Meade County, Kentucky

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Meade County

| state = Kentucky

| flag = Flag of Meade County, Kentucky.png

| seal = Seal of Meade County, Kentucky.png

| founded year = 1823

| founded date =

| seat wl = Brandenburg

| largest city wl = Brandenburg

| area_total_sq_mi = 325

| area_land_sq_mi = 305

| area_water_sq_mi = 19

| area percentage = 5.9

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 30003

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 30442 {{increase}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Eastern

| footnotes =

| website = {{URL|https://meadeky.com/|meadeky.gov}}

| named for = James Meade

| ex image = Meade County, Kentucky courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Meade County courthouse in Brandenburg

| district = 2nd

}}

Meade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,003.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/meadecountykentucky/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 13, 2022}} Its county seat is Brandenburg.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|archive-date=May 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|url-status=live}} The county was founded December 17, 1823, and named for Captain James M. Meade, who was killed in action at the Battle of River Raisin during the War of 1812.{{cite web |url=http://www.kyenc.org/entry/m/MEADE02.html |title=Meade County |publisher=Kyenc.org |access-date=April 15, 2013 |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415060409/http://www.kyenc.org/entry/m/MEADE02.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ | title=The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1 | publisher=Kentucky State Historical Society | year=1903 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ/page/n36 36]}}{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Lewis|title=History of Kentucky|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F5FQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA598|year=1877|page=598|publisher=Library Reprints, Incorporated |isbn=978-0-7222-4920-8 }} Meade County is part of the Elizabethtown metropolitan area, which is included in the Louisville metropolitan area.

Geography

Image:Ohioriver.jpg

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|325|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|305|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|19|sqmi}} (5.9%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 17, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt|archive-date=August 12, 2014}} All {{convert|56|mi|km}} of the county's northern border faces Indiana, across from the Ohio River.

=Outdoor attractions=

=Adjacent counties=

Hardin County (southeast)
Breckinridge County (southwest/CST Border)
Harrison County, Indiana (northeast)
Perry County, Indiana (northwest/CST Border)
Crawford County, Indiana (north)

Demographics

{{US Census population

| 1830 = 4131

| 1840 = 5780

| 1850 = 7393

| 1860 = 8898

| 1870 = 9485

| 1880 = 10323

| 1890 = 9484

| 1900 = 10533

| 1910 = 9783

| 1920 = 9442

| 1930 = 8042

| 1940 = 8827

| 1950 = 9422

| 1960 = 18938

| 1970 = 18796

| 1980 = 22854

| 1990 = 24170

| 2000 = 26349

| 2010 = 28602

| 2020 = 30003

| estyear = 2024

| estimate = 30442

| estref = {{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 17, 2014|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194652/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 17, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=live}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 17, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013035315/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt|url-status=live}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 17, 2014}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}} of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|85|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 10,293 housing units at an average density of {{convert|33|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.37% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,470 households, out of which 42.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.90% were non-families. Of all households 18.40% were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.80% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 32.70% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,966, and the median income for a family was $40,592. Males had a median income of $30,835 versus $22,038 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,000. About 9.30% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

=Cities=

Brandenburg (county seat)
Ekron
Muldraugh (partly in Hardin County)

=Census-designated places=

Doe Valley
Fort Knox, a military base (partly in Hardin County)

=Other unincorporated places=

Battletown
Big Spring (partly in Breckinridge County in the Central Time Zone and Hardin County in the Eastern Time Zone)
Concordia
Flaherty
Garrett
Guston
Lickskillet
Midway
Payneville
Rhodelia
Rock Haven
Wolf Creek
Garnettsville
Buck Grove

Politics

{{PresHead|place=Meade County, Kentucky|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 4, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}}}

=Elected officials=

class=wikitable
colspan="3" \|Elected officials as of January 3, 2025{{Cite web \|url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html \|title=Senate Members - County \|author= \|date= \|website=apps.legislature.ky.gov \|publisher=Kentucky General Assembly \|access-date=January 3, 2025 \|quote=}}{{Cite web \|url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html \|title=House Members - County \|author= \|date= \|website=apps.legislature.ky.gov \|publisher=Kentucky General Assembly \|access-date=January 3, 2025 \|quote=}}
scope=row\|U.S. House \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|Brett Guthrie (R) \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|{{ushr\|KY\|2\|B}}
scope=row\|Ky. Senate \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|Stephen Meredith (R) \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|5
scope=row\|Ky. House \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|Nancy Tate (R) \| {{party shading/Republican}}\|27

class=wikitable

colspan="3" |Elected officials as of January 3, 2025{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author= |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=Kentucky General Assembly |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author= |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=Kentucky General Assembly |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}

scope=row|U.S. House

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Brett Guthrie (R)

| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|2|B}}

scope=row|Ky. Senate

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Stephen Meredith (R)

| {{party shading/Republican}}|5

scope=row|Ky. House

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Nancy Tate (R)

| {{party shading/Republican}}|27

Education

Most of the county is zoned to Meade County Schools,{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21163_meade/DC20SD_C21163.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191249/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21163_meade/DC20SD_C21163.pdf|archive-date=July 5, 2022|url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Meade County, KY|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 5, 2022}} – [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21163_meade/DC20SD_C21163_SD2MS.txt Text list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191802/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21163_meade/DC20SD_C21163_SD2MS.txt |date=July 5, 2022 }} – "Fort Knox Dependent Schools" refers to the DoDEA schools. which operates Meade County High School.

However people living on Fort Knox are instead zoned to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which operates Fort Knox Middle High School.