Morgan County
County
Morgan County courthouse in West Liberty
Morgan County courthouse in West Liberty
Map of Kentucky highlighting Morgan 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°55′N 83°16′W / 37.92°N 83.26°W / 37.92; -83.26
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 7, 1822
Named forDaniel Morgan
SeatWest Liberty
Largest cityWest Liberty
Area
 • Total384 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Land381 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,726
 • Estimate 
(2022)
14,120 Increase
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitemorgancounty.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,726.[1] Its county seat is West Liberty.[2] The county is among the dry counties, which means that the sale of alcohol is restricted or prohibited.

History

Morgan County was formed on December 7, 1822, from portions of Bath County and Floyd County.[3] It was named for Daniel Morgan, a distinguished general in the American Revolutionary War.[4]

The first white settler in the county was Daniel Williams, a traveling preacher from Virginia who built the first permanent home in the vicinity several miles south of present-day West Liberty.

During the Civil War, Morgan County was firmly pro-confederate in sentiment, donating hundreds of men to the 5th KY Infantry (CSA).

Morgan County was hit by an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012, which cost the lives of six people and injured many others. Following the tornado, Morgan County's population decreased, but the county seat still has a strong population for a small town.

Morgan County had begun building a new court house in 2011, but the tornado delayed its construction to late 2013.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (990 km2), of which 300 square miles (780 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18302,857—
18404,60361.1%
18507,62065.5%
18609,23721.2%
18705,975−35.3%
18808,45541.5%
189011,24933.0%
190012,79213.7%
191016,25927.1%
192016,5181.6%
193015,130−8.4%
194016,82711.2%
195013,624−19.0%
196011,056−18.8%
197010,019−9.4%
198012,10320.8%
199011,648−3.8%
200013,94819.7%
201013,923−0.2%
202013,726−1.4%
2022 (est.)14,120[6]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,948 people, 4,752 households, and 3,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 per square mile (14/km2). There were 5,487 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.59% White, 4.38% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,752 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,869, and the median income for a family was $26,135. Males had a median income of $23,966 versus $18,463 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,657. 27.20% of the population and 23.50% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 33.90% are under the age of 18 and 28.50% are 65 or older.

Politics

Morgan County was a strongly Democratic county throughout the 20th century, with the party's candidate winning in every presidential election from 1912 until 2000, when Al Gore became the first Democrat to lose the county since Woodrow Wilson in 1912. In the 21st century, however, like almost all of Kentucky, the county has flipped to the Republicans in US presidential elections.

United States presidential election results for Morgan County, Kentucky[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,301 77.58% 1,175 21.19% 68 1.23%
2016 3,628 75.98% 1,006 21.07% 141 2.95%
2012 3,021 67.55% 1,369 30.61% 82 1.83%
2008 2,396 54.72% 1,879 42.91% 104 2.37%
2004 2,682 50.87% 2,532 48.03% 58 1.10%
2000 2,295 54.13% 1,875 44.22% 70 1.65%
1996 1,439 38.94% 1,843 49.88% 413 11.18%
1992 1,239 28.09% 2,655 60.19% 517 11.72%
1988 1,452 38.04% 2,329 61.02% 36 0.94%
1984 1,834 42.36% 2,481 57.30% 15 0.35%
1980 1,450 34.53% 2,698 64.25% 51 1.21%
1976 973 24.97% 2,897 74.34% 27 0.69%
1972 1,535 45.56% 1,815 53.87% 19 0.56%
1968 1,341 33.86% 2,222 56.10% 398 10.05%
1964 546 14.05% 3,293 84.72% 48 1.23%
1960 1,718 37.12% 2,910 62.88% 0 0.00%
1956 1,878 37.20% 3,164 62.68% 6 0.12%
1952 1,311 29.29% 3,161 70.62% 4 0.09%
1948 987 21.94% 3,488 77.53% 24 0.53%
1944 1,217 27.26% 3,242 72.63% 5 0.11%
1940 1,509 26.67% 4,148 73.33% 0 0.00%
1936 1,269 28.01% 3,256 71.86% 6 0.13%
1932 1,435 25.70% 4,137 74.09% 12 0.21%
1928 2,025 44.02% 2,575 55.98% 0 0.00%
1924 1,805 35.09% 3,311 64.37% 28 0.54%
1920 1,802 34.88% 3,347 64.79% 17 0.33%
1916 1,123 32.43% 2,319 66.97% 21 0.61%
1912 876 29.94% 1,800 61.52% 250 8.54%
2020 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Morgan County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "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 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 5, 2018.

37°55′N 83°16′W / 37.92°N 83.26°W / 37.92; -83.26

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