). About 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over (2018).

Communities

Since the formation of Louisville Metro on January 6, 2003, residents of the cities below also became citizens of the newly expanded Metro, but none of the incorporated places dissolved in the process. The functions formerly served by the county government for the towns were assumed by Louisville Metro. However, the former City of Louisville was effectively absorbed into the new city-county government.

† Formerly a census-designated place in the county, but, in 2003, these places became neighborhoods within the city limits of Louisville Metro.

Politics

Jefferson County has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992. In the 2019 gubernatorial election, it voted for Democrat Andy Beshear by a higher percentage than any other county in Kentucky, giving him 67% of the vote.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 39.0% 150,646 59.1% 228,358 2.0% 7,625
2016 40.7% 143,768 54.1% 190,836 5.2% 18,496
2012 43.6% 148,423 54.7% 186,181 1.7% 5,808
2008 43.4% 153,957 55.3% 196,435 1.3% 4,544
2004 48.8% 164,566 50.4% 170,158 0.8% 2,845
2000 48.0% 145,052 49.6% 149,901 2.5% 7,409
1996 41.0% 114,860 51.5% 144,207 7.5% 20,846
1992 37.6% 116,566 49.3% 152,728 13.1% 40,499
1988 52.0% 139,711 47.6% 127,936 0.4% 982
1984 57.7% 167,640 42.0% 122,133 0.3% 977
1980 48.0% 127,254 47.4% 125,844 4.6% 12,188
1976 50.2% 130,262 47.3% 122,731 2.5% 6,452
1972 60.4% 142,436 37.4% 88,143 2.2% 5,185
1968 43.1% 95,942 40.5% 90,242 16.4% 36,473
1964 35.5% 80,951 64.1% 146,023 0.4% 849
1960 50.3% 118,575 49.7% 117,180 0.0% 0
1956 58.5% 119,262 40.9% 83,483 0.6% 1,172
1952 54.6% 99,069 45.0% 81,642 0.4% 736
1948 47.4% 69,645 48.2% 70,756 4.4% 6,456
1944 43.0% 60,905 56.7% 80,236 0.3% 480
1940 41.0% 66,052 58.8% 94,710 0.3% 456
1936 37.3% 53,043 60.2% 85,748 2.5% 3,583
1932 47.6% 67,137 51.3% 72,402 1.1% 1,557
1928 60.1% 97,803 39.7% 64,472 0.2% 338
1924 52.5% 61,768 42.9% 50,409 4.6% 5,409
1920 54.3% 68,202 44.6% 56,046 1.0% 1,301
1916 48.7% 28,386 49.5% 28,840 1.9% 1,088
1912 6.7% 3,519 46.1% 24,100 47.2% 24,686[17]
1908 49.6% 27,180 47.8% 26,186 2.4% 1,334
1904 47.1% 21,664 49.5% 22,781 3.2% 1,514
1900 53.5% 24,906 45.3% 21,107 1.1% 523
1896 61.5% 29,107 35.3% 16,707 3.0% 1,458
1892 38.1% 13,454 59.2% 20,919 2.5% 909
1888 42.0% 12,863 57.3% 17,535 0.6% 193
1884 42.6% 8,709 55.2% 11,266 2.0% 424
1880 37.6% 8,746 60.0% 13,970 2.3% 536

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  2. "Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Code of Ordinances". American Legal Publishing Corporation. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  3. "Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Code of Ordinances § 10.06 DEFINITIONS". American Legal Publishing Corporation. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  4. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 35.
  5. "Richard M. Johnson, 9th Vice Pres. of the USA". geni_family_tree. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. Shafer, Sheldon (September 14, 2014). "Beshear appoints Averette as judge-exec". The Courier-Journal.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  8. "Groundwater Resources of Jefferson County, Kentucky – Topography". Groundwater Resources in Kentucky. Kentucky Geological Survey. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  9. Kleber, John (2001). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 888–889. ISBN 9780813121000.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  17. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 23,516 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 1,170 votes.

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