Bracken County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Bracken County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kentucky
. It was formed in 1797. The population was 8,488 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat
is Brooksville, Kentucky
.
and Campbell
counties. It is named in honor of William Bracken, an early pioneer and surveyor, who first came to the area in 1773, then settled here. He met his death at an early day at the hands of the Native Americans who inhabited the area and had for thousands of years considered it their territory. The original county extended to southern Nicholas County
, north to the Ohio River
, west to the Licking River
and east to Dover, Kentucky.
Several early settlers were veterans of the American Revolutionary War
, among them was Capt. Abner Howell
; he and his family migrated from Pennsylvania
. He died in Bracken County in 1797.
The county government moved from Augusta to Woodward's Crossing (now Brooksville
) in 1833.
Bracken was the birthplace on Sept. 9, 1816 of John Gregg Fee
, founder of Berea College
and Kentucky'`s most noted abolitionist. He was a graduate of Augusta College and Lane Theological Seminary
. In 1822 Augusta College was founded as the first Methodist College in the world.
Anti-slavery activists in Bracken County played a major role in the movement known as the Underground Railroad
. There are several Underground Railroad
sites in the Augusta
area. A network of citizens sympathetic to escaping slaves helped them cross the Ohio River
to nearby Ripley, Ohio
and other points north.
Bracken County's economy was largely agricultural; its chief crops before the American Civil War
were tobacco
and corn. White burley tobacco, a light, adaptable leaf that revolutionized the industry, was first sold at the 1867 St. Louis Fair by the farmer Mr. Webb from Higginsport, Ohio
. He had produced it in 1864 from Bracken County seed and developed the type. It became a major product of central Kentucky and central Tennessee.
Agriculture remains vital to the economy, with farms occupying 83.8 percent of the land area in 1982. Commodities include wheat, hay, and milk. Burley tobacco production in 1988 amounted to 5,406,000 pounds. Agricultural receipts in 1986 totaled $19,158,000.
Brooksville:
Germantown:
Milford:
of 2000, there were 8,279 people, 3,228 households, and 2,346 families residing in the county. The population density
was 41 /sqmi. There were 3,715 housing units at an average density of 18 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 98.48% White
, 0.62% Black
or African American
, 0.25% Native American
, 0.06% Asian
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 0.21% from other races
, and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,228 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples
living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,823, and the median income for a family was $40,469. Males had a median income of $31,503 versus $21,139 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,478. About 7.60% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. It was formed in 1797. The population was 8,488 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Brooksville, Kentucky
Brooksville, Kentucky
Brooksville is a city in Bracken County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city's population was 589. It is the county seat of Bracken County....
.
History
Bracken County was organized by European-American settlers as Kentucky's 23rd county in 1796 from parts of MasonMason County, Kentucky
Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 16,800. Its county seat is Maysville. The county is named for George Mason, a Virginia delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"...
and Campbell
Campbell County, Kentucky
Campbell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed on December 17, 1794, from sections of Scott, Harrison and Mason counties. As of 2010, the population was 90,336. Its county seats are Alexandria and Newport...
counties. It is named in honor of William Bracken, an early pioneer and surveyor, who first came to the area in 1773, then settled here. He met his death at an early day at the hands of the Native Americans who inhabited the area and had for thousands of years considered it their territory. The original county extended to southern Nicholas County
Nicholas County, Kentucky
Nicholas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 6,813. Its county seat is Carlisle. The county is named for George Nicholas, the "Father of the Kentucky Constitution".- Geography :...
, north to the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, west to the Licking River
Licking River (Kentucky)
The Licking River is a tributary of the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky in the United States. The river and its tributaries drain much of the region of northeastern Kentucky between the watersheds of the Kentucky River to the west and the Big Sandy River to the east.-Origin of name:The Native...
and east to Dover, Kentucky.
Several early settlers were veterans of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, among them was Capt. Abner Howell
Abner Howell
Captain Abner Howell served as a Captain in the Third Company Third Battalion, Washington County, Pennsylvania, Militia during the American Revolutionary War....
; he and his family migrated from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He died in Bracken County in 1797.
The county government moved from Augusta to Woodward's Crossing (now Brooksville
Brooksville, Kentucky
Brooksville is a city in Bracken County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city's population was 589. It is the county seat of Bracken County....
) in 1833.
Bracken was the birthplace on Sept. 9, 1816 of John Gregg Fee
John Gregg Fee
John Gregg Fee was an abolitionist, minister and educator, the founder of the town of Berea, Kentucky, and Berea College , the first in the state with interracial and coeducational admissions...
, founder of Berea College
Berea College
Berea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
and Kentucky'`s most noted abolitionist. He was a graduate of Augusta College and Lane Theological Seminary
Lane Theological Seminary
Lane Theological Seminary was established in the Walnut Hills section of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1829 to educate Presbyterian ministers. It was named in honor of Ebenezer and William Lane, who pledged $4,000 for the new school, which was seen as a forward outpost of the Presbyterian Church in the...
. In 1822 Augusta College was founded as the first Methodist College in the world.
Anti-slavery activists in Bracken County played a major role in the movement known as the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. There are several Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
sites in the Augusta
Augusta, Kentucky
Augusta is a city in Bracken County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. As of the 2005 census, the city population was 2,004. When Bracken County was organized in 1796, Augusta was the county seat...
area. A network of citizens sympathetic to escaping slaves helped them cross the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
to nearby Ripley, Ohio
Ripley, Ohio
Ripley is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River 50 miles southeast of Cincinnati. The population was 1,745 at the 2000 census.-History:...
and other points north.
Bracken County's economy was largely agricultural; its chief crops before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
were tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and corn. White burley tobacco, a light, adaptable leaf that revolutionized the industry, was first sold at the 1867 St. Louis Fair by the farmer Mr. Webb from Higginsport, Ohio
Higginsport, Ohio
Higginsport is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 291 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Higginsport is located at ....
. He had produced it in 1864 from Bracken County seed and developed the type. It became a major product of central Kentucky and central Tennessee.
Agriculture remains vital to the economy, with farms occupying 83.8 percent of the land area in 1982. Commodities include wheat, hay, and milk. Burley tobacco production in 1988 amounted to 5,406,000 pounds. Agricultural receipts in 1986 totaled $19,158,000.
Historic schools
Augusta:- Bracken Academy
- Augusta Methodist College
Brooksville:
- Saint James Elementary and High School
Germantown:
- Germantown College
Milford:
- Milford Graded and High School
Law and Government
Judge Executives- Earl Bush (2011-Present)
- Gary Riggs (2007–Present)
- Leslie Newman (2002–2007)
- Dwayne "Pie" Jett (1987–2002)
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 208.89 square miles (541 km²), of which 203.22 square miles (526.3 km²) (or 97.29%) is land and 5.67 square miles (14.7 km²) (or 2.71%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Clermont County, OhioClermont County, OhioClermont County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, just east of Cincinnati. As of 2010, the population was 197,363. Its county seat is Batavia...
(north – across the Ohio RiverOhio RiverThe Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
) - Brown County, OhioBrown County, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 42,285 people, 15,555 households, and 11,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 17,193 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile...
(northeast – across the Ohio River) - Mason CountyMason County, KentuckyMason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 16,800. Its county seat is Maysville. The county is named for George Mason, a Virginia delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"...
(east) - Robertson CountyRobertson County, KentuckyRobertson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 2,282. Its county seat is Mount Olivet, Kentucky. The county is named for George Robertson, a Kentucky Congressman from 1817 to 1821. Robertson is a prohibition or dry county...
(south) - Harrison CountyHarrison County, KentuckyHarrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1794. As of 2010, the population was 18,846. Its county seat is Cynthiana...
(southwest) - Pendleton CountyPendleton County, KentuckyPendleton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 14,390. Its county seat is Falmouth.- Geography :...
(west)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,279 people, 3,228 households, and 2,346 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 41 /sqmi. There were 3,715 housing units at an average density of 18 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 98.48% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.62% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 3,228 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,823, and the median income for a family was $40,469. Males had a median income of $31,503 versus $21,139 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $16,478. About 7.60% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- AugustaAugusta, KentuckyAugusta is a city in Bracken County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. As of the 2005 census, the city population was 2,004. When Bracken County was organized in 1796, Augusta was the county seat...
- BrooksvilleBrooksville, KentuckyBrooksville is a city in Bracken County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city's population was 589. It is the county seat of Bracken County....
- GermantownGermantown, KentuckyGermantown is a city in Bracken and Mason Counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 190 at the 2000 census.The Bracken County portion of Germantown is part of the Cincinnati–Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Mason County portion is part of the...
- Foster
Education
- Augusta Independent SchoolsAugusta Independent SchoolsAugusta Independent Schools is a school district in Bracken County Kentucky, USA which was founded in 1887. This district's schools are among the smallest in the state with all grades PK-12 in one building.-External links:*...
in Augusta - Saint Augustine Elementary School in Augusta
- Bracken County Schools in Brooksville
Notable natives and residents
- Nick ClooneyNick ClooneyNicholas Joseph "Nick" Clooney is an American journalist, anchorman, and television host. He is the brother of the late singer Rosemary Clooney, and father of actor and film director George Clooney.-Early life:...
, a Cincinnati journalist and former newsanchor, and his wife Nina live in AugustaAugusta, KentuckyAugusta is a city in Bracken County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. As of the 2005 census, the city population was 2,004. When Bracken County was organized in 1796, Augusta was the county seat...
. - George ClooneyGeorge ClooneyGeorge Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
, their son and an actor, grew up in Augusta and went to high school there. - Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000Miss America 2000Miss America 2000, the 79th Miss America, pageant, was from on the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 18, 1999 on ABC Network.- Results :* Miss America 2000: Heather French * The runners-up were:...
, grew up in Augusta and still lives there. Heather and her husband, former Ky. Lt. Governor Steve Henry, are the curators of the Rosemary Clooney MuseumRosemary Clooney MuseumThe Rosemary Clooney Museum is located in a historic 1835 house, located on Riverside Drive, in Augusta, Kentucky. This is the house the late Rosemary Clooney called home for more than 20 years....
in Augusta. - Rosemary ClooneyRosemary ClooneyRosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
, singer and actress, lived in Augusta. Her most notable film was White ChristmasWhite Christmas (film)White Christmas is a 1954 Technicolor musical film starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular "White Christmas"...
.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bracken County, KentuckyNational Register of Historic Places listings in Bracken County, KentuckyThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bracken County, Kentucky. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Bracken County, Kentucky, United States...