Barren County, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barren County
U.S. county
Barren County Courthouse in Glasgow
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1798
Named for	The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky
Seat	Glasgow
Largest city	Glasgow
Area
• Total	500 sq mi (1,000 km2)
• Land	488 sq mi (1,260 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.5%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	44,485
• Estimate  (2023)	45,008
• Density	87/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd

Barren County is a county located in the south-central part of Kentucky, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 44,485 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Glasgow.

The county was created on December 20, 1798. It was formed from parts of Warren and Green Counties. Barren County was named after a region called "The Barrens." These were large grassland areas, even though the soil there is actually very good for farming.

Barren County is part of the Glasgow, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area. This area is also included in the larger Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY Combined Statistical Area. In 2007, Progressive Farmer Magazine called Barren County the "Best Place to Live in Rural America."

History of Barren County

Barren County was officially started in 1798. Its land came from Green County and Warren County. Over the years, six different courthouses have served the county. The very first one was built from logs!

Many of the early settlers in Barren County came from Scotland and Ireland. You can still see their cultural influence today. For example, the county seat, Glasgow, is named after Glasgow, Scotland. Each year, the county celebrates this heritage with the Glasgow Highland Games. This is a fun event that includes traditional Scottish games and music.

Geography of Barren County

Barren County covers a total area of about 500 square miles. Most of this (488 square miles) is land, and about 12 square miles (2.5%) is water.

Barren River Lake is a large lake in the southern part of the county. It forms part of the border with Allen County. Barren River Lake State Resort Park is mostly located within Barren County, right along the lake's edge.

Neighboring Counties

• Hart County (north)
• Metcalfe County (east)
• Monroe County (southeast)
• Allen County (southwest)
• Warren County (west)
• Edmonson County (northwest)

Protected Natural Areas

• Mammoth Cave National Park (part of it is in Barren County)

People of Barren County

In 2000, there were 38,033 people living in Barren County. The population density was about 78 people per square mile. Most people living in the county were White (94.30%), with a smaller percentage of Black or African American people (4.09%) and other groups.

The average age of people in Barren County in 2000 was 38 years old.

Religion in Barren County

Christianity is the main religion in Barren County. Many different Christian churches can be found here. These include various types of Protestant churches like Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian. There are also two Roman Catholic churches and an LDS meeting place. A notable part of the community is a sizable Amish group.

Economy of Barren County

Barren County is mostly a rural area, meaning that agriculture (farming) is its most important industry.

Glasgow, the county seat, has many factories and is also a center for medical services and shopping for the area. Cave City is a popular place for tourists to stay. This is because it is very close to Mammoth Cave National Park.

Major Businesses and Industries

• Walmart of Glasgow has a large store.
• Mid-State Recycling is the main recycling center.
• Western Kentucky University has a campus in Glasgow, Kentucky.
• Glasgow Electric Plant Board provides electricity, cable TV, and internet in Glasgow.
• Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative provides electricity to the rest of the county.
• South Central Rural Telephone Cooperative offers phone, cable TV, and internet.
• T.J. Samson Community Hospital is a local hospital.
• Southern States Feed Mill is in Park City.
• Dakota Elmore Realty and Auction Co.

Tourism is a very important part of the economy in Cave City. This is because Mammoth Cave National Park is nearby. Many hotels and restaurants are located near Interstate 65 to serve tourists. Cave City also has a small convention center. The farming industry is also a big part of the area's economy.

Education in Barren County

Barren County has three different school districts:

• Barren County Schools: This district serves most of the county. It includes Barren County High School and Middle School in Glasgow. It also has seven elementary schools throughout the county.
• Glasgow Independent Schools: This district serves the city of Glasgow itself. It includes Glasgow High School, Glasgow Middle School, and two elementary schools.
• Caverna Independent Schools: This district covers Cave City and the surrounding area in northwest Barren County. It also includes Horse Cave in neighboring Hart County. This district is unique because it is located in more than one county. It has Caverna High School, Caverna Middle School, and Caverna Elementary School.

Transportation in Barren County

Barren County has major roads like Interstate 65, which runs through the northwest part of the county. The Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway also passes through. Other important roads include U.S. Routes 31E, 31W, and 68.

Railroad service is provided by CSX Transportation. The Glasgow Railway Company also operates a shorter train line.

Glasgow Transit offers bus service within Glasgow on weekdays.

Communities in Barren County

Cities

• Cave City
• Glasgow (the main city and county seat)
• Park City

Census-Designated Place

• Hiseville

Other Communities

• Apple Grove
• Austin
• Bear Wallow
• Beckton
• Bon Ayr
• Bristletown
• Carden
• Cooktown
• Coral Hill
• Dry Fork
• Eighty Eight
• Etoile
• Finney
• Goodnight
• Griderville
• Haywood
• Highland Springs
• Kino
• Lecta
• Lucas
• Merry Oaks
• Nobob
• Oil City
• Park
• Peter Creek
• Pritchardsville
• Railton
• Red Cross
• Rocky Hill
• Roseville
• Slick Rock
• Stovall
• Temple Hill
• Tracy

Former Town

• Chaumont (mostly in Edmonson County)

Media in Barren County

• Radio Stations:
  • WLYE-FM "Willie 94.1" - Real Country Glasgow
  • WCLU-AM 1490 Glasgow
  • WLLI "Willie 94.1" Glasgow
  • WCDS-AM 1230 "SportsRadio 123"
  • W239BV (FM 95.7) - "96 Hits"
• Newspapers:
  • Glasgow Daily Times - published Tuesday through Saturday
  • Barren County Progress - a weekly newspaper published on Thursdays

Fun Places and Events

Places to Visit

• Fort Williams, Glasgow.
• Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas.
• Barren River Lake, a lake managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Kentucky Action Park/Jesse James Riding Stables, Cave City.
• Guntown Mountain Old West town and Haunted Hotel, Cave City.
• Diamond Caverns, Park City.
• Onyx Cave and Rock Shop, Cave City.
• Thomerson Park, Dry Fork.

Annual Events

• 400-mile yard sale along US 68 - happens on the first Thursday-Sunday in June.
• Glasgow Highland Games at Barren River Lake State Resort Park - held in early June.
• Annual Roller Coaster Yard Sale along State Highway 63 - happens in early October.
• Annual Fireworks Extravaganza at Barren River Lake - held on July 4th each year.

Famous People from Barren County

Kelly Craft

• Walter Arnold Baker (1937–2010): A judge and politician.
• Floyd Collins (1887–1925): A famous cave explorer.
• Kelly Craft (born 1962): Served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations and US Ambassador to Canada.
• Nancy Kelsey (1823–1896): Known as the "Betsy Ross of California."
• Louie B. Nunn (1924–2004): A former governor of Kentucky.
• Luska Twyman (1913–1988): The first African American mayor of Glasgow, Kentucky.

Images for kids

• 

  Barren County Courthouse in Glasgow

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Barren para niños