Hardin County, Kentucky

Infobox U.S. County
county = Hardin County
state = Kentucky


founded year = 1793
founded date =
seat wl = Elizabethtown
area_total_sq_mi = 630
area_total_km2 = 1631
area_land_sq_mi = 628
area_land_km2 = 1626
area_water_sq_mi = 2
area_water_km2 = 5
area percentage = 0.30%
census yr = 2007
pop = 97949
density_sq_mi = 150
density_km2 = 58
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web = www.hcky.org
named for = Colonel John Hardin (1753–1792), American Revolutionary War soldier serving with George Rogers Clark, killed in Northwest Indian War.

Hardin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1793. As of 2007, the population was 97,949. Its county seat is at ElizabethtownGR|6. Hardin County is part of the Elizabethtown, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is named for John Hardin, a Continental Army officer during the American Revolution. President Abraham Lincoln was born in what was then Hardin County near Hodgenville, now part of modern-day LaRue County.

Hardin County is a limited dry county, meaning that sale of alcohol in the county is prohibited except by the drink in restaurants seating at least 100 diners in the cities of Elizabethtown and Radcliff, and at the Pine Valley Golf Resort.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 630 square miles (1,631 km²), of which, 628 square miles (1,626 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) of it (0.30%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Jefferson County (Louisville) & Bullitt County (northeast)
*Nelson County (east)
*LaRue County (southeast)
*Hart County (south)
*Grayson County (southwest)
*Breckinridge County (west)
*Meade County (northwest)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1800= 3653
1810= 7531
1820= 10498
1830= 12849
1840= 16357
1850= 14525
1860= 15189
1870= 15705
1880= 22564
1890= 21304
1900= 22937
1910= 22696
1920= 24287
1930= 20913
1940= 29108
1950= 50312
1960= 67789
1970= 78421
1980= 88917
1990= 89240
2000= 94174
estimate= 97949
estyear= 2007
estref=
http://ksdc.louisville.edu/
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21093.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 94,174 people, 34,497 households, and 25,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 150 people per square mile (58/km²). There were 37,673 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile (23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.99% White, 11.87% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 3.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 34,497 households out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.07. The largest metropolitan area in the county is the City of Elizabethtown.

The age distribution was 27.60% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,744, and the median income for a family was $43,610. Males had a median income of $30,743 versus $22,688 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,487. About 8.20% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated places

Census-designated places

"Note: Census-designated places are unincorporated."
*Fort Knox - a military base (partly in Meade County)

Unincorporated places

Economy

The economy of Hardin County is largely dominated by the adjacent [http://www.Knox.army.mil/Fort_Knox_BRAC_Updates.html Fort Knox Military Installation.]

The Army Human Resource Center, the largest construction project in the history of Fort Knox, began in November 2007. It’s a $185 million, three-story, 880,000-square-foot complex, sitting on 104 acres. As many as 2,100 new permanent human resources, information technology, and administrative white-collar civilian professionals will be working there.

Officials expect that as many as 12,000 people, including the families of soldiers and civilian workers to relocate to the area as a result of the Fort Knox realignment.

Approximately $1 billion in federal and state construction funds are scheduled for Fort Knox, and in the surrounding areas by the end of 2011.

Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky announced the creation of a task force to help Hardin County, and the surrounding counties prepare for the Fort Knox realignment. The group is “designed to meet specific needs” in areas such as transportation, economic development, education, water and sewer availability, and area wide planning.

Education

K-12

Three public school districts operate in the county:

* The [http://www.hardin.k12.ky.us Hardin County Schools] serve K-12 students in most of the county, with the exception of (most of) Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, and for K-8 students only, the West Point area. The district operates seven elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools.
* The [http://www.etown.kyschools.us Elizabethtown Independent Schools] serve students in most of the city of Elizabethtown; however, some areas are instead served by the Hardin County district. The district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
* [http://www.westpoint.kyschools.us West Point School] is a K-8 school serving the West Point area, which is cut off from the rest of Hardin County by Fort Knox.

Four private schools also operate in the county, St. James Catholic School, Elizabethtown Christian Academy, North Hardin Christian School, and Hardin Christian Academy.

The Department of Defense Education Activity, through its Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools subagency, operates eight [http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/FKCSCO/index.htm schools on the Fort Knox base] for military dependents. DDESS has four elementary schools (grades K-3), two intermediate schools (4-6), one middle school (7-8), and one high school (9-12) on base.

A new $16-million [http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/FKCSCO/Pages/NewHSProject.htm Fort Knox High School] is under construction. It's a two-story, state-of-the-art facility that will unite the existing vocational school with the current gymnasium, creating a connected campus. Construction is scheduled to be completed in May 2009, with classes starting (First Day of 1st Quarter) August 2009.

Postsecondary education

Elizabethtown is home to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, a member of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
* [http://www.elizabethtown.kctcs.edu Elizabethtown Community and Technical College -- Home Page]

ee also

*Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area

References