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Christian County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 36°54′N 87°29′W / 36.90°N 87.49°W / 36.90; -87.49
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Christian County
County
Christian County courthouse in Hopkinsville
Christian County courthouse in Hopkinsville
Map of Kentucky highlighting Christian County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°54′N 87°29′W / 36.9°N 87.49°W / 36.9; -87.49
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1797
Named forWilliam Christian
SeatHopkinsville
Largest cityHopkinsville
Area
 • Total724 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Land718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Water6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total72,748
 • Estimate 
(2023)
72,032 Decrease
 • Density100/sq mi (39/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.christiancountyky.gov

Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 72,748.[1] Its county seat is Hopkinsville.[2] The county was formed in 1797. Christian County is part of the Clarksville, Tennessee–Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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The county is named for Colonel William Christian, a native of Augusta County, Virginia, and a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He settled near Louisville, Kentucky in 1785, and was killed by Native Americans in southern Indiana in 1786.[3]

Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, was born in Fairview, Kentucky (in the small part that is now in Todd County) in 1808.[4] United States Vice President Adlai Stevenson I was born in Christian County in 1835.

The present courthouse, built in 1869, replaced a structure burned by Confederate cavalry in 1864 because the Union Army was using it as their barracks.[5]

The United States Supreme Court case Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 (1972), arose out of a 1958 double-murder in Christian County, Kentucky.

In 2006 and 2008, tornadoes touched down across northern Christian County, damaging homes in the Crofton area.

In 2017, northwestern Christian County was the point of greatest eclipse for the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 that crossed North America. The center was in the Bainbridge/Sinking Fork area of the county, on the Orchardale farm.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 724 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 718 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (0.9%) is water.[6] It is the second-largest county by area in Kentucky and the largest in Western Kentucky.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18002,318—
181011,020375.4%
182010,459−5.1%
183012,68421.3%
184015,58722.9%
185019,58025.6%
186021,62710.5%
187023,2277.4%
188031,68236.4%
189034,1187.7%
190037,96211.3%
191038,8452.3%
192035,883−7.6%
193034,283−4.5%
194036,1295.4%
195042,35917.2%
196056,90434.3%
197056,224−1.2%
198066,87818.9%
199068,9413.1%
200072,2654.8%
201073,9552.3%
202072,748−1.6%
2023 (est.)72,032[7]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 72,265 people, 24,857 households, and 18,344 families residing in the county. The population density was 100 per square mile (39/km2). There were 27,182 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.92% White, 23.73% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.32% Pacific Islander, 2.23% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. 4.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 24,857 households, out of which 41.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 13.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.30% under the age of 18, 15.80% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 16.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,177, and the median income for a family was $35,240. Males had a median income of $25,063 versus $20,748 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,611. About 12.10% of families and 15.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.30% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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Most residents are zoned to Christian County Public Schools. However residents of Fort Campbell are zoned to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.[13]

High schools

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Colleges

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Christian County, Kentucky[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 14,332 66.13% 7,055 32.56% 284 1.31%
2020 15,080 63.19% 8,296 34.77% 487 2.04%
2016 14,108 63.89% 7,188 32.55% 787 3.56%
2012 13,475 61.38% 8,252 37.59% 228 1.04%
2008 13,699 60.14% 8,880 38.98% 199 0.87%
2004 13,935 66.31% 6,970 33.17% 110 0.52%
2000 10,787 60.69% 6,778 38.14% 208 1.17%
1996 8,285 50.95% 6,843 42.08% 1,132 6.96%
1992 7,737 47.50% 6,709 41.19% 1,842 11.31%
1988 9,250 61.63% 5,704 38.01% 54 0.36%
1984 10,708 66.06% 5,432 33.51% 69 0.43%
1980 8,209 52.92% 7,048 45.44% 255 1.64%
1976 4,964 38.44% 7,845 60.75% 105 0.81%
1972 7,414 63.34% 4,063 34.71% 228 1.95%
1968 3,788 30.03% 4,281 33.94% 4,545 36.03%
1964 3,882 30.74% 8,727 69.10% 21 0.17%
1960 5,251 43.31% 6,874 56.69% 0 0.00%
1956 4,963 43.18% 6,487 56.43% 45 0.39%
1952 4,858 41.62% 6,787 58.15% 27 0.23%
1948 3,242 31.85% 5,582 54.83% 1,356 13.32%
1944 4,506 41.72% 6,260 57.96% 35 0.32%
1940 5,566 45.69% 6,599 54.17% 16 0.13%
1936 5,370 44.64% 6,660 55.36% 0 0.00%
1932 5,235 40.52% 7,618 58.96% 67 0.52%
1928 7,069 55.35% 5,702 44.65% 0 0.00%
1924 7,192 51.77% 6,585 47.40% 115 0.83%
1920 8,743 54.45% 7,209 44.90% 105 0.65%
1916 4,594 55.11% 3,644 43.71% 98 1.18%
1912 3,520 48.96% 2,784 38.73% 885 12.31%

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 58. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 97–98. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  5. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 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 13, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Christian County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022. - Text list - "Fort Campbell Dependent Schools" refers to DoDEA schools.
  14. ^ "High school consolidation in 1959 marked a major change for Christian County students". September 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Hopkinsville Community College HomePage". www.hopkinsville.kctcs.edu. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
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36°54′N 87°29′W / 36.90°N 87.49°W / 36.90; -87.49

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