Casey County, Kentucky
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Casey County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,941.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Liberty.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was formed in 1806 from the western part of Lincoln County<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and named for Colonel William Casey, a pioneer settler who moved his family to Kentucky in 1779.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It is the only Kentucky county entirely in the Knobs region. Casey County is home to annual Casey County Apple Festival. It is considered part of the Appalachian region of Kentucky.
History
Casey County was established in 1806 from land given by Lincoln County. The third and present courthouse was built in 1889.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 2015, County Clerk Casey Davis received national press when he announced he would deny same-sex marriage licenses, as a show of solidarity with fellow county clerk Kim Davis (no relation), who was criticized and later jailed for doing the same thing in Rowan County, Kentucky.<ref>"Second Kentucky Clerk Refuses to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses." NBC News. September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.</ref>
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>
The highest point in Casey County is Green River Knob at Template:Convert.
Adjacent counties
- Boyle County (north)
- Lincoln County (east)
- Pulaski County (southeast)
- Russell County (south/CST Border)
- Adair County (southwest/CST Border)
- Taylor County (west)
- Marion County (northwest)
Major highways
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Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,447 people, 6,260 households, and 4,419 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,242 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 98.30% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,260 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.
24.50% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.70% 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 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $21,580, and the median income for a family was $27,044. Males had a median income of $22,283 versus $17,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,867. About 20.70% of families and 25.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.10% of those under age 18 and 29.60% of those age 65 or over.
Casey County is the county in the United States with the highest proportion of Midwest Beachy Amish adherents, with 1.11% of the population in 2020 subscribing to the denomination.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Politics
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Elected officials
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| U.S. House | Template:Party shading/Republican|James Comer (R) | Template:Party shading/Republican|Template:Ushr |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Template:Party shading/Republican|Brandon J. Storm (R) | Template:Party shading/Republican|21 |
| Ky. House | Template:Party shading/Republican|Daniel Elliott (R) | Template:Party shading/Republican|54 |
Education
Casey County Schools operates public schools.
Communities
City
- Liberty (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
- Bethelridge
- Clementsville
- Creston
- Dunnville
- Middleburg
- Phil
- Jacktown
- Penetralia
- Teddy
- Upper Tygart
- Walltown
- Windsor
- Yosemite
Notable people
- Silas Adams, member of the United States House of Representatives<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">Template:Cite book</ref> (1893–1895)
- Tim Butler, The Psychedelic Furs bass player
- Charles T. Wethington Jr., former president of the University of Kentucky
- Crystal Wilkinson, author
- Wallace G. Wilkinson, governor of Kentucky (1987–1991)