Livingston County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Livingston County Courthouse in Smithland | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
| Coordinates: 37°13′N 88°21′W / 37.21°N 88.35°W / 37.21; -88.35 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1798 |
| Named after | Robert R. Livingston |
| Seat | Smithland |
| Largest community | Ledbetter |
| Area | |
• Total | 342 sq mi (890 km2) |
| • Land | 313 sq mi (810 km2) |
| • Water | 29 sq mi (75 km2) 8.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,888 |
• Estimate (2024) | 8,815  |
| • Density | 28.4/sq mi (11.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | livingstoncountyky.com |
Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,888.[1] Its county seat is Smithland and its largest community is Ledbetter.[2] The county was established in 1798 from land taken from Christian County and is named for Robert R. Livingston, a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the U.S. Declaration of Independence.[3] The county was strongly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War and many men volunteered for the Confederate Army.[4][5] Livingston County is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is a prohibition or dry county with the exception of Grand Rivers which voted to allow alcohol sales in 2016.[6]
History
![[icon]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/1280px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png) | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2019) |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 342 square miles (890 km2), of which 313 square miles (810 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (8.5%) is water.[7] The western border with Illinois is formed by the Ohio River.
Adjacent counties
- Hardin County, Illinois (north)
- Crittenden County (northeast)
- Lyon County (southeast)
- Marshall County (south)
- McCracken County (southwest)
- Massac County, Illinois (west)
- Pope County, Illinois (northwest)
Major highways
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 2,856 | — | |
| 1810 | 3,674 | 28.6% | |
| 1820 | 5,824 | 58.5% | |
| 1830 | 5,971 | 2.5% | |
| 1840 | 9,025 | 51.1% | |
| 1850 | 6,578 | −27.1% | |
| 1860 | 7,213 | 9.7% | |
| 1870 | 8,200 | 13.7% | |
| 1880 | 9,165 | 11.8% | |
| 1890 | 9,474 | 3.4% | |
| 1900 | 11,354 | 19.8% | |
| 1910 | 10,627 | −6.4% | |
| 1920 | 9,732 | −8.4% | |
| 1930 | 8,608 | −11.5% | |
| 1940 | 9,127 | 6.0% | |
| 1950 | 7,184 | −21.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,029 | −2.2% | |
| 1970 | 7,596 | 8.1% | |
| 1980 | 9,219 | 21.4% | |
| 1990 | 9,062 | −1.7% | |
| 2000 | 9,804 | 8.2% | |
| 2010 | 9,519 | −2.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,888 | −6.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 8,815 | [8] | −0.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2021[13] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,888. The median age was 47.7 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.[14][15]
The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.[15]
4.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 95.3% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 3,789 households in the county, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 4,589 housing units, of which 17.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.2% were owner-occupied and 18.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%.[14]
2010 census
As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 9,519 people living in the county. The population density was 31 per square mile (12/km2). There were 4,772 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 3,996 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.86.
The age distribution was 22.30% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,776, and the median income for a family was $39,486. Males had a median income of $33,633 versus $19,617 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,072. About 7.60% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.70% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- Carrsville
- Grand Rivers
- Salem
- Smithland (county seat)
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
North Livingston
South Livingston
Ghost Town
- Berry Ferry
Notable people
- Andrew Jackson Smith (September 3, 1843 – March 4, 1932) was a runaway slave, Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Honey Hill.
- James Ford (1775–1833), was a civic leader and businessman who was later discovered to be the secret criminal leader of a gang of Ohio River pirates and highwaymen in the early 19th century.
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1912 | 732 | 35.11% | 1,009 | 48.39% | 344 | 16.50% |
| 1916 | 923 | 40.04% | 1,287 | 55.84% | 95 | 4.12% |
| 1920 | 1,790 | 47.30% | 1,933 | 51.08% | 61 | 1.61% |
| 1924 | 1,267 | 40.84% | 1,768 | 57.00% | 67 | 2.16% |
| 1928 | 1,767 | 59.12% | 1,217 | 40.72% | 5 | 0.17% |
| 1932 | 1,070 | 32.31% | 2,231 | 67.36% | 11 | 0.33% |
| 1936 | 1,039 | 35.26% | 1,897 | 64.37% | 11 | 0.37% |
| 1940 | 1,184 | 36.85% | 2,013 | 62.65% | 16 | 0.50% |
| 1944 | 1,202 | 41.56% | 1,686 | 58.30% | 4 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 671 | 28.81% | 1,622 | 69.64% | 36 | 1.55% |
| 1952 | 1,102 | 41.48% | 1,554 | 58.49% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1956 | 1,247 | 40.94% | 1,795 | 58.93% | 4 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 1,639 | 51.92% | 1,518 | 48.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 821 | 27.56% | 2,147 | 72.07% | 11 | 0.37% |
| 1968 | 1,079 | 32.63% | 1,272 | 38.46% | 956 | 28.91% |
| 1972 | 1,673 | 59.96% | 1,065 | 38.17% | 52 | 1.86% |
| 1976 | 878 | 25.71% | 2,497 | 73.12% | 40 | 1.17% |
| 1980 | 1,670 | 41.67% | 2,287 | 57.06% | 51 | 1.27% |
| 1984 | 1,866 | 47.96% | 2,007 | 51.58% | 18 | 0.46% |
| 1988 | 1,834 | 46.92% | 2,052 | 52.49% | 23 | 0.59% |
| 1992 | 1,339 | 31.05% | 2,386 | 55.33% | 587 | 13.61% |
| 1996 | 1,258 | 31.70% | 2,228 | 56.15% | 482 | 12.15% |
| 2000 | 2,118 | 50.07% | 2,022 | 47.80% | 90 | 2.13% |
| 2004 | 2,675 | 56.84% | 2,007 | 42.65% | 24 | 0.51% |
| 2008 | 2,890 | 62.92% | 1,622 | 35.31% | 81 | 1.76% |
| 2012 | 3,089 | 68.48% | 1,346 | 29.84% | 76 | 1.68% |
| 2016 | 3,570 | 76.86% | 887 | 19.10% | 188 | 4.05% |
| 2020 | 4,010 | 80.14% | 939 | 18.76% | 55 | 1.10% |
| 2024 | 4,021 | 80.87% | 886 | 17.82% | 65 | 1.31% |
Elected officials
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[19][20] | ||
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Danny Carroll (R) | 2 |
| Ky. House | Randy Bridges (R) | 3 |
See also
References
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Livingston County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 478. ISBN 9780722249208.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
- ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
- ^ Fuller, Leanne. "Voters decide to allow alcohol sales in Grand Rivers". WPSD Local 6. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
External links
- Livingston County KY Website
37°13′N 88°21′W / 37.21°N 88.35°W / 37.21; -88.35
