kids encyclopedia robot

Trigg County, Kentucky facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Trigg County
The old Trigg County courthouse in Cadiz, Kentucky. It was torn down in 2008 to make way for a new courthouse, which is already completed.
The old Trigg County courthouse in Cadiz, Kentucky. It was torn down in 2008 to make way for a new courthouse, which is already completed.
Map of Kentucky highlighting Trigg 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 1820
Named for Stephen Trigg
Seat Cadiz
Largest city Cadiz
Area
 • Total 481 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Land 441 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Water 40 sq mi (100 km2)  8.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 14,061 Decrease
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Trigg County is a county located on the far southwestern border of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,339. Its county seat is Cadiz. Formed in 1820, the county was named for Stephen Trigg, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was killed at the Battle of Blue Licks, now in Robertson County, Kentucky. It was a victory for British and allied troops.

Following the Prohibition era, Trigg continued as a prohibition or dry county until 2009. That year the county's voters narrowly approved a referendum to repeal the prohibition on alcohol sales for off-premises consumption.

Trigg County is part of the Clarksville, TN–KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Trigg County is governed by a Fiscal Court, which is led by a Judge-Executive. The current Judge-Executive is Hollis Alexander (a Republican). Alexander was appointed to the position by the governor in 2013 after Stanley H. Humphries, former officeholder, was elected to the Kentucky State Senate from District 1.

History

Trigg County was formed in 1820 from Christian County and Caldwell County.

Trigg County was named in honor of Lt. Col. Stephen Trigg, of Virginia. Lt. Col. Trigg settled near Harrodsburg, Kentucky and was killed on August 19, 1782, in the Battle of Blue Licks.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 481 square miles (1,250 km2), of which 441 square miles (1,140 km2) is land and 40 square miles (100 km2) (8.3%) is water.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 5,916
1840 7,716 30.4%
1850 10,129 31.3%
1860 11,051 9.1%
1870 13,686 23.8%
1880 14,489 5.9%
1890 13,902 −4.1%
1900 14,073 1.2%
1910 14,539 3.3%
1920 14,208 −2.3%
1930 12,531 −11.8%
1940 12,784 2.0%
1950 9,683 −24.3%
1960 8,870 −8.4%
1970 8,620 −2.8%
1980 9,384 8.9%
1990 10,361 10.4%
2000 12,597 21.6%
2010 14,339 13.8%
2020 14,061 −1.9%
2021 (est.) 14,192 −1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2021

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,597 people, 5,215 households, and 3,765 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 per square mile (11/km2). There were 6,698 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.34% White, 9.79% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,215 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,002, and the median income for a family was $40,886. Males had a median income of $31,158 versus $22,081 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,184. About 8.80% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

Notable people

  • Coy Bacon, NFL player
  • Darcy C. Coyle, university president
  • John Egerton, journalist
  • Joe Bolton, poet
  • Charles Tyler, musician
  • Boots Randolph, musician
  • Roger Vinson, U.S. District Court judge
  • Hugh "Riccardo" Martin, opera singer

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Trigg para niños

kids search engine
Trigg County, Kentucky Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.