Taylor County, Kentucky

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 277 sqmi, of which 266 sqmi is land and 10 sqmi (3.8%) is water.

Taylor County has a geographic boundary shaped like a heart, and also claims to be the geographic center of Kentucky. It includes a fabled center marker of Kentucky, a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey magnetic station marker placed in Taylor County circa 1916 which in time since has been regarded by citizens as the geodetic center of the state. Information on this marker is currently not available in federal databases. The claim to the geographic center of Kentucky is disputed by surrounding counties in part due to the planar methods used to initially determine the geographic centers of the states.

The American Civil War skirmish, The Battle of Tebbs Bend, was fought in Taylor County.

Adjacent counties

• Marion County (north)
• Casey County (east)
• Adair County (southeast/CST Border)
• Green County (south & west/CST Border)
• LaRue County (northwest)

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 26,023. The median age was 38.9 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 88.1% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.

49.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 50.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 10,171 households in the county, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 11,199 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.1% were owner-occupied and 35.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,927 people, 9,233 households, and 6,555 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 /sqmi. There were 10,180 housing units at an average density of 38 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 93.62% White, 5.06% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,233 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,089, and the median income for a family was $33,854. Males had a median income of $26,633 versus $20,480 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,162. About 14.20% of families and 17.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Campbellsville (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Acton
• Bengal
• Black Gnat (partly in Green County in the Central Time Zone)
• Elk Horn
• Finley
• Hatcher
• Hobson
• Mannsville
• Merrimac
• Saloma
• Spurlington
• Sweenyville
• Yuma

Politics

Elected officials

Education

School districts include:

• Campbellsville Independent School District
• Taylor County School District

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (1903). "The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1". Kentucky State Historical Society.
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Geographic Center of Kentucky".
6. "Geographic Center of Kentucky".
7. (1923). "Boundaries, areas, geographic centers and altitudes of the United States and the several States with a brief record of important changes in their territory". US Geological Survey.
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". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States 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. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
17. . ["Senate Members - County"](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html). *[[Kentucky General Assembly]]*.
18. . ["House Members - County"](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html). *[[Kentucky General Assembly]]*.
19. (September 15, 2015). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Taylor County, KY". [[United States Census Bureau]].