Ballard County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ballard County
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Ballard County Courthouse in Wickliffe
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Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
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 Kentucky's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Named for | Bland Ballard |
| Seat | Wickliffe |
| Largest city | LaCenter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 274 sq mi (710 km2) |
| • Land | 247 sq mi (640 km2) |
| • Water | 27 sq mi (70 km2) 9.9%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,728 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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7,582  |
| • Density | 28.20/sq mi (10.890/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Ballard County is a county in the western part of Kentucky. In 2020, about 7,728 people lived there. The main town, called the county seat, is Wickliffe. The biggest city is LaCenter.
Kentucky lawmakers created Ballard County in 1842. It is named after Bland Ballard, a brave soldier and important leader. He was also a member of the Kentucky General Assembly. Ballard County is part of the larger Paducah, KY-IL area.
Contents
History of Ballard County
Ballard County was formed from parts of Hickman County and McCracken County. It was named for Bland Ballard (1761–1853). He was an early Kentucky settler and soldier.
Bland Ballard worked as a scout for General George Rogers Clark. This was during the American Revolutionary War. Later, he led a group of soldiers in the War of 1812.
On February 17, 1880, a fire destroyed the county courthouse. Most of the county's old records were also lost. In 1882, the county seat moved from Blandville to Wickliffe.
Geography of Ballard County
Ballard County covers a total area of about 274 square miles. Most of this area, 247 square miles, is land. The remaining 27 square miles, or 9.9%, is water.
Special Nature Area
Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve is a protected area in Ballard County. It covers 458 acres. This preserve is part of the larger Axe Lake Swamp wetlands complex. This wetland area is about 3,000 acres in size.
It is home to at least eight types of rare plants and animals. This site is very important for waterfowl (birds that live near water).
Neighboring Counties
Ballard County shares borders with several other counties:
- Pulaski County, Illinois (to the north, across the Ohio River)
- McCracken County (to the east)
- Carlisle County (to the south)
- Mississippi County, Missouri (to the southwest, across the Mississippi River)
- Alexander County, Illinois (to the west, across the Ohio River)
Ballard County Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 5,496 | — | |
| 1860 | 8,692 | 58.2% | |
| 1870 | 12,576 | 44.7% | |
| 1880 | 14,378 | 14.3% | |
| 1890 | 8,390 | −41.6% | |
| 1900 | 10,761 | 28.3% | |
| 1910 | 12,690 | 17.9% | |
| 1920 | 12,045 | −5.1% | |
| 1930 | 9,910 | −17.7% | |
| 1940 | 9,480 | −4.3% | |
| 1950 | 8,545 | −9.9% | |
| 1960 | 8,291 | −3.0% | |
| 1970 | 8,276 | −0.2% | |
| 1980 | 8,798 | 6.3% | |
| 1990 | 7,902 | −10.2% | |
| 2000 | 8,286 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,249 | −0.4% | |
| 2020 | 7,728 | −6.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 7,582 | −8.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2021 |
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In 2000, there were 8,286 people living in Ballard County. These people lived in 3,395 households. About 2,413 of these were families.
Most people in the county were White (95.32%). About 2.87% were Black or African American. Other groups made up smaller parts of the population. About 0.63% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, about 23.10% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age was 40 years.
Towns and Communities
Ballard County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities
- Barlow
- Blandville
- Kevil
- LaCenter (This is the largest city.)
- Wickliffe (This is the county seat.)
Special Places (Census-designated places)
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.
Other Small Communities
These are smaller areas without their own local government.
Famous People from Ballard County
- Morris E. Crain: He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during World War II.
- Kenny Rollins: An American basketball player. He was part of the University of Kentucky's "Fab Five" team that won the 1948 NCAA Championship. He also won a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics.
- Oscar Turner (1825–1896): A state senator and U.S. representative. The town of Oscar, Kentucky is named after him.
- Earl Grace: A Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs.
- Kelsey Waldon: A country singer-songwriter who grew up in Monkey's Eyebrow, Kentucky.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ballard para niños
