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Hancock County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 37°50′N 86°47′W / 37.84°N 86.78°W / 37.84; -86.78
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Hancock County
County
Hancock County courthouse in Hawesville, KY
Hancock County courthouse in Hawesville, KY
Flag of Hancock County
Flag
Official seal of Hancock County
Seal
Map of Kentucky highlighting Hancock County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°50′N 86°47′W / 37.84°N 86.78°W / 37.84; -86.78
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1829
Named forJohn Hancock
SeatHawesville
Largest cityLewisport
Area
 • Total199 sq mi (520 km2)
 • Land188 sq mi (490 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  5.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,095
 • Estimate 
(2023)
8,920 Decrease
 • Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.hancockky.us

Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,095.[1] Its county seat is in the city of Hawesville located in the Northern part of the county, and its largest city of Lewisport is located in the Northwestern part of the county.[2]

Hancock County is included in the Owensboro, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The Hancock County Board of Education consists of 4 public school systems. Hancock County High School (HCHS), Hancock County Middle School (HCMS), South Hancock Elementary School, & North Hancock Elementary School (NHES). North Hancock Elementary School being the only one located in Lewisport. NHES replaced the previously outdated Lewisport Elementary School with a newly constructed $8,829,532 building.

History

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Hancock County was formed in 1829 from portions of Breckinridge, Daviess, and Ohio counties.[3] The county is named for John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.[4][5]

The courthouse, the second to serve the county, was built in 1868 and renovated in 1978.[6]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 199 square miles (520 km2), of which 188 square miles (490 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (5.6%) is water.[7] The northern border of the county lies along the Ohio River.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18301,515—
18402,58170.4%
18503,85349.3%
18606,21361.3%
18706,5916.1%
18808,56329.9%
18909,2147.6%
19008,914−3.3%
19108,512−4.5%
19206,945−18.4%
19306,147−11.5%
19406,80710.7%
19506,009−11.7%
19605,330−11.3%
19707,08032.8%
19807,7429.4%
19907,8641.6%
20008,3926.7%
20108,5652.1%
20209,0956.2%
2023 (est.)8,920[8]−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2021[1]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 8,392 people, 3,215 households, and 2,436 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 per square mile (17/km2). There were 3,600 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,215 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.40% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,914, and the median income for a family was $42,994. Males had a median income of $35,294 versus $23,574 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,623. About 11.40% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Incorporated

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Unincorporated

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Hancock County, Kentucky[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,145 68.56% 1,351 29.45% 91 1.98%
2016 2,788 64.91% 1,244 28.96% 263 6.12%
2012 2,212 53.51% 1,833 44.34% 89 2.15%
2008 1,928 46.53% 2,135 51.52% 81 1.95%
2004 2,286 56.74% 1,709 42.42% 34 0.84%
2000 2,032 56.29% 1,508 41.77% 70 1.94%
1996 1,356 40.61% 1,547 46.33% 436 13.06%
1992 1,261 34.98% 1,714 47.55% 630 17.48%
1988 1,733 53.44% 1,478 45.58% 32 0.99%
1984 1,967 59.59% 1,287 38.99% 47 1.42%
1980 1,367 45.51% 1,530 50.93% 107 3.56%
1976 1,124 40.92% 1,562 56.86% 61 2.22%
1972 1,583 64.61% 791 32.29% 76 3.10%
1968 1,049 44.70% 867 36.94% 431 18.36%
1964 756 34.52% 1,423 64.98% 11 0.50%
1960 1,488 59.38% 1,018 40.62% 0 0.00%
1956 1,317 56.14% 1,022 43.56% 7 0.30%
1952 1,341 53.11% 1,177 46.61% 7 0.28%
1948 985 45.54% 1,146 52.98% 32 1.48%
1944 1,365 54.40% 1,129 45.00% 15 0.60%
1940 1,424 51.52% 1,338 48.41% 2 0.07%
1936 1,087 44.90% 1,317 54.40% 17 0.70%
1932 1,174 41.54% 1,623 57.43% 29 1.03%
1928 1,614 58.33% 1,151 41.60% 2 0.07%
1924 1,332 48.88% 1,323 48.55% 70 2.57%
1920 1,446 50.23% 1,384 48.07% 49 1.70%
1916 918 51.14% 833 46.41% 44 2.45%
1912 268 15.23% 757 43.01% 735 41.76%

The county gave Barack Obama a majority of the votes in 2008, but went back to Republican hands in 2012, and has stayed that way since.

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 129. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 35.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 148.
  6. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 244. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  12. ^ "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 16, 2014.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
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37°50′N 86°47′W / 37.84°N 86.78°W / 37.84; -86.78

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