Hancock County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Hancock County courthouse in Hawesville, KY | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:37°50′N86°47′W / 37.84°N 86.78°W /37.84; -86.78 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1829 |
| Named after | John Hancock |
| Seat | Hawesville |
| Largest city | Lewisport |
| Area | |
• Total | 199 sq mi (520 km2) |
| • Land | 188 sq mi (490 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (28 km2) 5.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 9,095 |
• Estimate (2024) | 9,013 |
| • Density | 48.4/sq mi (18.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Hancock County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 9,095.[1] Itscounty seat is in the city ofHawesville located in the Northern part of the county, and its largest city ofLewisport is located in the Northwestern part of the county.[2]
Hancock County is included in theOwensboro metropolitan area.
The Hancock County Board of Education consists of 4 public school systems. Hancock County High School (HCHS), Hancock County Middle School (HCMS), South Hancock Elementary School, & North Hancock Elementary School (NHES). North Hancock Elementary School being the only one located in Lewisport. NHES replaced the previously outdated Lewisport Elementary School with a newly constructed $8,829,532 building.
Hancock County was formed in 1829 from portions of Breckinridge, Daviess, and Ohio counties.[3] The county is named forJohn Hancock, President of the Continental Congress and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.[4][5]
The courthouse, the second to serve the county, was built in 1868 and renovated in 1978.[6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 199 square miles (520 km2), of which 188 square miles (490 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (5.6%) is water.[7] The northern border of the county lies along theOhio River.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 1,515 | — | |
| 1840 | 2,581 | 70.4% | |
| 1850 | 3,853 | 49.3% | |
| 1860 | 6,213 | 61.3% | |
| 1870 | 6,591 | 6.1% | |
| 1880 | 8,563 | 29.9% | |
| 1890 | 9,214 | 7.6% | |
| 1900 | 8,914 | −3.3% | |
| 1910 | 8,512 | −4.5% | |
| 1920 | 6,945 | −18.4% | |
| 1930 | 6,147 | −11.5% | |
| 1940 | 6,807 | 10.7% | |
| 1950 | 6,009 | −11.7% | |
| 1960 | 5,330 | −11.3% | |
| 1970 | 7,080 | 32.8% | |
| 1980 | 7,742 | 9.4% | |
| 1990 | 7,864 | 1.6% | |
| 2000 | 8,392 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 8,565 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 9,095 | 6.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 9,013 | [8] | −0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2021[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 9,095. The median age was 41.5 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.1 males age 18 and over.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% White, 0.9%Black or African American, 0.0%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.1% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.[14]
8.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 91.4% lived in rural areas.[15]
There were 3,531 households in the county, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 3,894 housing units, of which 9.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.4% were owner-occupied and 22.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.[13]
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 8,392 people, 3,215 households, and 2,436 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 44 per square mile (17/km2). There were 3,600 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.97%White, 0.85%Black orAfrican American, 0.29%Native American, 0.17%Asian, 0.17% fromother races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 3,215 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.40% weremarried couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,914, and the median income for a family was $42,994. Males had a median income of $35,294 versus $23,574 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,623. About 11.40% of families and 13.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 268 | 15.23% | 757 | 43.01% | 735 | 41.76% |
| 1916 | 918 | 51.14% | 833 | 46.41% | 44 | 2.45% |
| 1920 | 1,446 | 50.23% | 1,384 | 48.07% | 49 | 1.70% |
| 1924 | 1,332 | 48.88% | 1,323 | 48.55% | 70 | 2.57% |
| 1928 | 1,614 | 58.33% | 1,151 | 41.60% | 2 | 0.07% |
| 1932 | 1,174 | 41.54% | 1,623 | 57.43% | 29 | 1.03% |
| 1936 | 1,087 | 44.90% | 1,317 | 54.40% | 17 | 0.70% |
| 1940 | 1,424 | 51.52% | 1,338 | 48.41% | 2 | 0.07% |
| 1944 | 1,365 | 54.40% | 1,129 | 45.00% | 15 | 0.60% |
| 1948 | 985 | 45.54% | 1,146 | 52.98% | 32 | 1.48% |
| 1952 | 1,341 | 53.11% | 1,177 | 46.61% | 7 | 0.28% |
| 1956 | 1,317 | 56.14% | 1,022 | 43.56% | 7 | 0.30% |
| 1960 | 1,488 | 59.38% | 1,018 | 40.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 756 | 34.52% | 1,423 | 64.98% | 11 | 0.50% |
| 1968 | 1,049 | 44.70% | 867 | 36.94% | 431 | 18.36% |
| 1972 | 1,583 | 64.61% | 791 | 32.29% | 76 | 3.10% |
| 1976 | 1,124 | 40.92% | 1,562 | 56.86% | 61 | 2.22% |
| 1980 | 1,367 | 45.51% | 1,530 | 50.93% | 107 | 3.56% |
| 1984 | 1,967 | 59.59% | 1,287 | 38.99% | 47 | 1.42% |
| 1988 | 1,733 | 53.44% | 1,478 | 45.58% | 32 | 0.99% |
| 1992 | 1,261 | 34.98% | 1,714 | 47.55% | 630 | 17.48% |
| 1996 | 1,356 | 40.61% | 1,547 | 46.33% | 436 | 13.06% |
| 2000 | 2,032 | 56.29% | 1,508 | 41.77% | 70 | 1.94% |
| 2004 | 2,286 | 56.74% | 1,709 | 42.42% | 34 | 0.84% |
| 2008 | 1,928 | 46.53% | 2,135 | 51.52% | 81 | 1.95% |
| 2012 | 2,212 | 53.51% | 1,833 | 44.34% | 89 | 2.15% |
| 2016 | 2,788 | 64.91% | 1,244 | 28.96% | 263 | 6.12% |
| 2020 | 3,145 | 68.56% | 1,351 | 29.45% | 91 | 1.98% |
| 2024 | 3,375 | 72.85% | 1,173 | 25.32% | 85 | 1.83% |
Unlike most fellow Southern counties, Hancock County has been a swing county for most of its history. No party had won the county more than three times in a row (aside from a brief Republican streak from 1916 to 1928), but the county has swung sharply to the right in the 21st century. The county gave Barack Obama a majority of the votes in 2008, but went back to Republican hands in 2012, and has continued to swing further right since, withDonald Trump becoming the first candidate in history to gain over 70% of the vote in 2024. Hancock County is still relatively swingy socially, having voted in favor of abortion[18] and legalizing medical marijuana.[19] Like most counties in Kentucky, Hancock County is much more competitive at the local level due to Kentucky's high number of conservative Democrats and Kentucky's previously Democratic history.
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[20][21] | ||
| U.S. House | Brett Guthrie (R) | KY 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Gary Boswell (R) | 8 |
| Ky. House | Scott Lewis (R) | 14 |
| Office[22][23] | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magistrate District 1 | Brent Wigginton | Republican | |
| Magistrate District 2 | Kasey Emmick | Democratic | |
| Magistrate District 3 | John Gray | Republican | |
| Magistrate District 4 | Gary Baker | Republican | |
| Office[23] | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judge/Executive | Johnny Roberts Jr. | Republican | |
| County Attorney | Paul Madden Jr. | Democratic | |
| Sheriff | Dale Bozarth | Democratic | |
| Jailer | Roger Estes | Democratic | |
| Circuit Court Clerk | Mike Boling | Democratic | |
| County Clerk | Trina Ogle | Democratic | |
| Property Value Administrator | Karen Keown | Republican | |
| Coroner | David Gibson | Republican | |
Municipalities and communities ofHancock County, Kentucky,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
37°50′N86°47′W / 37.84°N 86.78°W /37.84; -86.78
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