Fayette County, Kentucky

Fayette County, Kentucky
Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Complex in Lexington
Map of Kentucky highlighting Fayette County
Location in the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1780
Named for Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Seat Lexington
Largest city Lexington
Area
 • Total 286 sq mi (741 km2)
 • Land 284 sq mi (736 km2)
 • Water 1.9 sq mi (5 km2), 0.7%
Population (est.)
 • (2017) 321,959
 • Density 1,087/sq mi (420/km2)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC−5/−4
Website www.lexingtonky.gov

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 295,803,[1] making it the second-most populous county in the commonwealth. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as the county seat.[2]

Fayette County is part of the Lexington–Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Fayette County was formed in 1780, when the Virginia General Assembly partitioned Kentucky County.

Fayette County—originally Fayette County, Virginia—was established by the Virginia General Assembly in June 1780, when it abolished and subdivided Kentucky County into three counties: Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln. Together, these counties and those set off from them later in that decade separated from Virginia in 1792 to become the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Originally, Fayette County included land which makes up 37 present-day counties and parts of 7 others. It was reduced to its present boundaries in 1799. The county is named for the Marquis de LaFayette, who came to America to support the rebelling English colonies in the American Revolutionary War.[3][4]

On January 1, 1974, Fayette County merged its government with that of its county seat of Lexington, creating a consolidated city-county governed by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km2), of which 284 square miles (740 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
179018,410—
180014,028−23.8%
181021,37052.3%
182023,2508.8%
183025,0987.9%
184022,194−11.6%
185022,7352.4%
186022,599−0.6%
187026,65618.0%
188029,0238.9%
189035,69823.0%
190042,07117.9%
191047,71513.4%
192054,66414.6%
193068,54325.4%
194078,89915.1%
1950100,74627.7%
1960131,90630.9%
1970174,32332.2%
1980204,16517.1%
1990225,36610.4%
2000260,51215.6%
2010295,80313.5%
Est. 2016318,449[6]7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 295,803 people, 123,043 households, and 69,661 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,034 people per square mile (399/km²). There were 135,160 housing units at an average density of 473 per square mile (182/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.7% White, 14.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 6.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 123,043 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 21, and 62.4% from 21 to 65. 10.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.7 years. 50.8% of the population was female.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,469, and the median income for a family was $66,690. Males had a median income of $44,343 versus $35,716 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,345. About 11.1% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public high schools

Schools in the county are operated by Fayette County Public Schools.

Private middle and elementary schools

Private high schools

Colleges and universities

Politics

Unlike almost all of the rest of Kentucky, Fayette County has trended towards the Democratic Party in recent years rather than away from them. Between 1964 and 1996 it always voted for the Republican nominee; since this election, it has predominantly seen close results for the two parties. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the county by the biggest margin since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, although it was one of only two counties in the entire Commonwealth to vote for her, the other being Jefferson County, home to the city of Louisville.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 41.7% 56,894 51.2% 69,778 7.1% 9,643
2012 48.3% 60,795 49.3% 62,080 2.4% 2,991
2008 46.9% 59,884 51.7% 66,042 1.4% 1,722
2004 52.9% 66,406 46.2% 57,994 0.9% 1,176
2000 51.7% 54,495 44.8% 47,277 3.5% 3,705
1996 46.3% 42,930 47.1% 43,632 6.6% 6,102
1992 43.9% 41,908 40.1% 38,306 16.0% 15,320
1988 59.0% 48,065 39.9% 32,554 1.1% 906
1984 63.6% 51,993 35.4% 28,961 1.0% 792
1980 49.2% 35,349 42.5% 30,511 8.3% 5,957
1976 54.1% 35,170 43.1% 28,012 2.8% 1,807
1972 66.5% 42,362 31.1% 19,828 2.3% 1,476
1968 49.5% 24,948 33.6% 16,902 16.9% 8,523
1964 42.4% 18,739 57.3% 25,317 0.3% 136
1960 60.4% 25,169 39.6% 16,478 0.0% 0
1956 61.4% 21,904 38.0% 13,547 0.7% 232
1952 54.7% 17,376 44.9% 14,275 0.4% 138
1948 41.9% 10,959 50.5% 13,202 7.6% 1,988
1944 44.1% 10,857 55.2% 13,567 0.7% 174
1940 44.0% 12,514 55.7% 15,834 0.3% 84
1936 44.1% 11,544 55.1% 14,428 0.8% 203
1932 42.5% 11,847 56.6% 15,765 0.9% 257
1928 65.1% 16,988 34.7% 9,065 0.2% 39
1924 52.2% 11,755 46.3% 10,433 1.5% 331
1920 45.7% 11,032 53.6% 12,926 0.8% 181
1916 46.0% 5,472 53.3% 6,348 0.8% 89
1912 37.8% 4,060 49.0% 5,268 13.2% 1,414

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Historically black hamlets

  • Bracktown
  • Cadentown
  • Jimtown
  • Smithtown
  • Little Georgetown
  • Pralltown

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 35.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 124.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  12. ↑ "Midway College - Lexington Campus". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  13. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-01.

Coordinates: 38°02′N 84°28′W / 38.04°N 84.46°W / 38.04; -84.46

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