Bracken County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bracken County
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Bracken County Courthouse in Brooksville
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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 | 1796 |
| Named for | William Bracken |
| Seat | Brooksville |
| Largest city | Augusta |
| Area | |
| • Total | 209 sq mi (540 km2) |
| • Land | 206 sq mi (530 km2) |
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (9 km2) 1.6%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,400 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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8,426  |
| • Density | 40.2/sq mi (15.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Bracken County is a county located in the state of Kentucky, USA. As of the 2020 census, about 8,400 people lived here. Its main town, or county seat, is Brooksville. The county was created in 1796. Bracken County is also part of the larger Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Bracken County
Bracken County became Kentucky's 23rd county in 1796. It was formed from parts of Mason and Campbell counties. The county was named after two creeks, Big and Little Bracken. These creeks were named after William Bracken, an explorer who visited the area in 1773. He was later killed by Native Americans during a conflict.
Many early settlers in the county were soldiers from the American Revolutionary War. One of them was Captain Abner Howell, who moved his family from Pennsylvania.
The county government moved from Augusta to Woodward's Crossing (now Brooksville) in 1833.
Important People and Places
Bracken County was the birthplace of John Gregg Fee. He founded Berea College and was a famous abolitionist in Kentucky. An abolitionist is someone who worked to end slavery.
In 1822, Augusta College was founded in Bracken County. It was the first Methodist college in the world.
People in Bracken County who were against slavery played a big part in the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Several places in the Augusta area were part of this network. They helped people cross the Ohio River to safety in places like Ripley, Ohio.
Farming and Tobacco
Bracken County's economy was mostly based on farming. Before the American Civil War, the main crops were tobacco and corn.
A special type of tobacco called white burley tobacco was first grown here. It was a new kind of tobacco leaf that was light and easy to use. This changed the tobacco industry. A farmer named Mr. Webb from Ohio first sold it in 1867. He had grown it in 1864 using seeds from Bracken County. White burley tobacco became a very important crop in central Kentucky and Tennessee.
Farming is still very important to the county's economy today. Farms covered most of the land in 1982. Other farm products include wheat, hay, and milk.
Old Schools
Some historic schools in Bracken County include:
- Bracken Academy in Augusta
- Augusta Methodist College in Augusta
- Saint James Elementary and High School in Brooksville
- Germantown College in Germantown
- Milford Graded and High School in Milford
Geography of Bracken County
Bracken County covers about 209 square miles. Most of this area, about 206 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.3 square miles, is water.
Nearby Counties
Bracken County shares borders with these other counties:
- Clermont County, Ohio (to the north, across the Ohio River)
- Brown County, Ohio (to the northeast, across the Ohio River)
- Mason County (to the east)
- Robertson County (to the south)
- Harrison County (to the southwest)
- Pendleton County (to the west)
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 2,606 | — | |
| 1810 | 3,706 | 42.2% | |
| 1820 | 5,280 | 42.5% | |
| 1830 | 6,518 | 23.4% | |
| 1840 | 7,053 | 8.2% | |
| 1850 | 8,903 | 26.2% | |
| 1860 | 11,021 | 23.8% | |
| 1870 | 11,409 | 3.5% | |
| 1880 | 13,509 | 18.4% | |
| 1890 | 12,369 | −8.4% | |
| 1900 | 12,137 | −1.9% | |
| 1910 | 10,308 | −15.1% | |
| 1920 | 10,210 | −1.0% | |
| 1930 | 9,616 | −5.8% | |
| 1940 | 9,389 | −2.4% | |
| 1950 | 8,424 | −10.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,422 | −11.9% | |
| 1970 | 7,227 | −2.6% | |
| 1980 | 7,738 | 7.1% | |
| 1990 | 7,766 | 0.4% | |
| 2000 | 8,279 | 6.6% | |
| 2010 | 8,488 | 2.5% | |
| 2020 | 8,400 | −1.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,426 | −0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2021 |
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In 2000, there were 8,279 people living in Bracken County. The population density was about 41 people per square mile. Most of the people living here were White (98.48%).
The population was spread out by age. About 25.5% were under 18 years old. About 13.5% were 65 years or older. The average age was 37 years.
Education in Bracken County
Bracken County has several school districts:
- Augusta Independent Schools in Augusta
- Bracken County Schools in Brooksville
There is also a private school:
- Saint Augustine Elementary School in Augusta
Communities in Bracken County
Cities
- Augusta
- Brooksville (This is the county seat, where the main county government offices are.)
- Germantown
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities:
Famous People from Bracken County
- Nick Clooney: A journalist and former news anchor from Cincinnati. He and his wife, Nina, live in Augusta.
- George Clooney: Their son, a famous actor. He grew up in Augusta and went to high school there.
- Heather French Henry: She was Miss America 2000. She grew up in Augusta and still lives there. Heather and her husband, Steve Henry, help manage the Rosemary Clooney Museum in Augusta.
- Rosemary Clooney: A famous singer and actress. She lived in Augusta. One of her most well-known movies was White Christmas.
- John G. Fee: A minister and educator. He was born in Bracken County and founded Berea College.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Bracken para niños
