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Harrison County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 38°26′N 84°20′W / 38.44°N 84.33°W / 38.44; -84.33
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Harrison County
County
Harrison County Courthouse in Cynthiana
Harrison County Courthouse in Cynthiana
Map of Kentucky highlighting Harrison County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°26′N 84°20′W / 38.44°N 84.33°W / 38.44; -84.33
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 21, 1793
Named forBenjamin Harrison (Pennsylvania)
SeatCynthiana
Largest cityCynthiana
Area
 • Total
310 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Land306 sq mi (790 km2)
 • Water3.5 sq mi (9 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
18,692
 • Estimate 
(2023)
19,415 Increase
 • Density60/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.harrisoncounty
fiscalcourt.com

Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,692.[1] Its county seat is Cynthiana.[2] The county was founded in 1793 and named for Colonel Benjamin Harrison, an advocate for Kentucky statehood, framer of the Kentucky Constitution, and Kentucky legislator.

History

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Harrison County was formed on December 21, 1793, from portions of Bourbon and Scott Counties.[3] Harrison was the 17th Kentucky county in order of formation.[4] It was named after Colonel Benjamin Harrison, an early settler in the area.[5]

The First Battle of Cynthiana was on July 17, 1862, part of Col. John Hunt Morgan's First Kentucky Raid. Morgan's Last Kentucky Raid included on June 11–12, 1864 the Civil War Second Battle of Cynthiana which was fought near Keller's Bridge and the later site of Battle of Grove Cemetery. On the first day, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his 1,200 Kentucky cavalrymen captured the town, making prisoners of its Union garrison (five companies from the 168th Ohio Infantry Regiment and a small group of local home guards) and nearly the entire 171st Ohio Infantry Regiment later that morning. Despite being low on ammunition, Morgan chose to stay and fight the enemy forces he knew were on their way. Union General Stephen G. Burbridge and his 2,400 cavalry and mounted infantry attacked him the next morning, driving the outnumbered Confederates from the town and freeing the prisoners.[6]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 310 square miles (800 km2), of which 306 square miles (790 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) (1.1%) is water.[7]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

[edit]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18004,350—
18107,75278.2%
182012,27858.4%
183013,2347.8%
184012,472−5.8%
185013,0644.7%
186013,7795.5%
187012,993−5.7%
188016,50427.0%
189016,9142.5%
190018,5709.8%
191016,873−9.1%
192015,798−6.4%
193014,859−5.9%
194015,1241.8%
195013,736−9.2%
196013,704−0.2%
197014,1583.3%
198015,1667.1%
199016,2487.1%
200017,98310.7%
201018,8464.8%
202018,692−0.8%
2023 (est.)19,415[8]3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,983 people, 7,012 households, and 5,062 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 per square mile (22/km2). There were 7,660 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (9.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.65% White, 2.52% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,012 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,210, and the median income for a family was $42,065. Males had a median income of $31,045 versus $23,268 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,478. About 9.40% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.80% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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  • Boyd
  • Breckinridge
  • Broadwell
  • Buena Vista
  • Colville
  • Connersville
  • Claysville
  • Hooktown
  • Lair
  • Lees Lick
  • Leesburg
  • Kelat
  • Morningglory
  • Oddville
  • Poindexter
  • Ruddels Mills
  • Rutland
  • Shadynook
  • Shawhan
  • Sunrise

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Harrison County, Kentucky[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,639 73.62% 2,265 25.12% 114 1.26%
2020 6,334 71.50% 2,400 27.09% 125 1.41%
2016 5,435 69.85% 2,031 26.10% 315 4.05%
2012 4,556 63.60% 2,471 34.50% 136 1.90%
2008 4,520 59.55% 2,916 38.42% 154 2.03%
2004 4,855 62.80% 2,807 36.31% 69 0.89%
2000 3,793 57.37% 2,658 40.21% 160 2.42%
1996 2,433 39.22% 2,934 47.29% 837 13.49%
1992 2,148 34.71% 2,795 45.16% 1,246 20.13%
1988 2,983 51.85% 2,748 47.77% 22 0.38%
1984 3,467 58.86% 2,405 40.83% 18 0.31%
1980 2,184 38.69% 3,319 58.80% 142 2.52%
1976 1,911 34.43% 3,582 64.53% 58 1.04%
1972 2,732 59.70% 1,780 38.90% 64 1.40%
1968 1,637 33.75% 2,373 48.93% 840 17.32%
1964 1,054 20.09% 4,179 79.66% 13 0.25%
1960 2,306 39.85% 3,481 60.15% 0 0.00%
1956 2,128 37.62% 3,515 62.14% 14 0.25%
1952 1,866 35.61% 3,367 64.26% 7 0.13%
1948 1,224 25.05% 3,494 71.51% 168 3.44%
1944 1,466 28.24% 3,706 71.38% 20 0.39%
1940 1,707 28.67% 4,228 71.01% 19 0.32%
1936 1,756 28.56% 4,378 71.20% 15 0.24%
1932 1,833 27.00% 4,909 72.30% 48 0.71%
1928 2,909 47.86% 3,164 52.06% 5 0.08%
1924 2,165 34.98% 3,924 63.40% 100 1.62%
1920 2,378 32.85% 4,804 66.36% 57 0.79%
1916 1,409 33.18% 2,778 65.43% 59 1.39%
1912 1,193 30.02% 2,514 63.26% 267 6.72%

See also

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Further reading

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  • Kentucky Rebel Town: The Civil War Battles of Cynthiana and Harrison County by William A. Penn, 2016, University Press of Kentucky

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Harrison County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
  5. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 132. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Penn, William A. (2016). Kentucky Rebel Town: Civil War Battles of Cynthiana and Harrison County. Lexington, Ky.: U. Press of Kentucky. pp. 105, 175, 193, 205. ISBN 9780813167718.
  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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  12. ^ "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 16, 2014.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.

38°26′N 84°20′W / 38.44°N 84.33°W / 38.44; -84.33

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