Meade County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Meade County courthouse in Brandenburg | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°59′N86°13′W / 37.98°N 86.22°W /37.98; -86.22 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1823 |
| Named after | James Meade |
| Seat | Brandenburg |
| Largest city | Brandenburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 325 sq mi (840 km2) |
| • Land | 305 sq mi (790 km2) |
| • Water | 19 sq mi (49 km2) 5.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,003 |
• Estimate (2024) | 30,442 |
| • Density | 98.4/sq mi (38.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | meadeky.gov |
Meade County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 30,003.[1] Itscounty seat isBrandenburg.[2] The county was founded December 17, 1823, and named for Captain James M. Meade, who was killed in action at theBattle of River Raisin during theWar of 1812.[3][4][5] Meade County is part of theElizabethtown metropolitan area, which is included in theLouisville metropolitan area.
Meade County residents have easy access to major job centers such asElizabethtown andFort Knox.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 325 square miles (840 km2), of which 305 square miles (790 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (5.9%) is water.[6] All 56 miles (90 km) of the county's northern border facesIndiana, across from theOhio River.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 4,131 | — | |
| 1840 | 5,780 | 39.9% | |
| 1850 | 7,393 | 27.9% | |
| 1860 | 8,898 | 20.4% | |
| 1870 | 9,485 | 6.6% | |
| 1880 | 10,323 | 8.8% | |
| 1890 | 9,484 | −8.1% | |
| 1900 | 10,533 | 11.1% | |
| 1910 | 9,783 | −7.1% | |
| 1920 | 9,442 | −3.5% | |
| 1930 | 8,042 | −14.8% | |
| 1940 | 8,827 | 9.8% | |
| 1950 | 9,422 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 18,938 | 101.0% | |
| 1970 | 18,796 | −0.7% | |
| 1980 | 22,854 | 21.6% | |
| 1990 | 24,170 | 5.8% | |
| 2000 | 26,349 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 28,602 | 8.6% | |
| 2020 | 30,003 | 4.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 30,442 | [7] | 1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of thecensus[12] of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 85 per square mile (33/km2). There were 10,293 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.37%White, 4.13%Black orAfrican American, 0.59%Native American, 0.53%Asian, 0.13%Pacific Islander, 0.83% fromother races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 9,470 households, out of which 42.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% weremarried couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.90% were non-families. Of all households 18.40% were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.80% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 32.70% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,966, and the median income for a family was $40,592. Males had a median income of $30,835 versus $22,038 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,000. About 9.30% of families and 11.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 337 | 16.58% | 1,145 | 56.35% | 550 | 27.07% |
| 1916 | 803 | 37.11% | 1,317 | 60.86% | 44 | 2.03% |
| 1920 | 1,468 | 39.75% | 2,195 | 59.44% | 30 | 0.81% |
| 1924 | 1,106 | 37.43% | 1,802 | 60.98% | 47 | 1.59% |
| 1928 | 1,610 | 48.54% | 1,700 | 51.25% | 7 | 0.21% |
| 1932 | 1,050 | 29.46% | 2,488 | 69.81% | 26 | 0.73% |
| 1936 | 785 | 26.47% | 2,102 | 70.87% | 79 | 2.66% |
| 1940 | 995 | 31.88% | 2,114 | 67.73% | 12 | 0.38% |
| 1944 | 1,040 | 36.11% | 1,828 | 63.47% | 12 | 0.42% |
| 1948 | 773 | 27.99% | 1,915 | 69.33% | 74 | 2.68% |
| 1952 | 1,265 | 38.22% | 2,040 | 61.63% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 1,670 | 45.23% | 2,016 | 54.60% | 6 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 1,826 | 43.36% | 2,385 | 56.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,055 | 25.51% | 3,076 | 74.37% | 5 | 0.12% |
| 1968 | 1,385 | 32.98% | 1,926 | 45.86% | 889 | 21.17% |
| 1972 | 2,492 | 60.93% | 1,541 | 37.68% | 57 | 1.39% |
| 1976 | 1,755 | 36.05% | 3,030 | 62.24% | 83 | 1.71% |
| 1980 | 2,740 | 45.22% | 3,205 | 52.90% | 114 | 1.88% |
| 1984 | 3,820 | 60.19% | 2,503 | 39.44% | 24 | 0.38% |
| 1988 | 3,441 | 52.57% | 3,079 | 47.04% | 25 | 0.38% |
| 1992 | 2,641 | 35.86% | 3,387 | 45.99% | 1,337 | 18.15% |
| 1996 | 2,855 | 38.33% | 3,653 | 49.04% | 941 | 12.63% |
| 2000 | 5,319 | 58.64% | 3,596 | 39.64% | 156 | 1.72% |
| 2004 | 7,152 | 65.31% | 3,724 | 34.01% | 75 | 0.68% |
| 2008 | 6,691 | 59.71% | 4,343 | 38.76% | 172 | 1.53% |
| 2012 | 6,606 | 60.52% | 4,122 | 37.76% | 188 | 1.72% |
| 2016 | 8,660 | 70.80% | 3,026 | 24.74% | 545 | 4.46% |
| 2020 | 10,185 | 72.17% | 3,632 | 25.74% | 296 | 2.10% |
| 2024 | 10,630 | 75.27% | 3,279 | 23.22% | 214 | 1.52% |
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[14][15] | ||
| U.S. House | Brett Guthrie (R) | KY 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Stephen Meredith (R) | 5 |
| Ky. House | Nancy Tate (R) | 27 |
Most of the county is zoned toMeade County Schools,[16] which operatesMeade County High School.
However people living onFort Knox are instead zoned to theDepartment of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA),[16] which operatesFort Knox Middle High School.
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Municipalities and communities ofMeade County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
