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Jefferson County, Kentucky facts for kids

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Jefferson County
Consolidated city-county
Jefferson County Courthouse (now Louisville Metro Hall) in downtown Louisville
Jefferson County Courthouse (now Louisville Metro Hall) in downtown Louisville
Official seal of Jefferson County
Seal
Map of Kentucky highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kentucky
Founded 1780
Named for Thomas Jefferson
Seat Louisville
Largest city Louisville
Area
 • Total 398 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Land 380 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water 17 sq mi (40 km2)  4.3%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 782,969
 • Estimate 
(2023)
772,144 Decrease
 • Density 1,967.3/sq mi (759.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 3rd, 2nd

Jefferson County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 782,969. It is the most populous county in the commonwealth (with more than twice the population of second ranked Fayette County).

Since a city-county merger in 2003, the county's territory, population and government have been coextensive with the city of Louisville, which also serves as county seat. The administrative entity created by this merger is the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, abbreviated to Louisville Metro.

Jefferson County is the anchor of the Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, locally referred to as Kentuckiana.

History

Jefferson County—originally Jefferson County, Virginia—was established by the Virginia General Assembly in June 1780, when it abolished and partitioned Kentucky County into three counties: Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln. Named for Thomas Jefferson, who was governor of Virginia at the time, it was one of Kentucky's nine original counties on June 1, 1792.

Kentucky County, Virginia 1780
Jefferson County in 1780, as established by the Virginia General Assembly

In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, George Rogers Clark's militia and 60 civilian settlers, established the first American settlement in the county on Corn Island in the Ohio River, at head of the Falls of the Ohio. They moved to the mainland the following year, establishing Louisville.

Richard Mentor Johnson, the 9th Vice President of the United States, was born in Jefferson County in 1780, while the family was living in a settlement along the Beargrass Creek.

The last major American Indian raid in present-day Jefferson County was the Chenoweth Massacre on July 17, 1789.

Government

Whenever possible, the metro government generally avoids any self-reference including the name "Jefferson County" and has even renamed the Jefferson County Courthouse as Metro Hall.

Prior to the 2003 merger, the head of local government was the County Judge/Executive, a post that still exists but now has few powers. The office is currently held by Queenie Averette.

Local government is effectively now led by the Mayor of Louisville Metro, Craig Greenberg.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 398 square miles (1,030 km2), of which 380 square miles (980 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (4.3%) is water. The Ohio River forms its northern boundary with the state of Indiana.

The highest point is South Park Hill, elevation 902 feet (275 m), located in the southern part of the county. The lowest point is 383 feet (117 m) along the Ohio River just north of West Point.

Adjacent counties

Infrastructure

Major highways

  • I-64
  • I-65
  • I-71
  • I-264
  • I-265
  • US 31W
  • US 42
  • US 60

  • US 60 Alt.
  • US 150
  • KY 61
  • KY 146
  • KY 148
  • KY 155
  • KY 660
  • KY 841
  • KY 864
  • KY 907
  • KY 1020
  • KY 1065
  • KY 1447
  • KY 1531
  • KY 1694
  • KY 1703
  • KY 1747
  • KY 1819
  • KY 1865
  • KY 1931
  • KY 1932
  • KY 1934
  • KY 2052
  • KY 3222

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 4,765
1800 8,754 83.7%
1810 13,399 53.1%
1820 20,768 55.0%
1830 23,979 15.5%
1840 36,346 51.6%
1850 59,831 64.6%
1860 89,404 49.4%
1870 118,953 33.1%
1880 146,010 22.7%
1890 188,598 29.2%
1900 232,549 23.3%
1910 262,920 13.1%
1920 286,369 8.9%
1930 355,350 24.1%
1940 385,392 8.5%
1950 484,615 25.7%
1960 610,947 26.1%
1970 695,055 13.8%
1980 685,004 −1.4%
1990 664,937 −2.9%
2000 693,604 4.3%
2010 741,096 6.8%
2020 782,969 5.7%
2023 (est.) 772,144 4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

Jefferson County, Kentucky – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 530,056 522,561 490,251 76.42% 70.51% 62.61%
Black or African American alone (NH) 130,003 152,451 167,067 18.74% 20.57% 21.34%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,409 1,492 1,441 0.20% 0.20% 0.18%
Asian alone (NH) 9,562 16,171 26,944 1.38% 2.18% 3.44%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 224 403 559 0.03% 0.05% 0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 1,143 1,255 3,707 0.16% 0.17% 0.47%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 8,837 14,221 33,979 1.27% 1.92% 4.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12,370 32,542 59,021 1.78% 4.39% 7.54%
Total 693,604 741,096 782,969 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,801 per square mile (695/km2). There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of 794 per square mile (307/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.38% White, 18.88% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 287,012 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.20% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.20% were non-families. 30.50% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,357 (2018), and the median income for a family was $49,161 (2005). Males had a median income of $36,484 versus $26,255 for females (2005). The per capita income for the county was $31,980 (2018). About 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over (2018).

Communities

Since the formation of Louisville Metro on January 6, 2003, residents of the cities below also became citizens of the newly expanded Metro, but none of the incorporated places dissolved in the process. The functions formerly served by the county government for the towns were assumed by Louisville Metro. However, the former City of Louisville was effectively absorbed into the new city-county government.

Jefferson County KY places
† Formerly a census-designated place in the county, but, in 2003, these places became, according to local media, neighborhoods within the city limits of Louisville Metro.

Education

The public school districts for the county are: Jefferson County School District (JCPS) and Anchorage Independent School District. The Anchorage district only covers grades K-8; Anchorage district residents may attend JCPS or Oldham County Schools.

Kentucky School for the Blind, a state-operated school, is in Louisville.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Jefferson (Kentucky) para niños

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