Madison County
County
Madison County Courthouse in Richmond
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°43′N 84°17′W / 37.72°N 84.28°W / 37.72; -84.28
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	December 15, 1785
Named for	James Madison
Seat	Richmond
Largest city	Richmond
Area
• Total	443 sq mi (1,150 km2)
• Land	437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Water	6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  1.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	92,701
• Estimate  (2023)	96,735
• Density	210/sq mi (81/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.madisoncountyky.us

Madison County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. At the 2020 census, its population was 92,701.^[1] Its county seat is Richmond.^[2] The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States.^[3]

The county is part of the Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area.

Madison County is considered a moist county, meaning that although the county prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages (and is thus a dry county), it contains a city where retail alcohol sales are allowed. Nevertheless, two of the county's 19 precincts are completely dry.^[4] Alcohol can also be sold by the drink in Berea,^[5] Richmond, and at Arlington and The Bull golf clubs. In 2023, the county voted to become wet.^[6]

Madison County is home to Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, and historic Boone Tavern.^[7] Famous pioneer Daniel Boone lived in Madison County and built Fort Boonesborough, now a state historic site.

History

Indian trader John Findley, Daniel Boone, and four others first came into the area that is now Madison County in 1769 on a hunting and exploring expedition. In 1774, the Transylvania Company, led by Judge Richard Henderson of North Carolina, purchased 20,000,000 acres (8,100,000 ha) of land west of the Appalachians (including present-day Madison County) from the Cherokee Nation. Daniel Boone was hired to cut a trail through the Cumberland Gap and establish a settlement on the Kentucky River. The settlement at Fort Boonesborough began in April 1775.

In 1785, Madison County was established from a portion of Lincoln County, Virginia.^[8][9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 443 square miles (1,150 km²), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km²) (1.3%) is water.^[10]

Major highways

• Interstate 75
• U.S. 25
• U.S. 421
• KY 52

Adjacent counties

• Fayette County (north)
• Clark County (northeast)
• Estill County (east)
• Jackson County (southeast)
• Rockcastle County (south)
• Garrard County (southwest)
• Jessamine County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 70,872 people, 27,152 households, and 18,218 families residing in the county. The population density was 161 per square mile (62/km²). There were 29,595 housing units at an average density of 67 per square mile (26/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.01% White, 4.44% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 27,152 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% 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 2.90.

By age, 21.90% were under 18, 18.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. Both the relatively large 18-to-24 population and the relatively low median age can be explained by the presence of Eastern Kentucky University, and to a considerably lesser extent Berea College. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,861, and the median income for a family was $41,383. Males had a median income of $31,974 versus $22,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,790. About 12.00% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Madison County courthouse is located at 135 W Irvine Street in Richmond.

   County Judge-Executive: Reagan Taylor
   County Clerk: Kenny Barger
   Sheriff: Mike Coyle
   Coroner: Jimmy Cornelison
   Jailer: Steve Tussey
   County Attorney: Jennie Haymond
   Circuit Clerk: David M. Fernandez
   County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA): Billy Ackerman
   County Surveyor: Stuart W. Spencer

Elections

Education

Schools

Madison County is served by two school districts:^[18]

• Madison County Schools, currently consisting of 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 2 high schools.
• Berea Independent Schools, currently consisting of 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school.

The county is also served by Model Laboratory School which is part of Eastern Kentucky University.

Colleges and universities

• Eastern Kentucky University, located in Richmond
• Berea College, located in Berea
• National College of Business & Technology, located in Richmond

Communities

• Baldwin
• Berea
• Bighill
• Bobtown
• Boonesborough
• Buggytown
• Bybee
• College Hill
• Dreyfus
• Kingston
• Kirksville
• Million
• Moberly
• Newby
• Redhouse
• Richmond (county seat)
• Round Hill
• Ruthton
• Speedwell
• Union City, Kentucky,^[19] where vaudevillian Andrew Tribble was born^[20] A historical marker commemorates his life at Union City Park.^[21]
• Valley View
• Waco

Economy

Military

The Blue Grass Army Depot is located just south of Richmond.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

• Frances Estill Beauchamp (1860–1923), temperance activist, social reformer, lecturer
• Daniel S. Bentley (1850–1916), American minister, writer, newspaper founder^[22]
• Daniel Boone - American frontiersman and explorer of Kentucky.
• Kit Carson - Christopher Houston Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868), better known as Kit Carson, was an American frontiersman.
• Mary Kavanaugh Eagle (1854–1903), American activist, clubwoman, book editor.
• Lonnie Napier (1940–2023) – former representative for House District 36 in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Sister communities

• Hokuto City, Yamanashi, Japan (since 1990)^{[citation needed]}

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, Kentucky

References