LaRue County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
LaRue County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kentucky
. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
. As of 2000, the population was 13,373. Its county seat
is Hodgenville
. LaRue is a prohibition or dry county
..
.
of 2000, there were 13,373 people, 5,275 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density
was 51 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 5,860 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.65% White
, 3.54% Black
or African American
, 0.19% Native American
, 0.16% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.34% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 5,275 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% 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 2.94.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,056, and the median income for a family was $37,786. Males had a median income of $30,907 versus $20,091 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,865. 15.40% of the population and 12.60% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 18.90% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.
, bluegrass
and Southern gospel
).
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Elizabethtown is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 28,531 at the 2010 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in the state...
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Elizabethtown metropolitan area
The Elizabethtown Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Kentucky, anchored by the city of Elizabethtown...
. As of 2000, the population was 13,373. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Hodgenville
Hodgenville, Kentucky
Hodgenville is a city in and the county seat of LaRue County, Kentucky, United States. It sits along the North Fork of the Nolin River. The population was 2,874 at the 2000 census...
. LaRue is a prohibition or dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
..
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 263.72 square miles (683 km²), of which 263.2 square miles (681.7 km²) (or 99.80%) is land and 0.53 square miles (1.4 km²) (or 0.20%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Nelson CountyNelson County, KentuckyNelson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 43,437. Its county seat is Bardstown. The county is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
(northeast) - Marion CountyMarion County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 18,212 people, 6,613 households, and 4,754 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 7,277 housing units at an average density of...
(east) - Taylor CountyTaylor County, KentuckyTaylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 22,927. Its county seat is Campbellsville. The county is named for President Zachary Taylor, who served from 1849 to 1850. Taylor is a moist county...
(southeast) - Green CountyGreen County, KentuckyGreen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1793. As of 2000, the population was 11,518. Its county seat is Greensburg. The county is named for Nathanael Greene...
(south) - Hart CountyHart County, KentuckyHart County is a county located in the U.S. state — or, more correctly, "Commonwealth" — of Kentucky. It was formed in 1819. , the population was 17,445. Its county seat is Munfordville. The county is named for Captain Nathaniel G. S. Hart, a Kentucky militia officer in the War of 1812...
(southwest) - Hardin CountyHardin County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 94,174 people, 34,497 households, and 25,355 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 37,673 housing units at an average density of...
(northwest)
History
LaRue County was formed on March 4, 1843 from portions of Hardin County. It was named after John LaRue, an early settler in this area. It contains the birthplace of Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 13,373 people, 5,275 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 51 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 5,860 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.65% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.54% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.19% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.16% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.34% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.10% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 5,275 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% 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 2.94.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,056, and the median income for a family was $37,786. Males had a median income of $30,907 versus $20,091 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,865. 15.40% of the population and 12.60% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 18.90% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.
Cities and towns
- Athertonville
- BuffaloBuffalo, KentuckyBuffalo is an unincorporated community in southern LaRue County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Kentucky Route 61 south of the city of Hodgenville, the county seat of LaRue County. Its elevation is 748 feet , and it is located at COORDS...
- HodgenvilleHodgenville, KentuckyHodgenville is a city in and the county seat of LaRue County, Kentucky, United States. It sits along the North Fork of the Nolin River. The population was 2,874 at the 2000 census...
- Lyons
- Magnolia
- Mount ShermanMount Sherman, KentuckyMount Sherman is an unincorporated community located in Larue County, Kentucky, United States. The zip code is: 42764.-Notes:Also, Tom Pitt is the mayor....
- TonievilleTonieville, KentuckyTonieville is a small unincorporated town in LaRue County, Kentucky, United States, in the central part of the state. The community is part of the Elizabethtown, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- UptonUpton, KentuckyUpton is a city in Hardin and LaRue counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 654 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Upton is located at ....
- (Partly in Hardin CountyHardin County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 94,174 people, 34,497 households, and 25,355 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 37,673 housing units at an average density of...
)
Churches
- LaRue Baptist Church, an Independent BaptistIndependent BaptistIndependent Baptist churches are Christian churches generally holding to conservative Baptist beliefs. They are characterized by being independent from the authority of denominations or similar bodies. Members of such churches comprised three percent of the United States adult population according...
church - Victory Baptist Church
- First Baptist Church of Hodgenville (mostly white congregation relocated from Downtown Hodgenville to near Lincoln Parkway on the edge of the city limits.)
- First Baptist Church on Lincoln Blvd (mostly black congregation)
- Buffalo Baptist Church
- Mt. Tabor Baptist Church
- Union Christian Church
- Magnolia Baptist Church
- Roanoake House of Prayer
- Lane Lincoln Baptist Church
- Athertonville Baptist Church
- Oakhill Baptist Church
Lincoln Days
LaRue County is home to the annual Lincoln Days celebration, which takes place on the first full weekend of each October. The festival is Friday through Sunday. Highlights include the Lincoln Look-A-Like contests, rail-splitting competitions, a parade at noon on Saturday, shopping booths and concerts by local talent (mostly countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and Southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
).
See also
- Dry countyDry countyA dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
- Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area
- National Register of Historic Places listings in LaRue County, KentuckyNational Register of Historic Places listings in LaRue County, KentuckyThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in LaRue County, Kentucky.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in LaRue County, Kentucky, United States...