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Greenup County, Kentucky
Greenup County, Kentucky courthouse
Greenup County courthouse in Greenup
Map of Kentucky highlighting Greenup County
Location in the state of Kentucky
Map of the U.S
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1803
Named for Christopher Greenup
Seat Greenup
Largest city Flatwoods
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

354 sq mi (917 km²)
344 sq mi (891 km²)
10 sq mi (26 km²), 2.8
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

35,962
104/sq mi (40/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website http://greenupcounty.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Greenup County is a county located along the Ohio River in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,962.[1] The county was founded in 1803 and named in honor of Christopher Greenup.[2] Its county seat is Greenup.[3] Greenup County is part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

Located with its northern border formed by the Ohio River, Greenup County was organized by an act of the General Assembly of Kentucky on December 12, 1803, from Mason County, which included the majority of eastern Kentucky at the time.

Three courthouses have served Greenup County.[4] The first courthouse, built of logs, was replaced by a brick structure in 1811.[5]

Law and government[]

The current officials of Greenup County are:[6]

  • County Judge/Executive: Robert W. Carpenter
  • County Commissioner: Tony Quillen
  • County Commissioner: Ernest Duty
  • County Commissioner: Andrew Imel
  • County Attorney: Michael Wilson
  • County Coroner: L. Neil Wright
  • County Jailer: Mike Worthington
  • County Treasurer: Sharon Bates
  • County Sheriff: Matt Smith
  • County Surveyor: Anthony Keibler
  • Property Valuation Administrator: Bobby Hall
  • County Clerk: Patricia Hieneman
  • Circuit Court Clerk: Allen Reed

Greenup County is a part of the 20th Judicial Circuit (general jurisdiction) and the 20th Judicial District (limited jurisdiction) of the Kentucky Court of Justice (the state's unified court system), which includes neighboring Lewis County. The officials in the 20th Judicial Circuit are:[7][8]

  • Circuit Court, Division 1 (General/Felony Division): Brian C. McCloud[9]
  • Circuit Court, Division 2 (Family Court Division): Jeffrey L. Preston
  • Commonwealth's Attorney (felony prosecutor): Melvin C. Leonhart

The judge in the 20th Judicial District is:

  • District Court: Paul E. Craft[10]

Misdemeanor criminal cases brought in District Court are prosecuted by the County Attorney's office.

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 354 square miles (920 km2), of which 344 square miles (890 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (2.8%) is water.[11]

Features[]

Like most eastern Kentucky counties, Greenup County is predominantly made up of rolling hills and valleys. The land in the Ohio River valley is generally flat and mostly populated by industry, commerce and residential development. Beyond this the land gives way to a series of hills and valleys that are representative of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is relatively sparsely inhabited by farmers. Among these hills, popular fishing spots can be found among the Little Sandy River, Greenbo Lake, and Tygarts Creek. Greenup County's land is still predominantly covered by forest with minimal clear cutting of the old forests.

The soil has long supported a healthy agriculture and livestock industry. Traditionally, this has meant a sizeable tobacco base and cattle ranching. Since the late 20th century, as traditional agriculture products have been dominated by industrial-scale agri-corporations, growth has been seen in non-traditional products such as American Quarter Horses, ostriches, and marijuana.

Major highways[]

US23KYSR10AAHWY

A view of the intersection of U.S. 23, KY 10, & Ohio SR 253 just after crossing the Jesse Stuart Memorial Bridge in Greenup

U.S. Highway 23 is the primary route for travel through Greenup County. It enters Greenup County at the southeasternmost point and follows the Ohio River north along the eastern border passing through Russell, Flatwoods, Raceland, Wurtland, Greenup and South Shore. It then exits just west of South Shore crossing the Ohio River via the U.S. Grant Bridge into Portsmouth, Ohio and continuing north towards Columbus, Ohio.

The AA Highway begins at U.S. Highway 23 and connects to U.S. Highway 52 in Ohio via the Jesse Stuart Memorial Bridge. The AA Highway (also known as Route 10) runs west intersecting Route 7 and eventually exiting west into Lewis County. Since its completion in 1995, the AA Highway has allowed Northeastern Kentucky residents to more easily travel to Maysville, Kentucky as well as Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio.

The northern terminus of the Industrial Parkway (Kentucky Route 67) ends at U.S. Highway 23 at Wurtland. This highway serves to connect Wurtland and the surrounding towns of Greenup, Flatwoods and the unincorporated area of Argillite to the EastPark industrial park and Interstate 64 in Carter County.

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1810 2,369
1820 4,311 82.0%
1830 5,852 35.7%
1840 6,297 7.6%
1850 9,654 53.3%
1860 8,760 −9.3%
1870 11,463 30.9%
1880 13,371 16.6%
1890 11,911 −10.9%
1900 15,432 29.6%
1910 18,475 19.7%
1920 20,062 8.6%
1930 24,554 22.4%
1940 24,971 1.7%
1950 24,887 −0.3%
1960 29,238 17.5%
1970 33,192 13.5%
1980 39,132 17.9%
1990 36,742 −6.1%
2000 36,891 0.4%
2010 36,910 0.1%
Est. 2021 35,649 [12] −3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 36,891 people, 14,536 households, and 11,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 per square mile (41 /km2). There were 15,977 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile (18 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.07% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,536 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.30% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,142, and the median income for a family was $38,928. Males had a median income of $35,475 versus $21,198 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,137. About 11.60% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Greenup County, Kentucky[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 13,064 71.88% 4,873 26.81% 239 1.31%
2016 11,546 70.93% 4,146 25.47% 585 3.59%
2012 8,855 58.38% 6,027 39.73% 286 1.89%
2008 8,849 56.01% 6,621 41.91% 328 2.08%
2004 8,696 52.91% 7,630 46.43% 109 0.66%
2000 7,233 49.33% 7,164 48.86% 266 1.81%
1996 5,370 38.48% 6,883 49.32% 1,703 12.20%
1992 4,975 34.52% 7,214 50.05% 2,225 15.44%
1988 6,559 48.38% 6,956 51.31% 43 0.32%
1984 7,451 51.52% 6,923 47.87% 88 0.61%
1980 6,857 48.04% 7,126 49.92% 292 2.05%
1976 5,062 42.14% 6,880 57.27% 71 0.59%
1972 6,828 59.70% 4,491 39.27% 118 1.03%
1968 4,698 43.68% 4,689 43.60% 1,368 12.72%
1964 4,045 37.58% 6,680 62.06% 39 0.36%
1960 6,101 53.77% 5,245 46.23% 0 0.00%
1956 5,464 51.85% 5,045 47.87% 29 0.28%
1952 4,354 47.96% 4,716 51.95% 8 0.09%
1948 3,168 42.48% 4,186 56.13% 104 1.39%
1944 3,718 49.30% 3,821 50.66% 3 0.04%
1940 4,059 45.99% 4,742 53.73% 24 0.27%
1936 3,973 45.88% 4,686 54.12% 0 0.00%
1932 3,422 40.30% 4,963 58.44% 107 1.26%
1928 4,410 64.43% 2,435 35.57% 0 0.00%
1924 2,510 47.30% 1,932 36.41% 864 16.28%
1920 3,111 52.17% 2,754 46.18% 98 1.64%
1916 1,821 48.37% 1,820 48.34% 124 3.29%
1912 923 28.60% 1,172 36.32% 1,132 35.08%
1908 2,142 57.30% 1,441 38.55% 155 4.15%
1904 2,005 62.02% 1,112 34.40% 116 3.59%
1900 1,982 57.45% 1,430 41.45% 38 1.10%
1896 1,802 55.65% 1,369 42.28% 67 2.07%
1892 1,143 49.91% 1,109 48.43% 38 1.66%
1888 1,360 52.35% 1,236 47.58% 2 0.08%
1884 1,192 54.23% 994 45.22% 12 0.55%
1880 925 45.54% 723 35.60% 383 18.86%



Education[]

Public school districts[]

  • Greenup County School District serves the cities of Greenup, Wurtland, South Shore and rural Greenup County.
  • Russell Independent School District serves the cities of Russell, Flatwoods and Bellefonte.
  • Raceland-Worthington Independent School District serves the cities of Raceland and Worthington.

Places of interest[]

  • EastPark
  • Greenbo Lake State Resort Park
  • Raceland Race Course

Alcohol sales[]

Greenup County is a moist county, meaning that sale of alcohol in the county is prohibited except in certain areas as voted on by the residents of the area, including at least one area where full retail sales are permitted. In the case of Greenup County, alcohol sales are permitted in the following areas:

  • The city of Russell has allowed the full retail sale of alcohol since 2014 after allowing, since 2008, by the drink alcohol sales at restaurants which seat at least 100 diners and derive at least 70% of their total sales from food.[19]
  • The cities of Greenup, Raceland and South Shore allow full retail sale of alcohol after voters approved local option petitions in 2020.[20]
  • The city of Bellefonte has allowed the full retail sale of alcohol since 2017 after allowing, since 2009, the Bellefonte Country Club to sell alcohol by the drink under a provision that allows voters of an otherwise dry precinct to allow alcohol sales at a specific, voter approved, USGA regulation golf course.[21] The status change had no practical effect within the city itself as restaurants (other than the Bellefonte Country Club), gas stations, grocery stores and other businesses that generally sell alcohol are, by local ordinance, prohibited within the city limits of Bellefonte. The change in status allowed the Bellefonte Country Club to receive a "caterer's license" to serve alcohol by the drink at private offsite events, which was not permitted under the previous alcohol status.[22]
  • The Hunnewell election precinct in unincorporated Greenup County approved a petition in 2020 allowing the River Bend Golf Course to sell alcohol by the drink under a provision that allows voters of an otherwise dry precinct to allow alcohol sales at a specific, voter approved, USGA regulation golf course.[23]

The sale of alcohol is prohibited in the cities of Flatwoods, Worthington, Wurtland and in all areas of unincorporated Greenup County outside the River Bend Golf Course.

Communities[]

  • Bellefonte
  • Flatwoods
  • Greenup (county seat)
  • Lloyd
  • Raceland
  • Russell
  • South Portsmouth
  • South Shore
  • Worthington
  • Wurtland

Notable people[]

  • Billy Ray Cyrus – singer/actor, son of Ron Cyrus and father of Miley Cyrus
  • Ron Cyrus – politician
  • Don GullettMajor League Baseball pitcher
  • Herb Roe – mural artist
  • John StephensonMajor League Baseball Catcher
  • Jesse Stuart – Kentucky Poet Laureate
  • Clint "Hawk" Thomas – baseball player for the New York Black Yankees of the Negro leagues
  • Richard Whitt - Newspaper journalist, (The Courier-Journal), 1978 Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Southgate, Kentucky.[24][25][26]

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Greenup County, Kentucky

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greenupcountykentucky/PST045221. 
  2. ^ "Archived copy". http://www.kyenc.org/entry/g/GREEN06.html. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. pp. 243. ISBN 9780916489496. https://books.google.com/books?id=hAVlVS29NKIC&q=%22bell+county%22+1914+1918+1976&pg=PA243. 
  5. ^ Federal Writers' Project (1996). The WPA Guide to Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 234. ISBN 0813108659. https://books.google.com/books?id=IuGCoLRCN-kC&pg=PA234. 
  6. ^ "Greenup County Elected Officials". Greenup Country Fiscal Court. https://www.greenupcountyky.gov/elected-officials. 
  7. ^ Kentucky Court of Justice
  8. ^ Office of the Attorney General - Commonwealth's and County Attorneys
  9. ^ It’s official: McCloud Circuit Judge
  10. ^ A new Craft: Longtime attorney takes oath as District Judge
  11. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt. 
  12. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt. 
  16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  19. ^ Russell goes wet for packaged sales.
  20. ^ Three Greenup Co. cities vote yes for alcohol sales.
  21. ^ Wet and Dry Counties in Kentucky as of 2/2020
  22. ^ Bellefonte to consider wet vote.
  23. ^ Three Greenup Co. cities vote yes for alcohol sales.
  24. ^ "The 1978 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Local General or Spot News Reporting : Richard Whitt of Louisville Courier-Journal". The Pulitzer Prizes — Columbia University. http://www.pulitzer.org/winners/richard-whitt. 
  25. ^ "Editorial: Richard E. Whitt a reporter who helped change world". The Daily Independent. April 19, 2015. http://www.dailyindependent.com/opinion/editorial-richard-e-whitt-a-reporter-who-helped-change-world/article_ab6115bc-e514-11e4-b579-03bd35c244cf.html. 
  26. ^ "Richard Whitt, 'redneck journalist,' 64". Institute for Rural Journalism & Community Issues, University of Kentucky. http://www.uky.edu/CommInfoStudies/IRJCI/RichWhitt.htm. 

External links[]

Template:Eastern Mountain Coal Fields (Kentucky)

Coordinates: 38°32′N 82°55′W / 38.54, -82.92


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Greenup County, Kentucky. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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