Grayson County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Grayson County courthouse in Leitchfield | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:37°28′N86°21′W / 37.46°N 86.35°W /37.46; -86.35 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1810 |
| Named after | William Grayson |
| Seat | Leitchfield |
| Largest city | Leitchfield |
| Area | |
• Total | 511 sq mi (1,320 km2) |
| • Land | 497 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2) 2.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 26,420 |
• Estimate (2024) | 27,070 |
| • Density | 53.2/sq mi (20.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | graysoncountyky |
Grayson County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 26,420.[1] Itscounty seat isLeitchfield.[2] The county was formed in 1810 and named forWilliam Grayson (1740–1790), aRevolutionary War colonel and a prominentVirginia political figure. Grayson County was formerly a prohibition ordry county, but Leitchfield allowed limited alcohol sales in restaurants in 2010[3] and voted "wet" in 2016.[4]
Grayson County was established in 1810 from land taken from Hardin and Ohio counties.[5] The county is named forWilliam Grayson (1742–1790), aRevolutionary War colonel and U.S. Senator fromVirginia.[6]
Three courthouses were destroyed by fire; in 1864 by Confederate troops, and again in 1896 and 1936.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 497 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.8%) is water.[8]
Grayson County is part of theWestern Coal Field region ofKentucky. Only the western third of the county has coal; the rest lies in the Clifty Area, which has similar sandstone bedrock, some of it is bituminous but never commercially exploited as tar sands or rock asphalt. The county lies in the Rough Creek Fault System, considered a potential hydrocarbon resource.[9]
Grayson County is home to twoU.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes,Rough River Lake on the northern border of the county andNolin River Lake on the southeast border. The lakes attract many tourists and have led to the use of "Twin Lakes" to identify some businesses and institutions, such as the Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center in Leitchfield.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4,055 | — | |
| 1830 | 3,880 | −4.3% | |
| 1840 | 4,461 | 15.0% | |
| 1850 | 6,837 | 53.3% | |
| 1860 | 7,982 | 16.7% | |
| 1870 | 11,580 | 45.1% | |
| 1880 | 15,784 | 36.3% | |
| 1890 | 18,688 | 18.4% | |
| 1900 | 19,878 | 6.4% | |
| 1910 | 19,958 | 0.4% | |
| 1920 | 19,927 | −0.2% | |
| 1930 | 17,055 | −14.4% | |
| 1940 | 17,562 | 3.0% | |
| 1950 | 17,063 | −2.8% | |
| 1960 | 15,834 | −7.2% | |
| 1970 | 16,445 | 3.9% | |
| 1980 | 20,854 | 26.8% | |
| 1990 | 21,050 | 0.9% | |
| 2000 | 24,053 | 14.3% | |
| 2010 | 25,746 | 7.0% | |
| 2020 | 26,420 | 2.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 27,070 | [10] | 2.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 26,420. The median age was 41.4 years. 22.8% 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 101.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.0 males age 18 and over.[15][16]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 1.2%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 3.3% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.[16]
24.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.4% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 10,440 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 13,275 housing units, of which 21.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.8% were owner-occupied and 27.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.[15]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 24,053 people, 9,596 households, and 6,966 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 48 per square mile (19/km2). There were 12,802 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (9.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.26%White, 0.50%Black orAfrican American, 0.17%Native American, 0.14%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.22% fromother races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 9,596 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% weremarried couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,639, and the median income for a family was $33,080. Males had a median income of $27,759 versus $19,302 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,759. About 13.90% of families and 18.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.10% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,075 | 27.12% | 1,685 | 42.51% | 1,204 | 30.37% |
| 1916 | 2,368 | 54.29% | 1,953 | 44.77% | 41 | 0.94% |
| 1920 | 4,174 | 59.21% | 2,830 | 40.15% | 45 | 0.64% |
| 1924 | 3,183 | 52.16% | 2,858 | 46.84% | 61 | 1.00% |
| 1928 | 3,937 | 63.07% | 2,295 | 36.77% | 10 | 0.16% |
| 1932 | 3,721 | 48.81% | 3,872 | 50.79% | 31 | 0.41% |
| 1936 | 2,907 | 51.87% | 2,676 | 47.75% | 21 | 0.37% |
| 1940 | 3,156 | 53.85% | 2,678 | 45.69% | 27 | 0.46% |
| 1944 | 3,629 | 59.64% | 2,436 | 40.03% | 20 | 0.33% |
| 1948 | 2,880 | 56.14% | 2,174 | 42.38% | 76 | 1.48% |
| 1952 | 4,011 | 63.05% | 2,341 | 36.80% | 10 | 0.16% |
| 1956 | 4,565 | 69.25% | 2,021 | 30.66% | 6 | 0.09% |
| 1960 | 4,807 | 67.12% | 2,355 | 32.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,974 | 50.46% | 2,920 | 49.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,598 | 61.14% | 1,595 | 27.10% | 692 | 11.76% |
| 1972 | 4,155 | 67.99% | 1,839 | 30.09% | 117 | 1.91% |
| 1976 | 3,658 | 53.87% | 3,064 | 45.13% | 68 | 1.00% |
| 1980 | 5,084 | 62.95% | 2,788 | 34.52% | 204 | 2.53% |
| 1984 | 5,524 | 71.03% | 2,200 | 28.29% | 53 | 0.68% |
| 1988 | 5,186 | 66.13% | 2,575 | 32.84% | 81 | 1.03% |
| 1992 | 4,533 | 53.29% | 2,909 | 34.20% | 1,065 | 12.52% |
| 1996 | 4,249 | 55.02% | 2,716 | 35.17% | 757 | 9.80% |
| 2000 | 5,843 | 68.28% | 2,604 | 30.43% | 111 | 1.30% |
| 2004 | 7,170 | 70.69% | 2,905 | 28.64% | 68 | 0.67% |
| 2008 | 6,605 | 66.70% | 3,154 | 31.85% | 144 | 1.45% |
| 2012 | 6,404 | 69.08% | 2,744 | 29.60% | 123 | 1.33% |
| 2016 | 8,219 | 77.71% | 1,959 | 18.52% | 398 | 3.76% |
| 2020 | 9,453 | 78.87% | 2,400 | 20.03% | 132 | 1.10% |
| 2024 | 9,710 | 80.28% | 2,235 | 18.48% | 150 | 1.24% |
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[19][20] | ||
| U.S. House | Brett Guthrie (R) | KY 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Stephen Meredith (R) | 5 |
| Ky. House | Samara Heavrin (R) | 18 |
Grayson County is the home of the Historic Jack Thomas House which is owned and maintained by the Grayson County Historical Society. The Jack Thomas House contains a museum dedicated to the history and families of Grayson County as well as the most extensive genealogical research library for the county. It is open Monday – Friday for tours and research. Three general meetings with guest speakers relevant to the county each year are held for the membership. They are held in March, June, and October and are always open to the public. The house is open during the Twin Lakes National Fiddlers Contest (see below), the Hometown Christmas Parade as well as other special events.
Every July, Grayson County and Leitchfield host the Twin Lakes National Fiddlers Contest, which brings many elitefiddlers from several states to theTown Square area. The contest is a weekend event. Also in July, the City of Leitchfield hosts the annual Freedom Festival which features music, fireworks, and a carnival. In late August and early September, Grayson County hosts the annual Grayson County Fair, which entertains locals and guests with music, a carnival, a Truck andTractor Pull, aDemolition Derby, and ends on Labor Day with a parade throughLeitchfield. In September the city ofClarkson hosts the annual Honeyfest. The Honeyfest kicks off with a parade in which the Grayson County High School Band and the Grayson County Middle School Band perform. Many floats with the main subject of bees and honey are presented and advertise the many businesses in and surrounding Grayson County. This festival celebrates the city and the contributions of Clarkson'sWalter T. Kelley Beehive Factory.
In early October, the city of Caneyville holds the annual Caneyville Fair.
Also, the county is home to several attractions. In addition to the previously mentioned lakes is the historicPine Knob Theatre, located in the community ofPine Knob. Other attractions are three golf courses, including the 18-hole Lafayette Golf Course in Falls of Rough.
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Geographic data related toGrayson County, Kentucky atOpenStreetMapMunicipalities and communities ofGrayson County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
37°28′N86°21′W / 37.46°N 86.35°W /37.46; -86.35
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