Marshall County, Kentucky

Marshall County, Kentucky
Marshall County Courthouse in Benton, Kentucky.
Map of Kentucky highlighting Marshall County
Location in the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1842
Named for John Marshall
Seat Benton
Largest city Benton
Area
 • Total 340 sq mi (881 km2)
 • Land 301 sq mi (780 km2)
 • Water 39 sq mi (101 km2), 11%
Population
 • (2010) 31,448
 • Density 104/sq mi (40/km2)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC−6/−5
Website www.marshallcountyky.gov

Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,448.[1] Its county seat is Benton.[2] It was a dry county until July 28, 2015, when residents voted for the county to go "wet". It is the only Purchase Area county to not border another state; a narrow strip of land in neighboring Livingston County separates Marshall County from the Ohio River and the Illinois border.

Marshall County was named Kentucky's "Best County to Live In" ten years in a row, from 1999 to 2009.[3]

History

Marshall County was created by the Kentucky legislature in 1842 from the northern half of Calloway County.[4] The first settlers arrived in about 1818, shortly after the area was bought from the Chickasaw Indians as part of the Jackson Purchase by Gen. Andrew Jackson and Kentucky Gov. Isaac Shelby. The Chickasaws then were forced to move to new lands west of the Mississippi River. Marshall County was named in honor of Chief Justice John Marshall, who died in 1835.[5] Like most of the Jackson Purchase, Marshall County was strongly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War, with many local men serving in the famous Kentucky Orphan Brigade. On March 23, 1864, detachments of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's Confederate cavalry clashed with Union cavalry near Benton, with each side scouring the countryside for needed cavalry remounts. A state historical marker stands at the site.[6]

From its settlement until the 1930s, Marshall County was almost completely agricultural. In the 1940s, however, the Tennessee Valley Authority created Kentucky Lake, which brought tourism to the county with lakeshore resorts. Kentucky Dam's cheap and plentiful electricity also attracted chemical and manufacturing plants, mainly in the Calvert City area. The lake's impoundment destroyed two historic Marshall County towns: Birmingham, six miles north of Fairdealing, and Gilbertsville, at the dam's site. Gilbertsville was relocated west of its original location, but Birmingham residents had to find new homes elsewhere. Gilbertsville was an incorporated town until the 1970s, when its charter was dissolved by public vote. Kentucky Lake (created on the Tennessee River) and Lake Barkley (created on the Cumberland River) were connected by a canal and thus form one of the largest man-made bodies of water in the world.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 340 square miles (880 km2), of which 301 square miles (780 km2) is land and 39 square miles (100 km2) (11%) is water.[7] The county's northeastern border is formed by the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18505,269—
18606,98232.5%
18709,45535.4%
18809,6472.0%
189011,28717.0%
190013,69221.3%
191015,77115.2%
192015,215−3.5%
193012,889−15.3%
194016,60228.8%
195013,387−19.4%
196016,73625.0%
197020,38121.8%
198025,63725.8%
199027,2056.1%
200030,12510.7%
201031,4484.4%
Est. 201631,365[8]−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2013[1]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 30,125 people, 12,412 households, and 8,998 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 per square mile (38/km2). There were 14,730 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.57% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 12,412 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.83.

The age distribution was 21.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,573, and the median income for a family was $43,670. Males had a median income of $36,673 versus $21,941 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,069. About 6.60% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Annual events

On the first Monday of April, Benton holds its Tater Day. Originating in 1842 as a day for farmers to gather at the county seat to trade their agricultural goods, today Tater Day is a celebration that includes a festival and parade. Tater Day derives its name from the main item traded—sweet potatoes for seed, i.e., for bedding in prepared "seedbeds" to produce slips for growers to transplant to gardens or fields.

On the fourth Sunday of each May, The Big Singing, an all-day sing-along program of Southern Harmony shape note gospel music is held at the county courthouse. While other major singings still survive, The Big Singing, begun in 1884, is the only singing in the world to use the William Walker Southern Harmony system of shape-note singing. The Big Singing is also distinguished as the oldest continuously operating indigenous music festival in the United States.

Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. Calvert City has AmeriBration and is sponsored by the Calvert Area Development Agency(CADA). Ameribration is one of the Lakes' Biggest Fourth of July Celebrations. Some of the events include: Community Photo Contest, 5K Race and Walk, other community tournaments, Car Show, Children's Train Ride, Arts and Crafts Vendors, Youth and Adult Talent Shows, Water Wall and Slide Ride for children, Kids' Parade, Live Bands, Main Parade, and Fireworks show (45 minutes).

Other annual events include Hardin Day and Aurora Country Festival, celebrated in the small towns of Hardin and Aurora. More recently, the area has become known for the annual Hot August Blues and Barbecue Festival held at Kenlake State Resort Park, which was originally built as a park for African Americans. Marshall County is also home to Jackson Purchase barbecue, a style unique to the region. In Benton, Hutchens Open Pit BBQ has been in continuous operation since the 1940s and 4 Little Pigs has bene open since 2001 . In Aurora there is Belews, a drive-in dairyette open seasonally since the 1950s.

Attractions and other information

Marshall County is the home of Calvert Drive In Theater, the only one in the Purchase area and one of three within an 85-mile radius in far western Kentucky.[14][15]

Marshall County is also home to the Silver Trail Distillery, where a family legend was revitalized to produce LBL Moonshine, named for the illegal liquor distilled in the "Land Between the Rivers," now the Land Between the Lakes. The distillery and museum are in Hardin and Aurora. The original moonshiner, Cilous, was known to have a sipping ritual when it came time to drink his 'shine: "Take a small sip, don't shoot it, and keep your lips closed. With your lips still closed, swish gently then let it ease down. When it is down to the navel level, open your lips slowly while exhaling. There will be a fresh corn taste on both sides of the mouth and no bitter aftertaste."[16]

Before Interstate 24 rerouted much of US 68 traffic northward, generations spent summer days and nights at The Forgotten Past Amusement Park with its gift shop, go carts, bumper cars, mini golf, museum, and arcade.[17] For many years it hosted an Antique (steel wheeled) Tractor Show.

Marshall County is home to one of the largest and most complete parks in the Purchase area. It has lighted baseball fields, two basketball courts, four soccer fields, two tennis courts, a large fishing pond, large playground, spray park, and multiple picnic pavilions as well as a conference center. It is built upon land donated from a private family in memorial of their son who was killed in action in the Vietnam Conflict. In September 2000 the park was dedicated as the Marshall County Park. Later that year the local judge executive Mike Miller appointed the new park board. Upon the Grand Opening the park board had named it Mike Miller Park. Several people protested and the park board renamed it Mike Miller County Park. The original statute dedication as Marshall County Park remains at the entrance of the park. The original park didn't have any mention of veterans in its mission; in response the fiscal court commissioned a large veteran's park adjacent to the main conference center.[18]

Marshall County is home to the FLW Bass Tournament organization, named after legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood. FLW is, without question, the purveyor of America's largest and most prestigious fishing tournaments, including the FLW Tour, FLW Series, Bass Fishing League, College Fishing and High School Fishing.[19]

Marshall County was part of Wal-Mart's initial growth, as home to one of the earliest stores east of the Mississippi River, No. 143.

Politics

Locally, Marshall County has been a stronghold of the Democratic Party. Since the creation of Marshall County, Democrats have dominated its politics. At present, all elected county officials are Democrats, except for one. Republican Kevin Neal defeated Melonie Watkins Chambers to finish the unexpired term of longtime County Judge-Executive Mike Miller, who died in office Dec. 17, 2014. However, voters have preferred the Republican candidate for president in all elections since 2000. Donald Trump earned nearly three quarters of the vote in 2016.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 73.8% 12,322 22.0% 3,672 4.2% 704
2012 66.2% 10,402 32.0% 5,022 1.9% 295
2008 61.4% 9,512 36.7% 5,683 1.9% 292
2004 58.3% 9,049 41.1% 6,383 0.6% 89
2000 53.0% 7,294 45.1% 6,203 1.9% 264
1996 37.9% 4,579 50.1% 6,054 12.0% 1,445
1992 34.3% 4,368 51.6% 6,576 14.2% 1,805
1988 47.1% 5,256 52.7% 5,888 0.2% 27
1984 47.2% 5,152 52.4% 5,725 0.4% 40
1980 40.9% 4,403 57.8% 6,231 1.3% 145
1976 26.8% 2,578 71.8% 6,906 1.4% 130
1972 59.2% 4,290 38.7% 2,806 2.2% 156
1968 30.7% 2,432 41.7% 3,301 27.6% 2,188
1964 21.9% 1,679 77.8% 5,968 0.3% 21
1960 49.3% 3,388 50.7% 3,484 0.0% 0
1956 31.6% 2,015 68.3% 4,358 0.1% 9
1952 29.9% 1,474 69.8% 3,445 0.3% 15
1948 19.3% 711 79.7% 2,942 1.1% 40
1944 30.8% 1,316 69.0% 2,947 0.3% 11
1940 23.6% 1,100 76.1% 3,549 0.3% 13
1936 24.7% 1,141 75.1% 3,472 0.2% 11
1932 16.8% 863 82.8% 4,246 0.4% 20
1928 47.9% 1,879 51.9% 2,036 0.3% 10
1924 29.7% 1,192 68.6% 2,752 1.6% 66
1920 34.3% 1,883 65.0% 3,569 0.7% 40
1916 34.0% 1,201 64.1% 2,263 1.9% 66
1912 22.8% 634 60.1% 1,675 17.2% 478

Notable people

  • Joe Creason – Longtime reporter and columnist for the Louisville Courier Journal[21]

See also

Resources

Books

  • Big Singing Day in Benton, Kentucky: A Study of the History, Ethnic Identity and Musical Style of Southern Harmony Singers, by Deborah Carlton Loftis, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kentucky, 1987. Review

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Jackson Purchase Historical Society. Marshall County August 22, 2010, accessed December 6, 2010.
  4. ↑ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 542.
  5. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 36.
  6. ↑ "JPFOB". JPFOB. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. ↑ "Drive-in Movie Theaters of Kentucky and Surrounding States". Driveinmovie.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  15. ↑ "CDITweb". Calvertdrivein.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  16. ↑ "Home". LBL Moonshine. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  17. ↑ "Custom 404 Page". Kentuckytourism.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  18. ↑ interview with former County Commissioner Jerome Hicks
  19. ↑ "About Us". FLW Fishing. 1996-07-24. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  20. ↑ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  21. ↑ Joe Creason

Coordinates: 36°53′N 88°20′W / 36.88°N 88.34°W / 36.88; -88.34

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