Christian County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christian County
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Christian County courthouse in Hopkinsville
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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 | 1797 |
| Named for | William Christian |
| Seat | Hopkinsville |
| Largest city | Hopkinsville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 724 sq mi (1,880 km2) |
| • Land | 718 sq mi (1,860 km2) |
| • Water | 6.5 sq mi (17 km2) 0.9% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 72,748 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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72,032  |
| • Density | 100.48/sq mi (38.796/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Christian County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. In 2020, about 72,748 people lived there. Its main city and county seat is Hopkinsville. The county was created in 1797. Christian County is part of the larger Clarksville, Tennessee–Kentucky area.
Contents
History of Christian County
Christian County is named after Colonel William Christian. He was a brave soldier from Virginia who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He moved to Kentucky in 1785 and sadly died in 1786 during a conflict with Native Americans.
Two important people were born in this area. Jefferson Davis, who later became the president of the Confederate States of America, was born in Fairview, Kentucky in 1808. Also, Adlai Stevenson I, who became the 23rd Vice President of the United States, was born in Christian County in 1835.
The current courthouse in Christian County was built in 1869. It replaced an older building that was burned down during the American Civil War. Soldiers from the Union Army were using the old courthouse as their barracks, and Confederate cavalry set it on fire.
In 2006 and 2008, strong winds called tornadoes hit northern Christian County. They caused damage to homes in the Crofton area.
In 2017, Christian County was a very special place for a solar eclipse. The best spot to see the total eclipse in North America was right in northwestern Christian County. Many people came to watch the sky turn dark during the day!
Geography of Christian County
Christian County covers a total area of about 724 square miles. Most of this is land (718 square miles), and a small part (6.5 square miles) is water. It is the second-largest county in Kentucky by size. It is also the biggest county in Western Kentucky.
Neighboring Counties
Christian County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Hopkins County (to the north)
- Muhlenberg County (to the northeast)
- Todd County (to the east)
- Montgomery County, Tennessee (to the southeast)
- Stewart County, Tennessee (to the southwest)
- Trigg County (to the west)
- Caldwell County (to the northwest)
Christian County Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 2,318 | — | |
| 1810 | 11,020 | 375.4% | |
| 1820 | 10,459 | −5.1% | |
| 1830 | 12,684 | 21.3% | |
| 1840 | 15,587 | 22.9% | |
| 1850 | 19,580 | 25.6% | |
| 1860 | 21,627 | 10.5% | |
| 1870 | 23,227 | 7.4% | |
| 1880 | 31,682 | 36.4% | |
| 1890 | 34,118 | 7.7% | |
| 1900 | 37,962 | 11.3% | |
| 1910 | 38,845 | 2.3% | |
| 1920 | 35,883 | −7.6% | |
| 1930 | 34,283 | −4.5% | |
| 1940 | 36,129 | 5.4% | |
| 1950 | 42,359 | 17.2% | |
| 1960 | 56,904 | 34.3% | |
| 1970 | 56,224 | −1.2% | |
| 1980 | 66,878 | 18.9% | |
| 1990 | 68,941 | 3.1% | |
| 2000 | 72,265 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 73,955 | 2.3% | |
| 2020 | 72,748 | −1.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 72,032 | −2.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 72,265 people living in Christian County. The population density was about 100 people per square mile. The average age of people in the county was 28 years old. About 28% of the population was under 18 years old.
Education in Christian County
Most students in Christian County go to schools run by the Christian County Public Schools system. However, students living on Fort Campbell attend schools managed by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).
High Schools
- Christian County High School (started in 1959)
- Hopkinsville High School
- Fort Campbell High School (This school is actually in Tennessee, but it serves the Fort Campbell base and is part of Kentucky's high school sports association.)
- University Heights Academy (a private school for grades K-12)
- Heritage Christian Academy (a private school for grades K-12)
Colleges
- Hopkinsville Community College
- Murray State University (has campuses in Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell)
Communities in Christian County
Christian County has several towns and cities, as well as smaller communities.
Cities
Census-Designated Places (CDPs)
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.
- Cerulean (most of it is in Trigg County)
- Fairview (part of it is in Todd County)
- Fort Campbell North
- Gracey
Other Small Communities
- Apex
- Bainbridge
- Bennettstown
- Bluff Spring
- Casky
- Edgoten
- Empire
- Fearsville
- Fruit Hill
- Garrettsburg
- Hensleytown
- Herndon
- Honey Grove
- Howel
- Julien
- Kelly
- Mannington
- Newstead
- Saint Elmo
- Sinking Fork
Notable People from Christian County
Many interesting people have come from Christian County:
- Gloria Jean Watkins, a famous writer known by her pen name, bell hooks. She wrote about feminism and social justice.
- Terena Elizabeth Bell, an author.
- Greg Buckner, a former professional basketball player in the NBA.
- Edgar Cayce (1877–1945), a well-known mystic.
- Anthony Hickey (born 1992), a basketball player who plays for Hapoel Haifa in Israel.
- Adlai Stevenson I, who was the 23rd Vice President of the United States from 1893 to 1897.
- Whitney Westerfield, a politician.
- Chris Whitney, a former professional basketball player in the NBA.
- Ted Poston, born Theodore Roosevelt Augustus Major Poston in Hopkinsville, KY, on July 4, 1906. He was known as the "Dean of Black Journalists" and was part of President Franklin Roosevelt's "Black Cabinet."
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Christian (Kentucky) para niños
