Pulaski County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pulaski County
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Pulaski County Courthouse
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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 | 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)
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| • Total | 65,034  |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
Pulaski County is a county in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Its county seat is Somerset. The county was founded in December 1798 from land given by Lincoln and Green Counties and named for Polish patriot Count Casimir Pulaski. Pulaski County comprises the Somerset, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area. Somerset's population is just over 11,000, but the Micropolitan Area for Somerset/Pulaski County is over 65,000.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 677 square miles (1,750 km2), of which 658 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (2.8%) is water. It is the third-largest county by area in Kentucky.
Adjacent counties
- Lincoln County (north)
- Rockcastle County (northeast)
- Laurel County (east)
- McCreary County (southeast)
- Wayne County (southwest)
- Russell County (west)
- Casey County (northwest)
Demographics
| 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% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 65,423 | 3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2021 |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 56,217 people, 22,719 households, and 16,334 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 per square mile (33/km2). There were 27,181 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 22,719 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,370, and the median income for a family was $32,350. Males had a median income of $27,398 versus $19,236 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,352. About 14.80% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.90% of those under age 18 and 16.60% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Through Pulaski County run U.S. Highway South 27 from north to south and Highway East and West 80. Through the city limits of Somerset, Highway 27 stems into a three-lane road with u-turn and left turn options at each stoplight. Many food chains, local businesses and commerce centers are strewn along the highway, due to accessibility and consistent traffic throughout the area. Outside the Somerset city limits, the highway becomes a four-lane road until it becomes a two-lane highway through downtown Burnside just south of Somerset.
Intersecting these highways are many junctions and bypasses that have been paved in order to allow quick and easy traffic flow through the county, revolving around the circumscribed Kentucky Route 914 around the outskirts of Somerset, in which transporters can enter through or exit from the city from any direction easily. These series of roads mimic the infrastructure of larger cities such as Interstate 465 in Indianapolis, Indiana and New Circle Road in Lexington, Kentucky. Many of these roads were paved in the 2000s. Despite the grand area of the county, the accessibility from one end to the other is smooth and expedited.
Lake Cumberland Regional Airport is located in Pulaski County, on the southern end of Somerset's US 27 business district. The airport is owned by the city of Somerset and Pulaski County. It also serves the area around Lake Cumberland. It is mostly used for general aviation, and from late 2008 until February 2010, was served by one commercial airline, Locair. Currently, the $3 million federally funded passenger terminal is not in use.
The airport was renamed in 2008; it was formerly known as Somerset-Pulaski County Airport or J.T. Wilson Field.[3]
Communities
Education
K-12
Three public school districts serve the county:
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- The largest of the three districts, it serves the county outside the independent school districts of Somerset and Science Hill, with numerous elementary and middle schools feeding into Pulaski County High School and Southwestern Pulaski County High School.
- Serves the city of Somerset with an elementary school (Hopkins Elementary), a middle school (Meece Middle) and a high school (Somerset High).
- Serves the city of Science Hill, with a single K-8 school. Students graduating from Science Hill can choose to attend either Pulaski County, Southwestern or Somerset High School.
There are also several private schools in the county, including Somerset Christian School.
Colleges and universities
Campbellsville University-Somerset, Noe Education Center [1] is a regional center for Campbellsville University located in Campbellsville, KY. The Somerset Noe Education Center offers a variety of degree and certificate programs. CU-Somerset prides itself on being flexible and affordable for students from across the nation.
Somerset Community College is one of 16 two-year, open-admissions colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The college offers academic, general education, and technical curricula leading to certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees. The college's Somerset Campus is located on Monticello Street in Somerset, across the street from the Center for Rural Development.
Notable residents
- Harriette Simpson Arnow (1908–1986), author of Eastern Kentucky novels and histories. She and her husband Harold Arnow farmed near Burnside in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
- Silas Adams, (1839–1896), born in Pulaski County, lawyer and member of the United States House of Representatives
- John Sherman Cooper, (1901–1991), born in Pulaski County. Lawyer, member Kentucky House of Representatives, Pulaski County Judge, United Nations delegate, member United States Senate, U.S. Ambassador to India and Nepal, first U.S. Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic (i.e. East Germany), member Warren Commission.
- Jack Daws, (1970–), born in Pulaski County. Conceptual artist.
- Daniel Dutton, (1959–), born in Pulaski County. Contemporary artist, musician, and story teller.
- Vermont Garrison, career United States Air Force officer and "triple ace"
- Jack I. Gregory, (1931-) is a former general in the United States Air Force and the former commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces.
- Reggie Hanson, former NBA player for the Boston Celtics
- Free Frank McWorter, (1777–1854), enslaved resident of Pulaski country, managed a saltpeter mine so effectively that he bought freedom for himself and his family, and emigrated to Illinois.
- Rose Will Monroe, or Rosie the Riveter, (1920–1997) born in Pulaski County and moved to Michigan during World War II, where she helped build B-24s and B-29s for the war effort.
- Edwin P. Morrow, Kentucky Governor, 1919–1923.
- Venus Ramey, Miss America, 1944
- Lloyd B. Ramsey, (1918-2016), Major General United States Army, Commander 23rd Infantry Division (United States) (1969-1970), United States Army Provost Marshal General (1970-1974)
- Hal Rogers, (born 1937), U.S. Congressman from Kentucky
- Brent Woods, (1855–1906), Sergeant, United States Army, Medal of Honor recipient.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pulaski (Kentucky) para niños
