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Wayne County, Kentucky facts for kids

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Wayne County
Wayne County courthouse in Monticello
Wayne County courthouse in Monticello
Map of Kentucky highlighting Wayne 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 December 13, 1800
Named for Anthony Wayne
Seat Monticello
Largest city Monticello
Area
 • Total 484 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Land 458 sq mi (1,190 km2)
 • Water 26 sq mi (70 km2)  5.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 19,555
 • Estimate 
(2023)
19,580 Increase
 • Density 40.40/sq mi (15.600/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th

Wayne County is a county in the state of Kentucky. It is located along Kentucky's southern border with Tennessee.

In 2020, about 19,555 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Monticello. The county is named after General Anthony Wayne, a hero from the American Revolution. As of November 3, 2020, people in Wayne County voted to allow the sale of alcoholic drinks.

History of Wayne County

The first known European-American visitors to this area were longhunters in the 1770s. They set up a temporary camp near Mill Springs by the Cumberland River. Benjamin Price built a log cabin in 1775. His place, Price's Station, became one of Kentucky's first settlements. This land was originally home to the Cherokee people. As more Americans moved in, there were conflicts between the groups.

Many soldiers from the American Revolution came to Wayne County after the war. They included Joshua Jones (1794), Jonathan and James Ingram (1796), Cornelius Phillips (1798), and Isaac West (1799). The United States government gave them land here instead of paying them for their service in the war.

Wayne County was officially formed on December 13, 1800. It was created from parts of Pulaski and Cumberland counties. It was the 43rd county in Kentucky. The county is named after General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. He was a hero of the American Revolution and the Northwest Indian War. General Wayne's victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers helped end threats from Native American groups against Kentucky settlers.

The area became important for farming. People who were forced to work on farms helped develop the land. During the American Civil War, Confederate Army General Felix Zollicoffer set up his headquarters at the Brown-Lanier House in Mill Springs. He was killed at the Battle of Mill Springs on January 19, 1862. He accidentally approached Union troops, thinking they were his own. Without their leader, the Confederate soldiers lost the battle.

In the winter of 1861, the Confederate Government of Kentucky tried to change the county's name to Zollicoffer County. This was to honor General Felix Zollicoffer after his death.

Geography of Wayne County

Wayne County covers about 484 square miles. About 458 square miles are land, and 26 square miles (5.4%) are water.

The land in the county ranges from about 656 feet to 1,870 feet above sea level. At the Monticello/Wayne County Airport, the elevation is about 963 feet. Wayne County is part of Kentucky's Pennyrile Plateau (image) and Eastern Coal Field (image) regions.

Neighboring Counties

Protected Areas

Time Zone Boundary

Wayne Co KY
Along KY 90

Wayne County is in the Eastern Time Zone. However, its western border touches Clinton and Russell Counties, which are in the Central Time Zone. The southern border with Pickett County, Tennessee, is also a time zone boundary. Wayne County used to be in the Central Time Zone until October 2000. A professor from the University of Kentucky, Dr. Stanley Brunn, wrote about this change.

Wayne county ky farmland
Farmland in Wayne County

Population Changes

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 5,430
1820 7,951 46.4%
1830 8,685 9.2%
1840 7,399 −14.8%
1850 8,692 17.5%
1860 10,259 18.0%
1870 10,602 3.3%
1880 12,512 18.0%
1890 12,852 2.7%
1900 14,892 15.9%
1910 17,518 17.6%
1920 16,208 −7.5%
1930 15,848 −2.2%
1940 17,204 8.6%
1950 16,475 −4.2%
1960 14,700 −10.8%
1970 14,268 −2.9%
1980 17,022 19.3%
1990 17,468 2.6%
2000 19,923 14.1%
2010 20,813 4.5%
2020 19,555 −6.0%
2023 (est.) 19,580 −5.9%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

In 2000, there were 19,923 people living in Wayne County. The population density was about 43 people per square mile. Most people in the county were White (96.98%). About 25.30% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age was 37 years.

Famous People from Wayne County

  • Dick Burnett – A musician who wrote the famous song "Man of Constant Sorrow" in the early 1900s. He was born near Monticello in 1883.
  • Emry Arthur – An early folk and country musician. He was active in the 1920s and 1930s and recorded a popular version of Burnett's song. He was born in 1902 in Elk Spring Valley.
  • Polly Berry – An enslaved woman who won her freedom and her daughter's freedom in court. She lived in Wayne County as a child.
  • Lettice Bryan – The author of a popular cookbook called The Kentucky Housewife (1839). She lived in Wayne County when her cookbook was published.
  • Shelby M. Cullom (1829–1914) – He was the Governor of Illinois (1877–1883) and a U.S. Senator (1883–1913).
  • Preston H. Leslie (1819–1907) – He served as Governor of Kentucky (1871–1875) and Governor of Montana (1887–1889).
  • Harriette Simpson Arnow (1908–1986) – An American novelist and historian. She was born in Monticello, Wayne County.
  • Hal Rogers – A U.S. Congressman who has served since 1981.
  • Kenny Davis – An American Olympic basketball player in 1972.
  • John S. Van Winkle – A former Secretary of State of Kentucky.
  • Ephraim L. Van Winkle – Also a former Secretary of State of Kentucky.

Historical Places to Visit

  • William Crenshaw Kennedy, Jr. Memorial Museum and Genealogy Library
  • Doughboy Monument – Located in Monticello town square, it honors soldiers from World War I.
  • Mill Springs Mill (1877) and Park – A water-powered mill that still works today.
  • Brown-Lanier House – A historic home connected to the Civil War Battle of Mill Springs.
  • Raccoon John Smith Cabin – The early home of a religious leader and founder of the Restoration Movement.

Communities in Wayne County

City

Small Towns and Areas

  • Barrier
  • Big Sinking
  • Cooper
  • Duncan Valley
  • Fall Creek
  • Frazer
  • Frisby
  • Hidalgo
  • Mill Springs
  • Parmleysville
  • Powersburg
  • Rockybranch
  • Roger's Grove
  • Steubenville
  • Sunnybrook
  • Windy

Education

Wayne County Schools runs the public schools in the county.

On June 30, 2013, Monticello Independent Schools joined with Wayne County Schools.

Students can also get vocational education at the Wayne County Area Technology Center (ATC). This school helps high school students learn job skills. It offers programs in Health Science, Welding, Carpentry, Machine Tool, Automotive, Industrial Maintenance, and Business.

Images for kids

See also

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

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