Madison County, Kentucky - Wikipedia
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| Madison County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| County | |
 Madison County Courthouse in Richmond | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
| Coordinates: 37°43′N 84°17′W / 37.72°N 84.28°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | December 15, 1785 |
| Named after | 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 (2024) | 99,582  |
| • Density | 212/sq mi (81.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www.madisoncountyky.us |
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.[1] Its county seat is Richmond.[2] The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States.[3]
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 was considered a moist county, meaning that although the county prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages (and is thus a dry county), it contained a city where retail alcohol sales are allowed. Nevertheless, two of the county's 19 precincts are completely dry.[4] Alcohol can also be sold by the drink in Berea,[5] Richmond, and at Arlington and The Bull golf clubs. In 2023, the county voted to become wet.[6]
Madison County is home to Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, and historic Boone Tavern.[7] Famous pioneer Daniel Boone lived in Madison County and built Fort Boonesborough, now a state historic site.
History
[edit]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.[8][9]
Geography
[edit]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.[10]
Major highways
[edit]- Interstate 75
- U.S. 25
- U.S. 421
- KY 52
Adjacent counties
[edit]- Fayette County (north)
- Clark County (northeast)
- Estill County (east)
- Jackson County (southeast)
- Rockcastle County (south)
- Garrard County (southwest)
- Jessamine County (northwest)
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 99,582 | [11] | 7.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12]1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1] | |||
2020 census
[edit]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 92,701. The median age was 35.6 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.5 males age 18 and over.[16][17]
The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.[17]
63.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.2% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 36,148 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 39,319 housing units, of which 8.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.5% were owner-occupied and 40.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.[16]
2000 census
[edit]As of the census[19] 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.
Economy
[edit]Military
[edit]The Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) is located just south of Richmond.[20]
In February 2026, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell announced a nearly $1 billion in federal funding for BGAD as part of the FY 2026 Defense Appropriations bill. Energetics Manufacturing received $903 million to expand manufacturing capacity for energetics materials, (explosives materials). Plus an additional $64+ million towards other BGAD improvements.[21]
Politics
[edit]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 2,094 | 34.67% | 2,992 | 49.54% | 953 | 15.78% |
| 1916 | 3,017 | 47.56% | 3,295 | 51.94% | 32 | 0.50% |
| 1920 | 6,012 | 51.21% | 5,647 | 48.10% | 80 | 0.68% |
| 1924 | 5,276 | 51.26% | 4,895 | 47.56% | 121 | 1.18% |
| 1928 | 6,325 | 57.03% | 4,736 | 42.71% | 29 | 0.26% |
| 1932 | 5,811 | 45.10% | 6,957 | 54.00% | 116 | 0.90% |
| 1936 | 6,034 | 48.76% | 6,259 | 50.58% | 82 | 0.66% |
| 1940 | 5,789 | 46.91% | 6,484 | 52.54% | 67 | 0.54% |
| 1944 | 5,468 | 48.36% | 5,769 | 51.02% | 70 | 0.62% |
| 1948 | 4,619 | 45.48% | 5,344 | 52.62% | 193 | 1.90% |
| 1952 | 5,886 | 49.82% | 5,901 | 49.94% | 28 | 0.24% |
| 1956 | 5,955 | 50.85% | 5,670 | 48.42% | 85 | 0.73% |
| 1960 | 6,692 | 54.35% | 5,621 | 45.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 4,266 | 38.09% | 6,877 | 61.40% | 57 | 0.51% |
| 1968 | 5,325 | 44.83% | 3,884 | 32.70% | 2,669 | 22.47% |
| 1972 | 8,659 | 65.60% | 4,328 | 32.79% | 212 | 1.61% |
| 1976 | 6,581 | 46.63% | 7,299 | 51.71% | 234 | 1.66% |
| 1980 | 8,437 | 47.74% | 8,208 | 46.45% | 1,026 | 5.81% |
| 1984 | 11,309 | 63.09% | 6,509 | 36.31% | 108 | 0.60% |
| 1988 | 9,958 | 59.39% | 6,672 | 39.79% | 136 | 0.81% |
| 1992 | 8,719 | 43.94% | 8,005 | 40.35% | 3,117 | 15.71% |
| 1996 | 9,212 | 48.23% | 8,142 | 42.62% | 1,748 | 9.15% |
| 2000 | 13,682 | 57.81% | 9,309 | 39.33% | 675 | 2.85% |
| 2004 | 18,922 | 61.62% | 11,525 | 37.53% | 260 | 0.85% |
| 2008 | 19,694 | 60.53% | 12,392 | 38.09% | 451 | 1.39% |
| 2012 | 21,128 | 63.41% | 11,512 | 34.55% | 682 | 2.05% |
| 2016 | 23,431 | 62.70% | 11,793 | 31.56% | 2,147 | 5.75% |
| 2020 | 27,356 | 62.23% | 15,581 | 35.45% | 1,020 | 2.32% |
| 2024 | 29,130 | 64.26% | 15,180 | 33.49% | 1,019 | 2.25% |
The county voted "No" on 2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 52% to 48%, and backed Donald Trump with 62% of the vote to Joe Biden's 35% in the 2020 presidential election.[23]
Local government
[edit]The Madison County courthouse is located at 135 W Irvine Street in Richmond.
County Judge-Executive: Reagan Taylor County Clerk: Kenny Barger Sheriff: Mike Coyle Coroner: Jimmy Cornelison Jailer: Steve Tussey County Attorney: Jennie Haymond Circuit Clerk: David M. Fernandez County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA): Billy Ackerman County Surveyor: Stuart W. SpencerElected officials
[edit]| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[24][25] | ||
| U.S. House | Andy Barr (R) | KY 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Jared Carpenter (R) | 34 |
| Ky. House | Josh Bray (R) | 71 |
| Deanna Frazier Gordon (R) | 81 | |
| Timmy Truett (R) | 89 | |
| Bill Wesley (R) | 91 | |
Education
[edit]Schools
[edit]Madison County is served by two school districts:[26]
- 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
[edit]- Eastern Kentucky University, located in Richmond
- Berea College, located in Berea
- National College of Business & Technology, located in Richmond
Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]- Berea
- Richmond (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
[edit]- Baldwin
- Bighill
- Bobtown
- Boonesborough
- Buggytown
- Bybee
- College Hill
- Dreyfus
- Kingston
- Kirksville
- Million
- Moberly
- Newby
- Redhouse
- Round Hill
- Ruthton
- Speedwell
- Union City, Kentucky,[27] where vaudevillian Andrew Tribble was born[28] A historical marker commemorates his life at Union City Park.[29]
- Valley View
- Waco
Notable people
[edit]- Frances Estill Beauchamp (1860–1923), temperance activist, social reformer, lecturer
- Daniel S. Bentley (1850–1916), American minister, writer, newspaper founder[30]
- 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
[edit]
Hokuto City, Yamanashi, Japan (since 1990)[citation needed]
See also
[edit]
United States portal
Kentucky portal
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, Kentucky
References
[edit]- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
- ^ Lanier, Yvette (August 1, 2007). "Berea votes down alcohol sales again". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved August 1, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ "Berea prepares for future with alcohol sales". Richmond Register. September 30, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ "Madison County is wet, what's next?". May 23, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
- ^ Foust, Michele. "200-year-old Kentucky pottery business a sight to see ", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 25, 2007. Retrieved on February 23, 2009.
- ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
- ^ "Madison County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "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 17, 2014.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) is an active military installation, Access is strictly controlled". Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.}
- ^ "$1.7B in federal funds secured for Ky defense industry, bases, McConnell says". The Lane Report. February 4, 2026.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "November 8, 2022 - Official 2022 General Election Results" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Madison County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022. - Text list - For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: "Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Berea ISD" (PDF). Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer. Frankfort, KY: Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission. September 15, 2015. p. 93 (PDF p. 107/174). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 10, 2020.
- ^ Galbreath, Charles Burleigh (February 28, 1925). "History of Ohio". American Historical Society, Incorporated – via Google Books.
- ^ "Tribble, Andrew A. · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database". nkaa.uky.edu.
- ^ "Marker Dedicated to Vaudevillian Andrew Tribble in Madison County". WEKU. October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Bentley, Daniel S." Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, University of Kentucky. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Madison County, Kentucky. - Madison County government's website
- Madison County school district's website
- The Kentucky Highlands Project
- List of Madison County historic places on Placeography Archived March 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
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37°43′N 84°17′W / 37.72°N 84.28°W
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