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McLean County, Kentucky
McLean County Courthouse Kentucky
McLean County Courthouse in Calhoun
Map of Kentucky highlighting McLean County
Location in the state of Kentucky
Map of the U.S
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded 1854
Named for Alney McLean
Seat Calhoun
Largest city Livermore
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

256 sq mi (663 km²)
252 sq mi (653 km²)
3.8 sq mi (10 km²), 1.5
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

9,152 decrease
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website http://www.mcleancounty.ky.gov/

McLean County ( /məˈkln/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,152.[1] Its county seat is Calhoun.[2] McLean is a prohibition or dry county. McLean County is part of the Owensboro, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of some 114,752 (2010 census).

History[]

McLean County was formed by act of the Kentucky legislature on February 6, 1854, from portions of surrounding Daviess, Ohio, and Muhlenberg Counties. The county was named for Judge Alney McLean, founder of Greenville, the county seat of Muhlenberg County.[3][4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 256 square miles (660 km2), of which 252 square miles (650 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (1.5%) is water.[5]

Features[]

McLean County is part of the Western Coal Fields region of Kentucky.

The county is transected southeast to northwest by Green River, the longest river entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Bridge crossings of Green River are at Calhoun, Livermore, east of Island, and west of Beech Grove. Green River is navigable throughout McLean County, with Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam #2 at Calhoun assisting boat navigation.

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1860 6,144
1870 7,614 23.9%
1880 9,293 22.1%
1890 9,887 6.4%
1900 12,448 25.9%
1910 13,241 6.4%
1920 12,502 −5.6%
1930 11,072 −11.4%
1940 11,446 3.4%
1950 10,021 −12.4%
1960 9,355 −6.6%
1970 9,062 −3.1%
1980 10,090 11.3%
1990 9,628 −4.6%
2000 9,938 3.2%
2010 9,531 −4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 9,938 people, 3,984 households, and 2,880 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 per square mile (15 /km2). There were 4,392 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.58% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,984 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,675, and the median income for a family was $35,322. Males had a median income of $28,446 versus $19,432 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,046. About 13.70% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.10% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

McLean County has a county-wide public school district of some 1,300 students with one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools.

McLean County High School has approximately 400 students. Its first graduating class was 1973. McLean County Middle School has roughly 350 students. In the 2006–2007 school year, McLean County Middle School ranked third in final year testing and second in public schools to Hancock County. Both schools are located just east of Calhoun on Highway 136 and have the cougar as mascots.

Additionally, the county school system has three grade K-5 elementary schools in the towns of Calhoun, Livermore and Sacramento. Elementary schools in the towns of Beech Grove and Island were closed years ago. The Calhoun and Livermore elementaries have about 250 and 200 students respectively, while Sacramento Elementary has around 100 students. Calhoun Elementary School's mascot is the bulldog, Livermore Elementary School's mascot is the yellow jacket, Sacramento Elementary School's mascot is the blue jay, Island Elementary School's mascot was the eagle, and Beech Grove Elementary School's mascot was the gorilla. Sacramento's future was at stake at one time, but the school was renamed as Marie Gatton Phillips Elementary School and remains active.

At any time, between 350 and 400 county residents are enrolled in higher education of some form.

Media[]

McLean County is served by a weekly newspaper, the McLean County News.

In terms of radio and television, McLean County is part of the Owensboro, Kentucky radio market and the Evansville, Indiana television market. Spectrum Cable, a unit of Charter Communications, is the county's cable television provider.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Calhoun, population 837, sits on the north bank of Green River in the central area of the county and is the seat of government.
  • Island is noted for its annual Wooden Bridge Festival and has a population of 435.
  • Livermore, the largest community in McLean County with a population 1,482, lies in the eastern part of the county at the scenic confluence of Rough and Green Rivers. Livermore's bridge is noteworthy, as it begins in McLean County, crosses the Rough River, passes over and has a pylon on a sliver of Ohio County territory, crosses the Green River, then ends back in McLean County.
  • Sacramento is home to the annual Battle of Sacramento Civil War Reenactment, the largest tourist event in the county, and has a population of 517.

Census-designated place[]

  • Beech Grove

Other unincorporated communities[]

North McLean[]

  • Buel
  • Cleopatra
  • Comer
  • Congleton
  • Elba
  • Glenville
  • Guffie
  • Lemon
  • Livia (partially in Daviess County)
  • Nuckols
  • Poverty
  • Rangers Landing
  • Wrightsburg
  • Wyman

South McLean[]

  • Buttonsberry
  • Poplar Grove
  • Rumsey
  • Semiway
  • Station
  • Underwood

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for McLean County, Kentucky[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,633 75.97% 1,074 22.46% 75 1.57%
2016 3,381 74.05% 988 21.64% 197 4.31%
2012 2,705 64.40% 1,432 34.10% 63 1.50%
2008 2,386 53.96% 1,963 44.39% 73 1.65%
2004 2,584 58.26% 1,823 41.10% 28 0.63%
2000 2,219 55.17% 1,747 43.44% 56 1.39%
1996 1,368 38.05% 1,834 51.02% 393 10.93%
1992 1,355 32.82% 2,223 53.84% 551 13.34%
1988 1,829 44.49% 2,269 55.19% 13 0.32%
1984 1,942 50.03% 1,917 49.38% 23 0.59%
1980 1,497 40.35% 2,147 57.87% 66 1.78%
1976 1,212 33.73% 2,346 65.29% 35 0.97%
1972 2,298 65.10% 1,191 33.74% 41 1.16%
1968 1,372 35.73% 1,373 35.76% 1,095 28.52%
1964 1,173 31.24% 2,576 68.60% 6 0.16%
1960 2,269 56.94% 1,716 43.06% 0 0.00%
1956 1,886 48.73% 1,965 50.78% 19 0.49%
1952 1,791 47.60% 1,961 52.11% 11 0.29%
1948 1,112 33.41% 2,104 63.22% 112 3.37%
1944 1,752 43.83% 2,222 55.59% 23 0.58%
1940 1,698 38.44% 2,709 61.33% 10 0.23%
1936 1,338 34.49% 2,496 64.35% 45 1.16%
1932 1,412 33.43% 2,771 65.60% 41 0.97%
1928 2,408 58.07% 1,728 41.67% 11 0.27%
1924 1,857 43.61% 2,284 53.64% 117 2.75%
1920 2,408 46.12% 2,754 52.75% 59 1.13%
1916 1,439 46.52% 1,589 51.37% 65 2.10%
1912 822 31.40% 1,304 49.81% 492 18.79%
1908 1,319 45.94% 1,430 49.81% 122 4.25%
1904 1,163 43.75% 1,336 50.26% 159 5.98%
1900 1,344 46.81% 1,463 50.96% 64 2.23%
1896 935 38.97% 1,389 57.90% 75 3.13%
1892 534 28.93% 869 47.07% 443 24.00%
1888 742 42.09% 972 55.13% 49 2.78%
1884 472 34.83% 818 60.37% 65 4.80%
1880 337 23.50% 755 52.65% 342 23.85%



See also[]

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

Coordinates: 37°32′N 87°16′W / 37.53, -87.26

References[]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: McLean County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. https://data.census.gov/profile/McLean_County,_Kentucky?g=0500000US21149. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ. 
  4. ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 596. https://books.google.com/books?id=F5FQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA596. 
  5. ^ "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. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt. 
  9. ^ "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. 
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/21/21149.html. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at McLean 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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