Ballard County, Kentucky

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


founded year = 1842
founded date =
seat wl = Wickliffe
largest city wl = La Center
area_total_sq_mi = 274
area_total_km2 = 709
area_land_sq_mi = 251
area_land_km2 = 650
area_water_sq_mi = 22
area_water_km2 = 58
area percentage = 8.20%
census yr = 2000
pop = 8286
density_sq_mi = 33
density_km2 = 13
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web = www.ballardcounty.org
named for = Bland Ballard (1761–1853), soldier in the Battle of Fallen Timbers and Battle of River Raisin.

Ballard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1842. As of 2000, the population is 8,286. Its county seat is Wickliffe, KentuckyGR|6. The county is named for Captain Bland Ballard, a member of the Kentucky General Assembly. Ballard is a prohibition or dry county.

Ballard County is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 274 square miles (709 km²), of which, 251 square miles (650 km²) of it is land and 22 square miles (58 km²) of it (8.20%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Pulaski County, Illinois (north) – across the Ohio River
*McCracken County (east)
*Carlisle County (south)
*Mississippi County, Missouri (southwest) – across the Mississippi River
*Alexander County, Illinois (west) – across the Ohio River

Demographics

USCensusPop
1850= 5496
1860= 8692
1870= 12576
1880= 14378
1890= 8390
1900= 10761
1910= 12690
1920= 12045
1930= 9910
1940= 9480
1950= 8545
1960= 8291
1970= 8276
1980= 8798
1990= 7902
2000= 8286
estimate= 8245
estyear= 2006
estref=
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21007.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 8,286 people, 3,395 households, and 2,413 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 3,837 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.32% White, 2.87% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 3,395 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% 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 2.85.

The age distribution was 23.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,130, and the median income for a family was $41,386. Males had a median income of $32,345 versus $20,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,035. About 10.70% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.30% of those under age 18 and 15.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Bandana
*Barlow
*Blandville
*Kevil
*La Center
*Lovelaceville
*Monkeys Eyebrow
*Wickliffe

Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve

Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve is a 458 acres nature preserve located in Ballard County, in the Barlow Bottoms. The preserve is part of the 3,000-acre Axe Lake Swamp wetlands complex which supports at least eight rare plant and animal species. The site has been recognized as a priority wetland in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. < [http://www.naturepreserves.ky.gov/stewardship/axelake.htm Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve web site] URL accessed on 08/20/2006. ]

ee also

*Dry counties

References