Menifee County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Menifee County courthouse in Frenchburg | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°57′N83°36′W / 37.95°N 83.6°W /37.95; -83.6 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Named after | Richard H. Menefee |
| Seat | Frenchburg |
| Largest city | Frenchburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 206 sq mi (530 km2) |
| • Land | 204 sq mi (530 km2) |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) 1.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,113 |
• Estimate (2024) | 6,341 |
| • Density | 30.0/sq mi (11.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Menifee County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 6,113,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Kentucky. Itscounty seat isFrenchburg.[2] The county is named forRichard Hickman Menefee,U.S. Congressman, although the spelling has changed.[3] Menifee County is part of theMount Sterling, KYMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theLexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area. It is located in the foothills of theCumberland Plateau.[4]
Menifee County was formed on May 29, 1869, from portions ofBath,Montgomery,Morgan,Powell, andWolfe counties.[4][5]
In the2008 Presidential Election Menifee County was one of eight in the state of Kentucky where the majority of voters voted forBarack Obama.[6]
OnMarch 2, 2012, an EF3 tornado hit Menifee county and several other surrounding counties.[7] Many were injured, and three were killed.[8]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 206 square miles (530 km2), of which 204 square miles (530 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (1.1%) is water.[9]
Menifee County is mountainous and heavily forested. Much of the land is withinDaniel Boone National Forest. Only about 10% of the county's land is in cultivated farms, and the county ranks 102nd of Kentucky's 120 counties in agricultural revenue.[4]
Menifee County is home to the Menifee Community Theatre Group, a small-town local and regional arts organization that has produced 17 theatrical productions to date. The group has over 40 members and hosts an annual locally-written theatrical and film presentation, taking place at the Menifee Mountain Memories Festival and centering on local and Appalachian stories collected from local citizens.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1,986 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,755 | 89.1% | |
| 1890 | 4,666 | 24.3% | |
| 1900 | 6,818 | 46.1% | |
| 1910 | 6,153 | −9.8% | |
| 1920 | 5,779 | −6.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,958 | −14.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,691 | 14.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,798 | −15.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,276 | −10.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,050 | −5.3% | |
| 1980 | 5,117 | 26.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,092 | −0.5% | |
| 2000 | 6,556 | 28.8% | |
| 2010 | 6,306 | −3.8% | |
| 2020 | 6,113 | −3.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 6,341 | [10] | 3.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2021[15] | |||
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 6,556 people, 2,537 households, and 1,900 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 32 per square mile (12/km2). There were 3,710 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64%White, 1.37%Black orAfrican American, 0.12%Native American, 0.03%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.14% fromother races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 2,537 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% weremarried couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $22,064, and the median income for a family was $26,325. Males had a median income of $25,670 versus $17,014 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $11,399. About 23.40% of families and 29.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 38.50% of those under age 18 and 23.40% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 254 | 24.66% | 643 | 62.43% | 133 | 12.91% |
| 1916 | 369 | 33.55% | 730 | 66.36% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1920 | 581 | 33.28% | 1,149 | 65.81% | 16 | 0.92% |
| 1924 | 450 | 33.48% | 873 | 64.96% | 21 | 1.56% |
| 1928 | 732 | 50.24% | 725 | 49.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 474 | 24.82% | 1,425 | 74.61% | 11 | 0.58% |
| 1936 | 559 | 33.16% | 1,123 | 66.61% | 4 | 0.24% |
| 1940 | 511 | 30.20% | 1,176 | 69.50% | 5 | 0.30% |
| 1944 | 568 | 36.72% | 976 | 63.09% | 3 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 435 | 27.51% | 1,112 | 70.34% | 34 | 2.15% |
| 1952 | 638 | 34.25% | 1,219 | 65.43% | 6 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | 799 | 40.25% | 1,185 | 59.70% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1960 | 817 | 45.24% | 989 | 54.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 318 | 22.70% | 1,076 | 76.80% | 7 | 0.50% |
| 1968 | 509 | 38.65% | 554 | 42.07% | 254 | 19.29% |
| 1972 | 596 | 43.89% | 732 | 53.90% | 30 | 2.21% |
| 1976 | 304 | 22.42% | 1,041 | 76.77% | 11 | 0.81% |
| 1980 | 547 | 35.45% | 966 | 62.61% | 30 | 1.94% |
| 1984 | 785 | 44.35% | 956 | 54.01% | 29 | 1.64% |
| 1988 | 670 | 37.47% | 1,096 | 61.30% | 22 | 1.23% |
| 1992 | 557 | 25.97% | 1,311 | 61.12% | 277 | 12.91% |
| 1996 | 608 | 34.14% | 979 | 54.97% | 194 | 10.89% |
| 2000 | 1,170 | 52.02% | 1,038 | 46.15% | 41 | 1.82% |
| 2004 | 1,215 | 48.06% | 1,284 | 50.79% | 29 | 1.15% |
| 2008 | 1,155 | 46.40% | 1,276 | 51.27% | 58 | 2.33% |
| 2012 | 1,484 | 57.12% | 1,048 | 40.34% | 66 | 2.54% |
| 2016 | 2,010 | 72.33% | 700 | 25.19% | 69 | 2.48% |
| 2020 | 2,311 | 74.50% | 750 | 24.18% | 41 | 1.32% |
| 2024 | 2,563 | 77.67% | 664 | 20.12% | 73 | 2.21% |
The county has historically been Democratic-dominated, voting for the Democratic nominee in every election from its first election in 1872 through 1996 apart from one lone show of support forHerbert Hoover in1928.[18] In the 21st century, however, it has, like most of Kentucky outside theLouisville,Lexington, andFrankfort areas, trended powerfully Republican. It cast its second-ever Republican vote forGeorge W. Bush in2000, even as Bush narrowly lost the national popular vote, and although it returned to the Democratic fold in2004 and2008, it was at greatly reduced levels compared to what Democrats could typically count on in the 20th century; neitherJohn Kerry norBarack Obama in 2008 managed even to reach the vote share in the county thatGeorge McGovern received in1972. The county went red again in2012, voting for its first-ever losing Republican nominee, and has continued voting Republican by increasing margins. In2020, it gaveDonald Trump nearly three-quarters of its vote, approaching the 76.8% it gaveCarter in1976 andLyndon Johnson in1964.Joe Biden, meanwhile, sank below a quarter of the county's vote, a level evenHillary Clinton had managed to stay above.
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[19][20] | ||
| U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R) | KY 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Greg Elkins (R) | 28 |
| Ky. House | David Hale (R) | 74 |
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Municipalities and communities ofMenifee County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Counties | |
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| Cities and towns Over 10k | |
| Cities and towns 5k-10k | |
| Cities and towns 1k-5k | |
| Cities and towns under 1k | |
| Statistical areas | |
| See also | |
37°57′N83°36′W / 37.95°N 83.60°W /37.95; -83.60
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| National | |
| Other | |
