LaRue County, Kentucky

Geography

The low rolling hills of LaRue County have been largely cleared and devoted to agriculture or urban development, with only the drainages of the eastern portions still wooded. The highest point (1100 ft ASL) is a small hill near its border with Taylor County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 264 sqmi, of which 262 sqmi is land and 2.1 sqmi (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Nelson County − northeast
• Marion County − east
• Taylor County − southeast
• Green County − south/Central Time Border
• Hart County − southwest/Central Time Border
• Hardin County − northwest

National protected area

• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,867. The median age was 41.3 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 90.7% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,879 households in the county, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 6,474 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.5% were owner-occupied and 26.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,373 people, 5,275 households, and 3,866 families in the county. The population density was 51 PD/sqmi. There were 5,860 housing units at an average density of 22 /mi2. 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.

The county population contained 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.

Communities

Cities

• Hodgenville (county seat)
• Upton (mostly in Hardin County)

Census-designated places

• Buffalo
• Magnolia

Unincorporated communities

• Athertonville
• Ginseng
• Gleanings
• Lyons
• Malt
• Mount Sherman
• Tanner
• Tonieville
• White City

Churches

• Athertonville Baptist Church
• Buffalo Baptist Church, Buffalo
• First Baptist Church of Hodgenville (relocated from Downtown Hodgenville to near Lincoln Parkway on the edge of the city limits.)
• First Baptist Church on Lincoln Blvd, Hodgenville
• Hodgenville Christian Church
• Hodgenville Pentecostal Church (HPC)
• Hodgenville United Methodist Church
• Lane Lincoln Baptist Church
• LaRue Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist church
• Levelwoods United Methodist Church
• Magnolia Baptist Church
• Magnolia Cumberland Presbyterian Church
• Mt. Tabor Baptist Church
• Oak Hill Baptist Church
• Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church
• Parkway Baptist Church
• Roanoke House of Prayer
• South Fork Baptist Church
• Steadfast Baptist Church
• Union Christian Church
• Victory Baptist Church
• Wesley Meadows United Methodist Church

Lincoln Days

The county hosts the annual Lincoln Days celebration on the first full weekend of October, Saturday through Sunday in Hodgenville. Highlights include the Lincoln Look-A-Like contests, rail-splitting competitions, a parade, shopping booths and concerts by local talent (mostly country, bluegrass and Southern gospel).

Politics

LaRue County has leaned heavily Republican in presidential elections since the turn of the century. Three-quarters of the county's overall vote went to Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

Elected officials

Education

All of Larue County is in the Larue County School District.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2000). "The Kentucky Encyclopedia".
4. (1903). "The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol. 1". Kentucky State Historical Society.
5. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Larue+County,+KY/@37.5782707,-85.7059345,35080m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88688b86b36c5197:0x9d663ab18d13dd71!8m2!3d37.5189552!4d-85.7256372 ''LaRue County KY'' (Google Maps, accessed October 10, 2020)]
6. [https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=23252 ''LaRue County High Point, Kentucky'' (PeakBagger.com, accessed October 10, 2020)]
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gleanings,+KY+40052/@37.5595425,-85.5456474,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88685e1c4203b353:0x3f4318b381fd2a56!8m2!3d37.5583953!4d-85.5338533 ''Gleanings KY'' (Google Maps, accessed October 10, 2020)]
17. "Lincoln Days Celebration".
18. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
19. . ["Senate Members - County"](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html). *[[Kentucky General Assembly]]*.
20. . ["House Members - County"](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html). *[[Kentucky General Assembly]]*.
21. Geography Division. (December 26, 2020). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Larue County, KY". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].