Hart County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Hart County is a county located in the U.S. state
— or, more correctly, "Commonwealth
" — of Kentucky
. It was formed in 1819. , the population was 17,445. Its county seat
is Munfordville
. The county is named for Captain Nathaniel G. S. Hart
, a Kentucky militia officer
in the War of 1812
who was wounded at the Battle of Frenchtown
and died in the Massacre of the River Raisin. The Battle of Munfordville
, a Confederate
victory, was fought in the county in 1862, during the American Civil War
. Hart County is a prohibition or dry county
.
of 2000, there were 17,445 people, 6,769 households, and 4,812 families residing in the county. The population density
was 42 /sqmi. There were 8,045 housing units at an average density of 19 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 92.58% White
, 6.20% Black
or African American
, 0.22% Native American
, 0.11% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 6,769 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,378, and the median income for a family was $31,746. Males had a median income of $26,994 versus $19,418 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $13,495. About 18.60% of families and 22.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 22.00% of those age 65 or over.
and the cave for which it is named is located in western Hart County.
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...
— or, more correctly, "Commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States)
Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia....
" — 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 1819. , the population was 17,445. 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 Munfordville
Munfordville, Kentucky
Munfordville is a city in and the county seat of Hart County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,563 at the 2000 census.-History:The city was once known as Big Buffalo Crossing. The current name came from Richard Jones Munford, who donated the land for development in 1816...
. The county is named for Captain Nathaniel G. S. Hart
Nathaniel G. S. Hart
Nathaniel Gray Smith Hart , often Nathaniel G. S. Hart was a prominent Kentucky lawyer,, brother-in-law to Henry Clay and to Senator James Brown of Louisiana. Hart was the Captain of the Lexington Light Infantry during the War of 1812 and died along with most of his men in the River Raisin Massacre...
, a Kentucky militia officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
who was wounded at the Battle of Frenchtown
Battle of Frenchtown
The Battle of Frenchtown, also known as the Battle of the River Raisin or the River Raisin Massacre, was a series of conflicts that took place from January 18–23, 1813 during the War of 1812...
and died in the Massacre of the River Raisin. The Battle of Munfordville
Battle of Munfordville
The Battle of Munfordville was an engagement in Kentucky during the American Civil War. Victory there allowed the Confederates to temporarily strengthen their hold on the region and impair Union supply lines....
, a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
victory, was fought in the county in 1862, during 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...
. Hart County is a prohibition or dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 417.91 square miles (1,082.4 km²), of which 415.93 square miles (1,077.3 km²) (or 99.53%) is land and 1.98 square miles (5.1 km²) (or 0.47%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Hardin CountyHardin County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 94,174 people, 34,497 households, and 25,355 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 37,673 housing units at an average density of...
(north) - LaRue CountyLaRue County, KentuckyLaRue County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 13,373. Its county seat is Hodgenville...
(northeast) - Green CountyGreen County, KentuckyGreen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1793. As of 2000, the population was 11,518. Its county seat is Greensburg. The county is named for Nathanael Greene...
(east) - Metcalfe CountyMetcalfe County, KentuckyMetcalfe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 10,037. Its county seat is Edmonton. The county is named for Thomas Metcalfe, Governor of Kentucky from 1828-32...
(southeast) - Barren CountyBarren County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 38,033 people, 15,346 households, and 10,941 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 17,095 housing units at an average density of...
(south) - Edmonson CountyEdmonson County, KentuckyEdmonson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1826. As of 2007, the population was 11,978. It is included in the Bowling Green Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county seat is Brownsville...
(southwest) - Grayson CountyGrayson County, KentuckyGrayson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1810. As of 2000, the population was 24,053. Its county seat is Leitchfield. The county is named for William Grayson , a Revolutionary War colonel and a prominent Virginia political figure...
(northwest)
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 17,445 people, 6,769 households, and 4,812 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 42 /sqmi. There were 8,045 housing units at an average density of 19 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 92.58% 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...
, 6.20% 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...
, 0.22% 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...
, 0.11% 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...
, 0.03% 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...
, 0.18% 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 0.69% from two or more races. 0.86% 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 6,769 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% 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, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,378, and the median income for a family was $31,746. Males had a median income of $26,994 versus $19,418 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 $13,495. About 18.60% of families and 22.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 22.00% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- BonnievilleBonnieville, KentuckyBonnieville is a city in Hart County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 354 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bonnieville is located at ....
- HardyvilleHardyville, KentuckyHardyville is a small unincorporated community in Hart County, Kentucky, United States, located east of Munfordville on U.S. Route 31E. It was named in honor of a series of popular stump speeches given at the crossroads during the 1850s by local politician James Greene Hardy, Lieutenant Governor of...
- Horse CaveHorse Cave, KentuckyHorse Cave is a city in Hart County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,252 at the 2000 census.- History :The city is best known for the large natural cave opening located on the south side of Main Street, from which the town's name is derived. As for the historical reason for the odd...
- MunfordvilleMunfordville, KentuckyMunfordville is a city in and the county seat of Hart County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,563 at the 2000 census.-History:The city was once known as Big Buffalo Crossing. The current name came from Richard Jones Munford, who donated the land for development in 1816...
- Rowletts
- UnoUno, KentuckyUno is a small unincorporated community in Hart County, Kentucky, United States, located east and slightly north of Horse Cave on U.S. Route 31E. Its name is pronounced as "You know." This is in reference to the historical practice of the selling of moonshine whiskey during prohibition...
- Canmer
- Monroe
- Cub Run
- Priceville
- Legrande
Mammoth Cave National Park
A portion of Mammoth Cave National ParkMammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a U.S. National Park in central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. The park was established...
and the cave for which it is named is located in western Hart County.
See also
- Dry counties
- James Greene HardyJames Greene HardyJames Greene Hardy was a politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky who belonged to the American or Know-Nothing Party. Prior to being elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, he was a prominent surveyor and teacher for many years.-Early life and family:Hardy was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia...
Local politician of the 1850s, was Lt. Gov. of Kentucky. - National Register of Historic Places listings in Hart County, KentuckyNational Register of Historic Places listings in Hart County, KentuckyThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hart County, Kentucky. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Hart County, Kentucky, United States...