Trigg County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Trigg County courthouse in Cadiz | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:36°49′N87°53′W / 36.81°N 87.88°W /36.81; -87.88 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1820 |
| Named after | Stephen Trigg |
| Seat | Cadiz |
| Largest city | Cadiz |
| Government | |
| • Judge/Executive | Stanley H. Humphries (R) |
| Area | |
• Total | 481 sq mi (1,250 km2) |
| • Land | 441 sq mi (1,140 km2) |
| • Water | 40 sq mi (100 km2) 8.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,061 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 14,559 |
| • Density | 33/sq mi (13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Trigg County is acounty located on the far southwest border of theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 14,061.[2] Itscounty seat isCadiz.[3] Formed in 1820, the county was named forStephen Trigg, an officer in theAmerican Revolutionary War who was killed at theBattle of Blue Licks, now in Robertson County, Kentucky.[4][5] It was a victory for British and allied troops.
Following the Prohibition era, Trigg continued as a prohibition ordry county until 2009. That year the county's voters narrowly approved a referendum to repeal the prohibition on alcohol sales for off-premises consumption.[6]
Trigg County is part of theClarksville metropolitan area.
Trigg County was formed in 1820 from portions ofChristian County andCaldwell counties, as its population had increased.
Trigg County was named in honor of Lt. Col.Stephen Trigg, of Virginia. Trigg had settled nearHarrodsburg, Kentucky; during the American Revolutionary War, he served as an officer for the rebels and was killed on August 19, 1782, in theBattle of Blue Licks.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 481 square miles (1,250 km2), of which 441 square miles (1,140 km2) is land and 40 square miles (100 km2) (8.3%) is water.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 5,916 | — | |
| 1840 | 7,716 | 30.4% | |
| 1850 | 10,129 | 31.3% | |
| 1860 | 11,051 | 9.1% | |
| 1870 | 13,686 | 23.8% | |
| 1880 | 14,489 | 5.9% | |
| 1890 | 13,902 | −4.1% | |
| 1900 | 14,073 | 1.2% | |
| 1910 | 14,539 | 3.3% | |
| 1920 | 14,208 | −2.3% | |
| 1930 | 12,531 | −11.8% | |
| 1940 | 12,784 | 2.0% | |
| 1950 | 9,683 | −24.3% | |
| 1960 | 8,870 | −8.4% | |
| 1970 | 8,620 | −2.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,384 | 8.9% | |
| 1990 | 10,361 | 10.4% | |
| 2000 | 12,597 | 21.6% | |
| 2010 | 14,339 | 13.8% | |
| 2020 | 14,061 | −1.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 14,559 | 3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[2] 2024[13][1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 14,061. The median age was 46.8 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males age 18 and over.[14][15]
The racial makeup of the county was 87.5% White, 6.8%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 4.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.[15]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 5,768 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 7,526 housing units, of which 23.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.6% were owner-occupied and 20.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.7%.[14]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 12,597 people, 5,215 households, and 3,765 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 28 per square mile (11/km2). There were 6,698 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.34%White, 9.79%Black orAfrican American, 0.21%Native American, 0.25%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.18% fromother races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 5,215 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% weremarried couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,002, and the median income for a family was $40,886. Males had a median income of $31,158 versus $22,081 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,184. About 8.80% of families and 12.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,322 | 46.42% | 1,263 | 44.35% | 263 | 9.23% |
| 1916 | 1,533 | 46.05% | 1,722 | 51.73% | 74 | 2.22% |
| 1920 | 2,420 | 43.62% | 3,056 | 55.08% | 72 | 1.30% |
| 1924 | 2,130 | 44.36% | 2,625 | 54.66% | 47 | 0.98% |
| 1928 | 2,346 | 53.52% | 2,031 | 46.34% | 6 | 0.14% |
| 1932 | 1,452 | 28.59% | 3,611 | 71.11% | 15 | 0.30% |
| 1936 | 1,521 | 34.04% | 2,928 | 65.53% | 19 | 0.43% |
| 1940 | 1,494 | 34.05% | 2,883 | 65.70% | 11 | 0.25% |
| 1944 | 1,332 | 34.53% | 2,511 | 65.10% | 14 | 0.36% |
| 1948 | 816 | 23.55% | 2,485 | 71.72% | 164 | 4.73% |
| 1952 | 1,134 | 30.44% | 2,585 | 69.40% | 6 | 0.16% |
| 1956 | 1,329 | 34.47% | 2,517 | 65.29% | 9 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 1,500 | 38.35% | 2,411 | 61.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 912 | 24.56% | 2,790 | 75.12% | 12 | 0.32% |
| 1968 | 1,100 | 30.38% | 1,330 | 36.73% | 1,191 | 32.89% |
| 1972 | 1,767 | 52.95% | 1,514 | 45.37% | 56 | 1.68% |
| 1976 | 991 | 26.46% | 2,727 | 72.82% | 27 | 0.72% |
| 1980 | 1,913 | 41.54% | 2,619 | 56.87% | 73 | 1.59% |
| 1984 | 2,512 | 56.63% | 1,905 | 42.94% | 19 | 0.43% |
| 1988 | 2,427 | 54.74% | 1,991 | 44.90% | 16 | 0.36% |
| 1992 | 1,820 | 37.49% | 2,438 | 50.22% | 597 | 12.30% |
| 1996 | 1,975 | 44.14% | 2,087 | 46.65% | 412 | 9.21% |
| 2000 | 3,130 | 58.57% | 2,110 | 39.48% | 104 | 1.95% |
| 2004 | 4,023 | 65.83% | 2,046 | 33.48% | 42 | 0.69% |
| 2008 | 4,189 | 64.18% | 2,246 | 34.41% | 92 | 1.41% |
| 2012 | 4,520 | 67.04% | 2,115 | 31.37% | 107 | 1.59% |
| 2016 | 4,931 | 73.04% | 1,587 | 23.51% | 233 | 3.45% |
| 2020 | 5,487 | 74.39% | 1,791 | 24.28% | 98 | 1.33% |
| 2024 | 5,436 | 75.54% | 1,667 | 23.17% | 93 | 1.29% |
The currentJudge/Executive isStanley H. Humphries, who was elected in 2022.
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[18][19] | ||
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Jason Howell (R) | 1 |
| Ky. House | Mary Beth Imes (R) | 5 |
| Walker Thomas (R) | 8 | |
Municipalities and communities ofTrigg County, Kentucky,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Other unincorporated community | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
