Bourbon County, Kentucky

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


founded year = 1786
founded date =
seat wl = Paris
area_total_sq_mi = 292
area_total_km2 = 755
area_land_sq_mi = 291
area_land_km2 = 755
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 1
area percentage = 0.08%
census yr = 2000
pop = 19360
density_sq_mi = 66
density_km2 = 26
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web = www.parisky.com
named for = House of Bourbon, European royal house

Bourbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed as a county within Virginia in 1786. In 1792, it to the newly formed State of Kentucky. As of 2007, the population was 19,839. Its county seat is Paris, KentuckyGR|6. It is best known for being the birthplace of bourbon whiskey.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 292 square miles (755 km²), of which, 291 square miles (754 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.08%) is water.

There are no sizable lakes in the county, but several streams. Primary among these is Stoner Creek, on which the county seat is situated. This large stream is a principal tributary of the South Fork of the Licking River.

The county's topography is predominantly gently rolling hills. Due to agricultural development, very little of the county's land area can be characterized as forested, though deciduous trees are a common feature of the landscape.

Adjacent counties

*Harrison County (northwest)
*Nicholas County (northeast)
*Bath County (east)
*Montgomery County (southeast)
*Clark County (south)
*Fayette County (southwest)
*Scott County (west)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1790= 7837
1800= 12825
1810= 18009
1820= 17664
1830= 18436
1840= 14478
1850= 14466
1860= 14860
1870= 14863
1880= 15956
1890= 16976
1900= 18069
1910= 17462
1920= 18418
1930= 18060
1940= 17932
1950= 17752
1960= 18178
1970= 18476
1980= 19405
1990= 19236
2000= 19360
estimate=19839
estyear=2007
estref=
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21017.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 19,360 people, 7,681 households, and 5,445 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile (26/km²). There were 8,349 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.38% White, 6.94% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 2.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,681 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,038, and the median income for a family was $42,294. Males had a median income of $30,989 versus $23,467 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,335. About 12.30% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Millersburg
*North Middletown
*Paris

Birthplace of Bourbon Whiskey

This claim is a little misleading. Bourbon whiskey was named for the original Bourbon County, which in 1786 covered most of northeastern Kentucky, which was itself then still an area in Virginia. Whiskey was an early product of that Bourbon County and it had a unique flavor, being made mostly from corn (maize), so it was called Bourbon to distinguish it from other regional whiskey styles, such as Monongahela, a product of western Pennsylvania. Thirty-four modern Kentucky counties were once part of the original Bourbon, including the current county of that name. [The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Volume 7, Foodways, John T. Edge, volume editor, p. 128.]

References

See also

*Bourbon County, Kansas