Meade County, Kentucky

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Wikipedia

Meade County, Kentucky
County
Meade County courthouse in Brandenburg
Meade County courthouse in Brandenburg
Flag of Meade County, Kentucky
Flag
Official seal of Meade County, Kentucky
Seal
Map of Kentucky highlighting Meade County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Coordinates: 37°59′N 86°13′W / 37.98°N 86.22°W / 37.98; -86.22
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1823
Named afterJames Meade
SeatBrandenburg
Largest cityBrandenburg
Area
 • Total
325 sq mi (840 km2)
 • Land305 sq mi (790 km2)
 • Water19 sq mi (49 km2)  5.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
30,003
 • Estimate 
(2024)
30,442 Increase
 • Density98.4/sq mi (38.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitemeadeky.gov

Meade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,003.[1] Its county seat is Brandenburg.[2] The county was founded December 17, 1823, and named for Captain James M. Meade, who was killed in action at the Battle of River Raisin during the War of 1812.[3][4][5] Meade County is part of the Elizabethtown metropolitan area, which is included in the Louisville metropolitan area.

Meade County residents have easy access to major job centers such as Elizabethtown and Fort Knox.

Geography

View of the Ohio River in Meade County

According to the United 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 faces Indiana, across from the Ohio River.

Outdoor attractions

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18304,131—
18405,78039.9%
18507,39327.9%
18608,89820.4%
18709,4856.6%
188010,3238.8%
18909,484−8.1%
190010,53311.1%
19109,783−7.1%
19209,442−3.5%
19308,042−14.8%
19408,8279.8%
19509,4226.7%
196018,938101.0%
197018,796−0.7%
198022,85421.6%
199024,1705.8%
200026,3499.0%
201028,6028.6%
202030,0034.9%
2024 (est.)30,442[7]1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,003. The median age was 38.4 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males age 18 and over.[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 87.7% White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 6.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population.[13]

9.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 90.6% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 11,045 households in the county, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 11,943 housing units, of which 7.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.8% were owner-occupied and 27.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%.[12]

2000 census

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. The population 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 or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $16,000. About 9.30% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Politics

United States presidential election results for Meade County, Kentucky[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
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

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[17][18]
U.S. House Brett Guthrie (R) KY 2
Ky. Senate Stephen Meredith (R) 5
Ky. House Nancy Tate (R) 27

Education

Most of the county is zoned to Meade County Schools,[19] which operates Meade County High School.

However people living on Fort Knox are instead zoned to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA),[19] which operates Fort Knox Middle High School.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Meade County". Kyenc.org. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  4. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
  5. ↑ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. Library Reprints, Incorporated. p. 598. ISBN 978-0-7222-4920-8. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  14. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  18. ↑ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Meade County, KY" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022. – Text list Archived July 5, 2022, at the Wayback Machine – "Fort Knox Dependent Schools" refers to the DoDEA schools.

37°59′N 86°13′W / 37.98°N 86.22°W / 37.98; -86.22