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Pulaski County, Kentucky facts for kids

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Pulaski County
U.S. county
Pulaski County Courthouse
Pulaski County Courthouse
Map of Kentucky highlighting Pulaski 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 1798
Named for Kazimierz Pułaski
Seat Somerset
Largest city Somerset
Area
 • Total 677 sq mi (1,750 km2)
 • Land 658 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Water 19 sq mi (50 km2)  2.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 65,034
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 66,191 Increase
 • Density 96.06/sq mi (37.090/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th

Pulaski County is a county in the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 2020, about 65,034 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Somerset.

The county was started in December 1798. It was formed from parts of Lincoln and Green Counties. It was named after a Polish hero, Count Casimir Pulaski. The area around Somerset, including Pulaski County, is called the Somerset, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's a smaller city area with close ties to the surrounding county.

History of Pulaski County

Pulaski County was officially created in December 1798. It was formed from land that used to be part of Lincoln and Green Counties. The county was named to honor Casimir Pulaski. He was a brave Polish soldier who fought for freedom in the American Revolutionary War. He is known as the "Father of the American Cavalry."

Geography of Pulaski County

Pulaski County covers a total area of about 677 square miles. Most of this is land, about 658 square miles. The rest, about 19 square miles, is water. This makes Pulaski County the third-largest county in Kentucky by size.

Counties Nearby

Pulaski County shares its borders with several other counties. These are like its neighbors on a map:

People of Pulaski County

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1800 3,161 —
1810 6,897 118.2%
1820 7,597 10.1%
1830 9,500 25.0%
1840 9,620 1.3%
1850 14,195 47.6%
1860 17,201 21.2%
1870 17,670 2.7%
1880 21,318 20.6%
1890 25,731 20.7%
1900 31,293 21.6%
1910 35,986 15.0%
1920 34,010 −5.5%
1930 35,640 4.8%
1940 39,863 11.8%
1950 38,452 −3.5%
1960 34,403 −10.5%
1970 35,234 2.4%
1980 45,803 30.0%
1990 49,489 8.0%
2000 56,217 13.6%
2010 63,063 12.2%
2020 65,034 3.1%
2023 (est.) 66,191 5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

In 2020, the population of Pulaski County was 65,034 people. The county has grown steadily over the years. In 2000, there were 56,217 people living here. The population density was about 85 people for every square mile.

The average age of people in the county in 2000 was 38 years old. About 23.4% of the population was under 18 years old.

Education in Pulaski County

Pulaski County has several schools and colleges. They help students from kindergarten all the way through college.

K-12 Schools

Three public school districts serve the county. They make sure students have a place to learn from kindergarten to 12th grade:

  • Pulaski County School District: This is the biggest district. It serves students outside the towns of Somerset and Science Hill. It has many elementary and middle schools. These schools feed into Pulaski County High School and Southwestern Pulaski County High School.
  • Somerset Independent School District: This district serves students living in the city of Somerset. It includes Hopkins Elementary, Meece Middle School, and Somerset High School.
  • Science Hill Independent School District: This district serves the town of Science Hill. It has one school that teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade. After 8th grade, students can choose to go to Pulaski County, Southwestern, or Somerset High School.

There are also private schools in the county, like Somerset Christian School.

Colleges and Universities

  • Campbellsville University-Somerset, Noe Education Center: This is a branch of Campbellsville University. It offers different college degrees and certificates. It tries to be flexible and affordable for students.
  • Somerset Community College: This college is part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. It offers two-year programs. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees here. The main campus is in Somerset.

Transportation in Pulaski County

Getting around Pulaski County is quite easy. Two main highways cross the county:

  • U.S. Highway 27: This highway runs from north to south. In Somerset, it becomes a three-lane road with special turn options. Many shops, restaurants, and businesses are located along this highway. Outside Somerset, it's a four-lane road.
  • U.S. Highway 80: This highway runs from east to west.

There are also many smaller roads and bypasses. These help traffic flow smoothly, especially around Somerset. For example, Kentucky Route 914 goes around the edge of Somerset. This allows drivers to enter or leave the city easily from any direction. Many of these roads were built or improved in the 2000s.

Airport

The Lake Cumberland Regional Airport is located in Pulaski County. It's on the south side of Somerset. The city of Somerset and Pulaski County own this airport. It's mainly used for private planes. From late 2008 to early 2010, a commercial airline briefly used it. The airport was renamed in 2008. It used to be called Somerset-Pulaski County Airport.

Communities in Pulaski County

Pulaski County has several towns and many smaller, unincorporated places.

Cities

Unincorporated Places

These are smaller communities that are not officially cities or towns.

Famous People from Pulaski County

Many notable people have connections to Pulaski County:

  • Harriette Simpson Arnow (1908–1986): A writer known for her novels and history books about Eastern Kentucky.
  • Silas Adams (1839–1896): Born in Pulaski County, he became a lawyer and served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • John Sherman Cooper (1901–1991): Also born in Pulaski County, he had a long career in public service. He was a lawyer, a judge, a U.S. Senator, and an ambassador to several countries.
  • Jack Daws (1970–): A conceptual artist born in Pulaski County.
  • Daniel Dutton (1959–): An artist, musician, and storyteller from Pulaski County.
  • Vermont Garrison (1915–1994): A U.S. Air Force officer and a "triple ace," meaning he shot down many enemy planes.
  • Jack I. Gregory (1931–): A former general in the U.S. Air Force.
  • Reggie Hanson (1968–): A former NBA basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
  • Free Frank McWorter (1777–1854): Born into slavery in Pulaski County, he earned enough money to buy freedom for himself and his family.
  • Rose Will Monroe (1920–1997): Known as Rosie the Riveter, she was born in Pulaski County. During World War II, she helped build airplanes for the war effort.
  • Edwin P. Morrow (1877–1935): He served as the Governor of Kentucky from 1919 to 1923.
  • Venus Ramey (1924–2017): She was crowned Miss America in 1944.
  • Lloyd B. Ramsey (1918–2016): A Major General in the U.S. Army.
  • Hal Rogers (1937–): A U.S. Congressman from Kentucky.
  • Brent Woods (1855–1906): A Sergeant in the U.S. Army and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

See also

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

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