Hancock County, Kentucky

County in Kentucky, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hancock County, Kentuckymap

Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,095.[1] Its county seat is in the city of Hawesville located in the Northern part of the county, and its largest city of Lewisport is located in the Northwestern part of the county.[2]

Quick Facts Country, State ...
Hancock County
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Hancock County courthouse in Hawesville, KY
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Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
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Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°50′N 86°47′W
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1829
Named afterJohn Hancock
SeatHawesville
Largest cityLewisport
Area
  Total
199 sq mi (520 km2)
  Land188 sq mi (490 km2)
  Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  5.6%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
9,095
  Estimate 
(2024)
9,013
  Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.hancockky.us
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Hancock County is included in the Owensboro, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The Hancock County Board of Education consists of 4 public school systems. Hancock County High School (HCHS), Hancock County Middle School (HCMS), South Hancock Elementary School, & North Hancock Elementary School (NHES). North Hancock Elementary School being the only one located in Lewisport. NHES replaced the previously outdated Lewisport Elementary School with a newly constructed $8,829,532 building.

History

Hancock County was formed in 1829 from portions of Breckinridge, Daviess, and Ohio counties.[3] The county is named for John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.[4][5]

The courthouse, the second to serve the county, was built in 1868 and renovated in 1978.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 199 square miles (520 km2), of which 188 square miles (490 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (5.6%) is water.[7] The northern border of the county lies along the Ohio River.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Summarize
Perspective
More information Census, Pop. ...
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18301,515
18402,58170.4%
18503,85349.3%
18606,21361.3%
18706,5916.1%
18808,56329.9%
18909,2147.6%
19008,914−3.3%
19108,512−4.5%
19206,945−18.4%
19306,147−11.5%
19406,80710.7%
19506,009−11.7%
19605,330−11.3%
19707,08032.8%
19807,7429.4%
19907,8641.6%
20008,3926.7%
20108,5652.1%
20209,0956.2%
2024 (est.)9,013[8]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2021[1]
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As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 8,392 people, 3,215 households, and 2,436 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 per square mile (17/km2). There were 3,600 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,215 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.40% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,914, and the median income for a family was $42,994. Males had a median income of $35,294 versus $23,574 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,623. About 11.40% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Incorporated

Unincorporated

Government and politics

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Perspective

Politics

More information Year, Republican ...
United States presidential election results for Hancock County, Kentucky[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 3,375 72.85% 1,173 25.32% 85 1.83%
2020 3,145 68.56% 1,351 29.45% 91 1.98%
2016 2,788 64.91% 1,244 28.96% 263 6.12%
2012 2,212 53.51% 1,833 44.34% 89 2.15%
2008 1,928 46.53% 2,135 51.52% 81 1.95%
2004 2,286 56.74% 1,709 42.42% 34 0.84%
2000 2,032 56.29% 1,508 41.77% 70 1.94%
1996 1,356 40.61% 1,547 46.33% 436 13.06%
1992 1,261 34.98% 1,714 47.55% 630 17.48%
1988 1,733 53.44% 1,478 45.58% 32 0.99%
1984 1,967 59.59% 1,287 38.99% 47 1.42%
1980 1,367 45.51% 1,530 50.93% 107 3.56%
1976 1,124 40.92% 1,562 56.86% 61 2.22%
1972 1,583 64.61% 791 32.29% 76 3.10%
1968 1,049 44.70% 867 36.94% 431 18.36%
1964 756 34.52% 1,423 64.98% 11 0.50%
1960 1,488 59.38% 1,018 40.62% 0 0.00%
1956 1,317 56.14% 1,022 43.56% 7 0.30%
1952 1,341 53.11% 1,177 46.61% 7 0.28%
1948 985 45.54% 1,146 52.98% 32 1.48%
1944 1,365 54.40% 1,129 45.00% 15 0.60%
1940 1,424 51.52% 1,338 48.41% 2 0.07%
1936 1,087 44.90% 1,317 54.40% 17 0.70%
1932 1,174 41.54% 1,623 57.43% 29 1.03%
1928 1,614 58.33% 1,151 41.60% 2 0.07%
1924 1,332 48.88% 1,323 48.55% 70 2.57%
1920 1,446 50.23% 1,384 48.07% 49 1.70%
1916 918 51.14% 833 46.41% 44 2.45%
1912 268 15.23% 757 43.01% 735 41.76%
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Unlike most fellow Southern counties, Hancock County has been a swing county for most of its history. No party had won the county more than three times in a row (aside from a brief Republican streak from 1916-1928), but the county has swung sharply to the right in the 21st century. The county gave Barack Obama a majority of the votes in 2008, but went back to Republican hands in 2012, and has continued to swing further right since, with Donald Trump becoming the first candidate in history to gain over 70% of the vote in 2024. Hancock County is still relatively swingy socially, having voted in favor of abortion[15] and legalizing medical marijuana.[16] Like most counties in Kentucky, Hancock County is much more competitive at the local level due to Kentucky's high number of conservative Democrats and Kentucky's previously Democratic history.

Government

Federal and State

More information U.S. House, Ky. Senate ...
Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[17][18]
U.S. House Brett Guthrie (R) KY 2
Ky. Senate Gary Boswell (R) 8
Ky. House Scott Lewis (R) 14
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Fiscal Court

More information Office, Name ...
Office[19][20] Name Party
  Magistrate District 1 Brent Wigginton Republican
  Magistrate District 2 Kasey Emmick Democratic
  Magistrate District 3 John Gray Republican
  Magistrate District 4 Gary Baker Republican
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County Office

More information Office, Name ...
Office[20] Name Party
  Judge/Executive Johnny Roberts, Jr. Republican
  County Attorney Paul Madden, Jr. Democratic
  Sheriff Dale Bozarth Democratic
  Jailer Roger Estes Democratic
  Circuit Court Clerk Mike Boling Democratic
  County Clerk Trina Ogle Democratic
  Property Value Administrator Karen Keown Republican
  Coroner David Gibson Republican
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References

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