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Menifee County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 37°57′N 83°36′W / 37.95°N 83.60°W / 37.95; -83.60
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Menifee County
County
Menifee County courthouse in Frenchburg
Menifee County courthouse in Frenchburg
Map of Kentucky highlighting Menifee 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°57′N 83°36′W / 37.95°N 83.6°W / 37.95; -83.6
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1869
Named forRichard H. Menefee
SeatFrenchburg
Largest cityFrenchburg
Area
 • Total
206 sq mi (530 km2)
 • Land204 sq mi (530 km2)
 • Water2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
6,113
 • Estimate 
(2023)
6,286 Increase
 • Density30/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.menifeecounty.ky.gov

Menifee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,113,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Kentucky. Its county seat is Frenchburg.[2] The county is named for Richard Hickman Menefee, U.S. Congressman, although the spelling has changed.[3] It is a prohibition or dry county. Menifee County is part of the Mount Sterling, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area. It is located in the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau.[4]

History

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Menifee County was formed on May 29, 1869, from portions of Bath, Montgomery, Morgan, Powell, and Wolfe counties.[4][5]

In the 2008 Presidential Election Menifee County was one of eight in the state of Kentucky where the majority of voters voted for Barack Obama.[6]

On March 2, 2012, an EF3 tornado hit Menifee county and several other surrounding counties.[7] Many were injured, and three were killed.[8]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 206 square miles (530 km2), of which 204 square miles (530 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (1.1%) is water.[9]

Menifee County is mountainous and heavily forested. Much of the land is within Daniel Boone National Forest. Only about 10% of the county's land is in cultivated farms, and the county ranks 102nd of Kentucky's 120 counties in agricultural revenue.[4]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Arts & culture

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Menifee County is home to the Menifee Community Theatre Group, a small-town local and regional arts organization that has produced 17 theatrical productions to date. The group has over 40 members and hosts an annual locally-written theatrical and film presentation, taking place at the Menifee Mountain Memories Festival and centering on local and Appalachian stories collected from local citizens.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18701,986—
18803,75589.1%
18904,66624.3%
19006,81846.1%
19106,153−9.8%
19205,779−6.1%
19304,958−14.2%
19405,69114.8%
19504,798−15.7%
19604,276−10.9%
19704,050−5.3%
19805,11726.3%
19905,092−0.5%
20006,55628.8%
20106,306−3.8%
20206,113−3.1%
2023 (est.)6,286[10]2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2021[15]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 6,556 people, 2,537 households, and 1,900 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 per square mile (12/km2). There were 3,710 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White, 1.37% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,537 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% 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 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,064, and the median income for a family was $26,325. Males had a median income of $25,670 versus $17,014 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,399. About 23.40% of families and 29.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.50% of those under age 18 and 23.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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The county has historically been Democratic-dominated, voting for the Democratic nominee in every election from its first election in 1872 through 1996 apart from one lone show of support for Herbert Hoover in 1928.[17] In the 21st century, however, it has, like most of Kentucky outside the Louisville, Lexington, and Frankfort areas, trended powerfully Republican. It cast its second-ever Republican vote for George W. Bush in 2000, even as Bush narrowly lost the national popular vote, and although it returned to the Democratic fold in 2004 and 2008, it was at greatly reduced levels compared to what Democrats could typically count on in the 20th century; neither John Kerry nor Barack Obama in 2008 managed even to reach the vote share in the county that George McGovern received in 1972. The county went red again in 2012, voting for its first-ever losing Republican nominee, and has continued voting Republican by increasing margins. In 2020, it gave Donald Trump nearly three-quarters of its vote, approaching the 76.8% it gave Carter in 1976 and Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Joe Biden, meanwhile, sank below a quarter of the county's vote, a level even Hillary Clinton had managed to stay above.

United States presidential election results for Menifee County, Kentucky[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,563 77.86% 664 20.17% 65 1.97%
2020 2,311 74.50% 750 24.18% 41 1.32%
2016 2,010 72.33% 700 25.19% 69 2.48%
2012 1,484 57.12% 1,048 40.34% 66 2.54%
2008 1,155 46.40% 1,276 51.27% 58 2.33%
2004 1,215 48.06% 1,284 50.79% 29 1.15%
2000 1,170 52.02% 1,038 46.15% 41 1.82%
1996 608 34.14% 979 54.97% 194 10.89%
1992 557 25.97% 1,311 61.12% 277 12.91%
1988 670 37.47% 1,096 61.30% 22 1.23%
1984 785 44.35% 956 54.01% 29 1.64%
1980 547 35.45% 966 62.61% 30 1.94%
1976 304 22.42% 1,041 76.77% 11 0.81%
1972 596 43.89% 732 53.90% 30 2.21%
1968 509 38.65% 554 42.07% 254 19.29%
1964 318 22.70% 1,076 76.80% 7 0.50%
1960 817 45.24% 989 54.76% 0 0.00%
1956 799 40.25% 1,185 59.70% 1 0.05%
1952 638 34.25% 1,219 65.43% 6 0.32%
1948 435 27.51% 1,112 70.34% 34 2.15%
1944 568 36.72% 976 63.09% 3 0.19%
1940 511 30.20% 1,176 69.50% 5 0.30%
1936 559 33.16% 1,123 66.61% 4 0.24%
1932 474 24.82% 1,425 74.61% 11 0.58%
1928 732 50.24% 725 49.76% 0 0.00%
1924 450 33.48% 873 64.96% 21 1.56%
1920 581 33.28% 1,149 65.81% 16 0.92%
1916 369 33.55% 730 66.36% 1 0.09%
1912 254 24.66% 643 62.43% 133 12.91%

Communities

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City

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Menifee County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
  4. ^ a b c Bryant, Ron D. (1992). "Menifee County". In Kleber, John (ed.). Encyclopedia of Kentucky. p. 625.
  5. ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. Library Reprints, Incorporated. p. 601. ISBN 978-0-7222-4920-8.
  6. ^ Officials in 4 Appalachian counties proud their residents supported Obama Lexington Herald-Leader, November 6, 2008.
  7. ^ Deadly Tornado Cut 60-Mile Path In Eastern Kentucky Archived March 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine The Associated Press, March 5, 2012.
  8. ^ [1] WAVE News, March 5, 2012.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. ^ "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 17, 2014.
  15. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ^ "County winners, 1836-2016". Google Docs. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
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37°57′N 83°36′W / 37.95°N 83.60°W / 37.95; -83.60

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