Morgan County, Kentucky

Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,923.[1] Its county seat is West Liberty.[2] The county is among the dry counties, which means that the sale of alcohol is restricted or prohibited.

Morgan County
U.S. county
Morgan County courthouse in West Liberty
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°55′N 83°16′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1822
Named forDaniel Morgan
SeatWest Liberty
Largest cityWest Liberty
Area
 • Total384 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Land381 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.7%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
13,345
 • Density37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitemorgancounty.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

History

Morgan County was formed on December 7, 1822 from portions of Bath County and Floyd County.[3] It was named for Daniel Morgan, a distinguished general in the American Revolutionary War.[4]

The history of Christian churches in the county was documented in A History of the Churches of Christ in Morgan County Kentucky, a thesis by Luke Bolin in 1941, which included pictures of churches and group pictures of people associated with the churches.

Morgan County was hit by an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012, which cost the lives of six people and injured many others. Following the tornado, Morgan County's population decreased, but the county seat still has a strong population for a small town.

Morgan County had begun building a new court house in 2011, but the tornado delayed its construction to late 2013.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (990 km2), of which 300 square miles (780 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18302,857—
18404,60361.1%
18507,62065.5%
18609,23721.2%
18705,975−35.3%
18808,45541.5%
189011,24933.0%
190012,79213.7%
191016,25927.1%
192016,5181.6%
193015,130−8.4%
194016,82711.2%
195013,624−19.0%
196011,056−18.8%
197010,019−9.4%
198012,10320.8%
199011,648−3.8%
200013,94819.7%
201013,923−0.2%
2018 (est.)13,345[6]−4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 13,948 people, 4,752 households, and 3,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 per square mile (14/km2). There were 5,487 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.59% White, 4.38% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,752 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.60% 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 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,869, and the median income for a family was $26,135. Males had a median income of $23,966 versus $18,463 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,657. 27.20% of the population and 23.50% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 33.90% are under the age of 18 and 28.50% are 65 or older.

Politics

Morgan County was a strongly Democratic county throughout the 20th century, with the party's candidate winning in every presidential election until 2000, when Al Gore became the first Democrat to lose the county since Woodrow Wilson in 1912. Since then, however, like almost all of Kentucky, the party has taken a sharp turn to the Republicans due to opposition to the Democratic Party's stance on coal as well as disagreements with the party on social issues.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 77.6% 4,301 21.2% 1,175 1.2% 66
2016 76.0% 3,628 21.1% 1,006 3.0% 141
2012 67.6% 3,021 30.6% 1,369 1.8% 82
2008 54.7% 2,396 42.9% 1,879 2.4% 104
2004 50.9% 2,682 48.0% 2,532 1.1% 58
2000 54.1% 2,295 44.2% 1,875 1.7% 70
1996 38.9% 1,439 49.9% 1,843 11.2% 413
1992 28.1% 1,239 60.2% 2,655 11.7% 517
1988 38.0% 1,452 61.0% 2,329 0.9% 36
1984 42.4% 1,834 57.3% 2,481 0.4% 15
1980 34.5% 1,450 64.3% 2,698 1.2% 51
1976 25.0% 973 74.3% 2,897 0.7% 27
1972 45.6% 1,535 53.9% 1,815 0.6% 19
1968 33.9% 1,341 56.1% 2,222 10.1% 398
1964 14.1% 546 84.7% 3,293 1.2% 48
1960 37.1% 1,718 62.9% 2,910 0.0% 0
1956 37.2% 1,878 62.7% 3,164 0.1% 6
1952 29.3% 1,311 70.6% 3,161 0.1% 4
1948 21.9% 987 77.5% 3,488 0.5% 24
1944 27.3% 1,217 72.6% 3,242 0.1% 5
1940 26.7% 1,509 73.3% 4,148 0.0% 0
1936 28.0% 1,269 71.9% 3,256 0.1% 6
1932 25.7% 1,435 74.1% 4,137 0.2% 12
1928 44.0% 2,025 56.0% 2,575 0.0% 0
1924 35.1% 1,805 64.4% 3,311 0.5% 28
1920 34.9% 1,802 64.8% 3,347 0.3% 17
1916 32.4% 1,123 67.0% 2,319 0.6% 21
1912 45.5% 876 41.5% 800 13.0% 250

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Morgan County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  4. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-05.

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