Russell County, Kentucky

Russell County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,991.[1] Its county seat is Jamestown and its largest city is Russell Springs.[2] The county was formed on December 14, 1825, from portions of Adair, Cumberland and Wayne Counties and is named for William Russell.[3]

Not to be confused with Russell, Kentucky.

Russell County
County
Russell County courthouse in Jamestown
Russell County courthouse in Jamestown
Map of Kentucky highlighting Russell County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°59′N 85°04′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 14, 1825
Named forWilliam Russell
SeatJamestown
Largest cityRussell Springs
Area
 • Total283 sq mi (730 km2)
 • Land254 sq mi (660 km2)
 • Water29 sq mi (80 km2)  10%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,991
 • Estimate 
(2022)
18,178 Increase
 • Density64/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.russellcountyky.com

In 2015, the cities of Jamestown and Russell Springs became two of the first gigabit Internet communities in Kentucky with the completion of a state-of-the-art optical fiber network by the local telephone cooperative.[4]

Wolf Creek Dam is located in southern Russell County. The dam impounds Cumberland River to form Lake Cumberland, a major tourism attraction for the county. Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery is also located in Russell County just below the dam.

Until relatively recently Russell County was a dry county, meaning that the sale of alcohol was prohibited. It voted to go "wet" in a referendum held on January 19, 2016, by a margin of 3,833 to 3,423 votes.[5][6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 283 square miles (730 km2), of which 254 square miles (660 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (10%) is water.[7] The highest point is 1,140 feet (350 m) atop Dickerson Ridge in the extreme northern part of the county and the lowest point is 530 feet (160 m) along the Cumberland River.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18303,879—
18404,2389.3%
18505,34926.2%
18606,02412.6%
18705,809−3.6%
18807,59130.7%
18908,1367.2%
19009,69519.2%
191010,86112.0%
192011,8549.1%
193011,9300.6%
194013,61514.1%
195013,7170.7%
196011,076−19.3%
197010,542−4.8%
198013,70830.0%
199014,7167.4%
200016,31510.9%
201017,5657.7%
202017,9912.4%
2022 (est.)18,178[8]1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,315 people, 6,941 households, and 4,796 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 per square mile (25/km2). There were 9,064 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.34% White, 0.58% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,941 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,042, and the median income for a family was $27,803. Males had a median income of $24,193 versus $18,289 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,183. About 20.40% of families and 24.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.80% of those under age 18 and 27.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Russell County is part of the historically and currently rock-ribbed Republican bloc of southeastern Kentucky that also includes such counties as Clinton, Cumberland, Casey, Pulaski, Laurel, Rockcastle, Monroe, McCreary, Clay, Jackson, Owsley and Leslie. These counties were opposed to secession during the Civil War era, and consequently became and have remained intensely Republican ever since.[13] The last Democrat to win Russell County was Grover Cleveland in 1884, and the last Republican to not gain a majority was William Howard Taft in 1912 when his party was divided.

United States presidential election results for Russell County, Kentucky[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 7,519 83.96% 1,331 14.86% 105 1.17%
2016 6,863 83.96% 1,093 13.37% 218 2.67%
2012 6,346 80.24% 1,445 18.27% 118 1.49%
2008 5,779 77.31% 1,569 20.99% 127 1.70%
2004 6,009 76.83% 1,772 22.66% 40 0.51%
2000 5,268 74.47% 1,710 24.17% 96 1.36%
1996 4,017 62.22% 1,582 24.50% 857 13.27%
1992 4,641 63.71% 1,950 26.77% 694 9.53%
1988 4,292 74.29% 1,455 25.19% 30 0.52%
1984 4,476 75.18% 1,448 24.32% 30 0.50%
1980 3,804 68.66% 1,693 30.56% 43 0.78%
1976 2,882 60.90% 1,803 38.10% 47 0.99%
1972 3,992 76.48% 1,169 22.39% 59 1.13%
1968 3,035 64.29% 961 20.36% 725 15.36%
1964 2,521 59.00% 1,729 40.46% 23 0.54%
1960 3,636 74.72% 1,230 25.28% 0 0.00%
1956 3,065 70.33% 1,284 29.46% 9 0.21%
1952 2,913 71.14% 1,171 28.60% 11 0.27%
1948 2,404 66.21% 1,191 32.80% 36 0.99%
1944 3,019 71.56% 1,185 28.09% 15 0.36%
1940 3,069 70.81% 1,250 28.84% 15 0.35%
1936 2,688 68.21% 1,235 31.34% 18 0.46%
1932 2,490 59.06% 1,699 40.30% 27 0.64%
1928 3,028 78.45% 823 21.32% 9 0.23%
1924 2,278 64.61% 1,224 34.71% 24 0.68%
1920 2,587 68.97% 1,157 30.85% 7 0.19%
1916 1,298 59.38% 859 39.30% 29 1.33%
1912 785 43.32% 713 39.35% 314 17.33%

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost Town

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Russell County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  4. "DUO Broadband".
  5. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 36.
  6. "Home".
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  12. "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 19, 2014.
  13. Sullivan, Robert David; "How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century"; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018.

36.99°N 85.06°W / 36.99; -85.06

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