Adair County, Kentucky

Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,903.[1] Its county seat and only municipality is Columbia.[2] The county was founded in 1801 and named for John Adair, then Speaker of the House in Kentucky and later Governor of Kentucky (1820 – 1824).[3] Adair County has some of the few surviving American Chestnut trees in the United States.[4][5]

Adair County
County
Adair County Courthouse in Columbia
Adair County Courthouse in Columbia
Map of Kentucky highlighting Adair 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°07′N 85°17′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1801
Named forJohn Adair
SeatColumbia
Largest cityColumbia
Area
 • Total412 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land405 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Water7.1 sq mi (18 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,903
 • Estimate 
(2022)
19,067 Increase
 • Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.columbia-adaircounty.com

History

Adair County was formed on December 11, 1801, from sections of Green County.[6] Columbia was chosen as the county seat the following year[6] and the first courthouse was built in 1806.

The county was named in honor of John Adair, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and Northwest Indian War. Later he commanded Kentucky troops in the Battle of New Orleans. He served as the eighth Governor of Kentucky.[6] This was the 44th of Kentucky's 120 counties to be organized.[6]

After the American Civil War, a gang of five men, believed to include Frank and Jesse James from Missouri, robbed the Bank of Columbia of $600 on April 29, 1872. They killed the cashier, R.A.C. Martin, in the course of the robbery.[7]

The courthouse on the Columbia town square, completed in 1884, replaced the original 1806 courthouse.[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 412 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 405 square miles (1,050 km2) is land and 7.1 square miles (18 km2) (1.7%) is water.[9] It is part of the Pennyroyal Plateau region of Kentucky and is part of western Appalachia.[6] Over 40% of the county's land is covered with timber.[6]

The Green River is the county's major waterway but is not commercially navigable.[6] The river was impounded to form Green River Lake, the major feature of Green River Lake State Park, which lies in Adair and Taylor counties.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18106,011—
18208,76545.8%
18308,217−6.3%
18408,4663.0%
18509,89816.9%
18609,509−3.9%
187011,06516.4%
188013,07818.2%
189013,7214.9%
190014,8888.5%
191016,50310.8%
192017,2894.8%
193016,401−5.1%
194018,56613.2%
195017,603−5.2%
196014,699−16.5%
197013,037−11.3%
198015,23316.8%
199015,3600.8%
200017,24412.3%
201018,6568.2%
202018,9031.3%
2022 (est.)19,067[10]0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,244 people, 6,747 households, and 4,803 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 per square mile (16/km2). There were 7,792 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.00% White, 2.55% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,747 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,055, and the median income for a family was $29,779. Males had a median income of $23,183 versus $17,009 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,931. About 18.20% of families and 24.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Adair County's agrarian economy produces livestock, dairy products, corn, and tobacco.[6] The county experienced a minor oil boom in the 1960s.[6]

Lack of adequate transportation infrastructure hindered the county's prosperity well into the 20th century.[6] The completion of the east–west Cumberland Parkway in 1973 significantly ameliorated this problem, but since then the county has sought improved road access to the north.[6]

Education

The county is served by Adair County Schools.[15]

Its schools are:[16]

Politics

Voter registration
Adair County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of February 17, 2020[21]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Republican 9,431 68.91%
Democratic 3,414 24.95%
Others 433 3.16%
Independent 368 2.69%
Libertarian 31 0.23%
Green 7 0.05%
Constitution 1 0.01%
Total 13,685 100%

Statewide elections
United States presidential election results for Adair County, Kentucky[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 7,276 82.98% 1,392 15.88% 100 1.14%
2016 6,637 80.61% 1,323 16.07% 273 3.32%
2012 5,841 76.86% 1,660 21.84% 99 1.30%
2008 5,512 75.53% 1,668 22.86% 118 1.62%
2004 5,628 75.57% 1,764 23.69% 55 0.74%
2000 5,460 74.51% 1,779 24.28% 89 1.21%
1996 3,876 59.28% 1,821 27.85% 841 12.86%
1992 3,740 58.22% 2,044 31.82% 640 9.96%
1988 4,346 71.09% 1,723 28.19% 44 0.72%
1984 4,500 70.93% 1,812 28.56% 32 0.50%
1980 4,051 63.12% 2,285 35.60% 82 1.28%
1976 3,201 56.82% 2,366 42.00% 67 1.19%
1972 3,859 69.77% 1,610 29.11% 62 1.12%
1968 3,239 59.43% 1,362 24.99% 849 15.58%
1964 3,052 51.49% 2,854 48.15% 21 0.35%
1960 4,621 67.07% 2,269 32.93% 0 0.00%
1956 4,157 62.50% 2,491 37.45% 3 0.05%
1952 3,737 63.05% 2,184 36.85% 6 0.10%
1948 2,839 55.79% 2,144 42.13% 106 2.08%
1944 3,414 58.39% 2,411 41.23% 22 0.38%
1940 3,674 57.42% 2,711 42.37% 13 0.20%
1936 3,371 55.72% 2,669 44.12% 10 0.17%
1932 3,084 48.59% 3,251 51.22% 12 0.19%
1928 3,856 69.01% 1,732 30.99% 0 0.00%
1924 2,757 53.40% 2,368 45.86% 38 0.74%
1920 3,526 56.28% 2,725 43.50% 14 0.22%
1916 1,863 52.43% 1,675 47.14% 15 0.42%
1912 786 24.43% 1,398 43.46% 1,033 32.11%
Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2019 69.53%% 3,946 28.65% 1,626 1.81% 103
2015 66.33% 2,727 30.84% 1,268 2.82% 116
2011 51.06% 1,877 43.69% 1,606 5.25% 193
2007 67.75% 3,138 32.25% 1,494 0.00% 0
2003 66.22% 3,085 33.78% 1,574 0.00% 0
1999 28.84% 663 62.68% 1,441 8.48% 195
1995 65.84% 2,951 34.09% 1,528 0.07% 3

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Below is partial listing of known unincorporated communities within Adair County. A more complete listing is available here.

Notable residents

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Adair County Government (June 6, 2007). "Kentucky: Adair County – Overview". Commonwealth of Kentucky. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  4. "State's largest historic Chestnut tree stands on an Adair County farm.", Columbia Magazine, June 17, 2005; Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  5. Flavell, John. "American tale: Bringing back the perfect tree.", Daily Independent, July 24, 2009.
  6. Kleber, p. 2
  7. William A. Settle, Jr., Jesse James Was His Name 44 (1977).
  8. Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 185. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 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 11, 2014.
  15. Education, Kentucky Department of (December 12, 2008). "County & Independent School Districts" (PDF). Kentucky Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 10, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  16. Adair County Schools (December 5, 2009). "ADAIR COUNTY SCHOOLS". Adair County Schools. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  17. Adair County Primary Center (December 15, 2009). "CWC Home Page". Colonel William Casey Elementary School. Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  18. Adair County Elementary School. "Adair County Elementary School". Adair County Elementary School. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  19. Adair County Middle School. "Untitled Document". Adair County Middle School. Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  20. Adair County High School. "Adair County High School – Columbia, Kentucky". Adair County High School. Archived from the original on December 18, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  21. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  23. "Cane Valley".
  24. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
  25. Western Kentucky University (2011). "Coach E.A. Diddle". Western Kentucky University. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  26. Janice Holt Giles Archived 2008-07-04 at the Wayback Machine.
  27. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (2011). "Life – Dakota Meyer – Honoring Marines by Educating Their Children". Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  28. 'Prominent Men Dead-Judge Pinkney H. Walker,' Chicago Tribune, February 9, 1885, pg. 1
  29. IMDb.com, Inc. (2011). "Evelyn West – IMDb". IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved November 10, 2011.

Bibliography

Further reading
  • Flowers, Randy; Nancy S. Willis; Beverly England; Dorothy Gerrick. Adair County, Kentucky: A Pictorial History. Columbia, Kentucky: Adair County Genealogical Society. p. 152.

37.11°N 85.28°W / 37.11; -85.28

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