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Madison County, Kentucky facts for kids

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This page is about the Kentucky county formed in 1785 as Madison County, Virginia. For the Virginia county of the same name formed in 1792, see Madison County, Virginia.
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Madison County
U.S. county
Madison County Courthouse in Richmond
Madison County Courthouse in Richmond
Map of Kentucky highlighting Madison County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kentucky
Founded December 15, 1785
Named for James Madison
Seat Richmond
Largest city Richmond
Area
 • Total 443 sq mi (1,150 km2)
 • Land 437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water 6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 92,701
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 96,735 Increase
 • Density 209.26/sq mi (80.79/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th

Madison County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. At the 2020 census, its population was 92,701. Its county seat is Richmond. The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States.

The county is part of the Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area.

Madison County is considered a moist county, meaning that although the county prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages (and is thus a dry county), it contains a city where retail alcohol sales are allowed. Nevertheless, two of the county's 19 precincts are completely dry. Alcohol can also be sold by the drink in Berea, Richmond, and at Arlington and The Bull golf clubs. In 2023, the county voted to become wet.

Madison County is home to Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, and historic Boone Tavern. Famous pioneer Daniel Boone lived in Madison County and built Fort Boonesborough, now a state historic site.

History

Indian trader John Findley, Daniel Boone, and four others first came into the area that is now Madison County in 1769 on a hunting and exploring expedition. In 1774, the Transylvania Company, led by Judge Richard Henderson of North Carolina, purchased 20,000,000 acres (8,100,000 ha) of land west of the Appalachians (including present-day Madison County) from the Cherokee Nation. Daniel Boone was hired to cut a trail through the Cumberland Gap and establish a settlement on the Kentucky River. The settlement at Fort Boonesborough began in April 1775.

In 1785, Madison County was established from a portion of Lincoln County, Virginia.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 443 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (1.3%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 5,772 —
1800 10,490 81.7%
1810 15,540 48.1%
1820 15,954 2.7%
1830 18,751 17.5%
1840 16,355 −12.8%
1850 15,727 −3.8%
1860 17,207 9.4%
1870 19,543 13.6%
1880 22,052 12.8%
1890 24,348 10.4%
1900 25,607 5.2%
1910 26,951 5.2%
1920 26,284 −2.5%
1930 27,621 5.1%
1940 28,541 3.3%
1950 31,179 9.2%
1960 33,482 7.4%
1970 42,730 27.6%
1980 53,352 24.9%
1990 57,508 7.8%
2000 70,872 23.2%
2010 82,916 17.0%
2020 92,701 11.8%
2023 (est.) 96,735 16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 70,872 people, 27,152 households, and 18,218 families residing in the county. The population density was 161 per square mile (62/km2). There were 29,595 housing units at an average density of 67 per square mile (26/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.01% White, 4.44% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 27,152 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.

By age, 21.90% were under 18, 18.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. Both the relatively large 18-to-24 population and the relatively low median age can be explained by the presence of Eastern Kentucky University, and to a considerably lesser extent Berea College. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,861, and the median income for a family was $41,383. Males had a median income of $31,974 versus $22,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,790. About 12.00% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

Elections

United States presidential election results for Madison County, Kentucky
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 27,356 62.23% 15,581 35.45% 1,020 2.32%
2016 23,431 62.70% 11,793 31.56% 2,147 5.75%
2012 21,128 63.41% 11,512 34.55% 682 2.05%
2008 19,694 60.53% 12,392 38.09% 451 1.39%
2004 18,922 61.62% 11,525 37.53% 260 0.85%
2000 13,682 57.81% 9,309 39.33% 675 2.85%
1996 9,212 48.23% 8,142 42.62% 1,748 9.15%
1992 8,719 43.94% 8,005 40.35% 3,117 15.71%
1988 9,958 59.39% 6,672 39.79% 136 0.81%
1984 11,309 63.09% 6,509 36.31% 108 0.60%
1980 8,437 47.74% 8,208 46.45% 1,026 5.81%
1976 6,581 46.63% 7,299 51.71% 234 1.66%
1972 8,659 65.60% 4,328 32.79% 212 1.61%
1968 5,325 44.83% 3,884 32.70% 2,669 22.47%
1964 4,266 38.09% 6,877 61.40% 57 0.51%
1960 6,692 54.35% 5,621 45.65% 0 0.00%
1956 5,955 50.85% 5,670 48.42% 85 0.73%
1952 5,886 49.82% 5,901 49.94% 28 0.24%
1948 4,619 44.63% 5,344 51.64% 386 3.73%
1944 5,468 48.36% 5,769 51.02% 70 0.62%
1940 5,789 46.91% 6,484 52.54% 67 0.54%
1936 6,034 48.76% 6,259 50.58% 82 0.66%
1932 5,811 45.10% 6,957 54.00% 116 0.90%
1928 6,325 57.03% 4,736 42.71% 29 0.26%
1924 5,276 51.26% 4,895 47.56% 121 1.18%
1920 6,012 51.21% 5,647 48.10% 80 0.68%
1916 3,017 47.56% 3,295 51.94% 32 0.50%
1912 2,094 34.67% 2,992 49.54% 953 15.78%


Education

Schools

Madison County is served by two school districts:

  • Madison County Schools, currently consisting of 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 2 high schools.
  • Berea Independent Schools, currently consisting of 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school.

The county is also served by Model Laboratory School which is part of Eastern Kentucky University.

Colleges and universities

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Economy

Military

The Blue Grass Army Depot is located just south of Richmond.

Notable people

  • Frances Estill Beauchamp (1860–1923), temperance activist, social reformer, lecturer
  • Daniel S. Bentley (1850–1916), American minister, writer, newspaper founder
  • Daniel Boone - American frontiersman and explorer of Kentucky.
  • Kit Carson - Christopher Houston Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868), better known as Kit Carson, was an American frontiersman.
  • Mary Kavanaugh Eagle (1854–1903), American activist, clubwoman, book editor.
  • Lonnie Napier (1940–2023) – former representative for House District 36 in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Sister communities

  • Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Hokuto City, Yamanashi, Japan (since 1990)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Madison (Kentucky) para niños

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