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Ballard County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 37°04′N 89°00′W / 37.06°N 89.00°W / 37.06; -89.00
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Ballard County
County
Ballard County Courthouse in Wickliffe
Ballard County Courthouse in Wickliffe
Map of Kentucky highlighting Ballard 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°04′N 89°00′W / 37.06°N 89°W / 37.06; -89
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1842
Named forBland Ballard
SeatWickliffe
Largest cityLaCenter
Area
 • Total274 sq mi (710 km2)
 • Land247 sq mi (640 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  9.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,728
 • Estimate 
(2023)
7,582 Decrease
 • Density28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.ballardcounty.ky.gov

Ballard County is a county located in the west portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,728. Its county seat is Wickliffe and its largest city is LaCenter.[1] The county was created by the Kentucky State Legislature in 1842 and is named for Captain Bland Ballard, a soldier, statesman, and member of the Kentucky General Assembly.[2] Ballard County is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Ballard County was formed from portions of Hickman County and McCracken County. It was named for Bland Ballard (1761–1853), a Kentucky pioneer and soldier who served as a scout for General George Rogers Clark during the American Revolutionary War, and later commanded a company during the War of 1812. On February 17, 1880, the courthouse was destroyed by a fire, which also destroyed most of the county's early records.[3] The county seat was transferred from Blandville to Wickliffe in 1882.[4]

Geography

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Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross at the Confluence in Wickliffe

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 274 square miles (710 km2), of which 247 square miles (640 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (9.9%) is water.[5]

State protected area

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Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve is a 458 acres (1.85 km2) nature preserve located in Ballard County, in the Barlow Bottoms. The preserve is part of the 3,000-acre (12 km2) Axe Lake Swamp wetlands complex which supports at least eight rare plant and animal species. The site has been recognized as a priority wetland in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.[6]

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18505,496—
18608,69258.2%
187012,57644.7%
188014,37814.3%
18908,390−41.6%
190010,76128.3%
191012,69017.9%
192012,045−5.1%
19309,910−17.7%
19409,480−4.3%
19508,545−9.9%
19608,291−3.0%
19708,276−0.2%
19808,7986.3%
19907,902−10.2%
20008,2864.9%
20108,249−0.4%
20207,728−6.3%
2023 (est.)7,582[7]−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2021[12]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 8,286 people, 3,395 households, and 2,413 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 per square mile (13/km2). There were 3,837 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.32% White, 2.87% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 3,395 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.85.

The age distribution was 23.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,130, and the median income for a family was $41,386. Males had a median income of $32,345 versus $20,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,035. About 10.70% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.30% of those under age 18 and 15.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Voter registration

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Ballard County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of November 17, 2015[14]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 4,671 73.37%
Republican 1,402 22.02%
Others 227 3.57%
Independent 57 0.90%
Libertarian 5 0.08%
Green 2 0.03%
Total 6,366 100%

Statewide elections

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United States presidential election results for Ballard County, Kentucky[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,331 81.48% 697 17.05% 60 1.47%
2020 3,356 79.43% 825 19.53% 44 1.04%
2016 3,161 77.08% 816 19.90% 124 3.02%
2012 2,647 67.96% 1,189 30.53% 59 1.51%
2008 2,537 62.49% 1,427 35.15% 96 2.36%
2004 2,389 57.19% 1,759 42.11% 29 0.69%
2000 1,824 48.38% 1,880 49.87% 66 1.75%
1996 1,064 28.43% 2,255 60.26% 423 11.30%
1992 1,108 28.56% 2,268 58.45% 504 12.99%
1988 1,460 40.23% 2,162 59.58% 7 0.19%
1984 1,663 45.13% 2,002 54.33% 20 0.54%
1980 1,190 31.10% 2,583 67.51% 53 1.39%
1976 649 17.57% 2,794 75.66% 250 6.77%
1972 1,542 49.92% 1,411 45.68% 136 4.40%
1968 564 16.38% 1,632 47.39% 1,248 36.24%
1964 519 15.22% 2,867 84.10% 23 0.67%
1960 1,121 28.99% 2,746 71.01% 0 0.00%
1956 838 21.29% 3,088 78.46% 10 0.25%
1952 851 22.59% 2,910 77.25% 6 0.16%
1948 454 14.04% 2,702 83.55% 78 2.41%
1944 637 18.25% 2,845 81.50% 9 0.26%
1940 758 19.09% 3,212 80.89% 1 0.03%
1936 773 17.96% 3,523 81.87% 7 0.16%
1932 572 12.48% 3,987 86.98% 25 0.55%
1928 940 24.49% 2,896 75.44% 3 0.08%
1924 767 19.18% 3,128 78.22% 104 2.60%
1920 1,107 21.24% 3,987 76.48% 119 2.28%
1916 692 23.05% 2,222 74.02% 88 2.93%
1912 555 21.54% 1,706 66.20% 316 12.26%
Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2023 63.72% 1,691 36.28% 963 0.00% 0
2019 65.34% 2,010 32.90% 1,012 1.75% 54
2015 55.20% 1,312 41.65% 990 3.16% 75
2011 35.80% 773 59.01% 1,274 5.19% 112
2007 34.09% 927 65.91% 1,792 0.00% 0
2003 46.53% 1,433 53.47% 1,647 0.00% 0
1999 6.70% 99 83.28% 1,230 10.02% 148
1995 32.30% 938 67.46% 1,959 0.24% 7

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ E., Kleber, John; Kentucky, University Press of; Policy, Institute for Regional Analysis and Public; Library, Camden-Carroll; University, Morehead State (January 1, 2000). "The Kentucky Encyclopedia". kyenc.org. Retrieved December 29, 2016. {{cite web}}: |last3= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Ballard County, Kentucky Genealogy and History". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  4. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 189. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  6. ^ Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve web site Archived September 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine URL accessed on August 20, 2006.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  11. ^ "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 12, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Earl Grace". baseball-reference.com. Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.

37°04′N 89°00′W / 37.06°N 89.00°W / 37.06; -89.00

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