Barren County, Kentucky Explained

County:Barren County
State:Kentucky
Founded Year:1798
Seat Wl:Glasgow
Largest City Wl:Glasgow
Area Total Sq Mi:500
Area Land Sq Mi:488
Area Water Sq Mi:12
Area Percentage:2.5%
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:44485
Pop Est As Of:2023
Population Est:45008
Density Sq Mi:87
Time Zone:Central
Web:https://barrencounty.ky.gov/
Named For:The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky
Ex Image:Barren County Kentucky courthouse 2.jpg
Ex Image Cap:Barren County Courthouse in Glasgow
District:2nd

Barren County is a county located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,485.[1] Its county seat is Glasgow.[2] The county was founded on December 20, 1798,[3] from parts of Warren and Green Counties. It was named for the Barrens, meadowlands that cover the northern third, though actually the soil is fertile.[4] [5] Barren County is part of the Glasgow, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY Combined Statistical Area. In 2007 Barren County was named the "Best Place to Live in Rural America" by Progressive Farmer Magazine.[6]

History

Barren County was established in 1798 from land taken from Green County and Warren County. Six courthouses have served the county throughout its history, the first built of logs.[7]

Barren County, like most of south-central Kentucky, was settled by the Scots-Irish, and still bears many cultural aspects that trace back to that heritage. The Scottish heritage is the most evident, as indicated, by the name of the county seat, which is named for Glasgow, Scotland, and is celebrated annually with the Glasgow Highland Games, one of three highland games held each year in Kentucky.

Barren was a prohibition or dry county, until voters overturned that in September 2016.[8] Prior to that, there were two exceptions:

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (2.5%) is water.[11]

Barren River Lake is located in the southern part of the county, forming part of its boundary with Allen County. Barren River Lake State Resort Park is located primarily within Barren County, along the lake's shoreline.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 38,033 people, 15,346 households, and 10,941 families residing in the county. The population density was 78/sqmi. There were 17,095 housing units at an average density of 35/sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 94.30% White, 4.09% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,346 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,240, and the median income for a family was $37,231. Males had a median income of $29,860 versus $21,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,816. About 11.80% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.30% of those under age 18 and 19.10% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Christianity is the predominant religion in the county. The Southern Baptist Convention is the leading Protestant denomination in terms of adherents, with Glasgow Baptist Church being the largest congregation in the county. Missionary Baptist, United Methodist, Free Methodist, Presbyterian (including Cumberland Presbyterian), Episcopalian, Disciples of Christ, Churches of Christ including non-institutional,[13] Assemblies of God, and numerous independent churches are located in the county, as well as two Roman Catholic parishes, an LDS ward, and a sizable Amish community.

Economy

Barren County is primarily rural in nature, with agriculture as the primary industry. Glasgow, the county seat, has numerous manufacturing facilities, and is also a medical and retail hub for the area. Cave City is also a popular lodging area for tourists visiting nearby Mammoth Cave National Park.

Politics

Like Kentucky and most of the counties in the State, the Democratic Party has the most registered voters; however the county hasn't voted for the Democratic presidential candidate since 1992—-and even then, it was by a margin of less than 2%. 51.57% of the voters are registered to the Democratic Party, and 41.73% are registered Republicans.

Voter registration

Barren County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of April 26, 2024[14]
Political PartyTotal VotersPercentage
Democraticalign = center 12,888align = center 40.08
Republicanalign = center 16,538align = center 51.44
Othersalign = center 1,178align = center 3.66
Independentalign = center 1,387align = center 4.31
Libertarianalign = center 130align = center 0.40
Greenalign = center 16align = center 0.05
Reformalign = center 2align = center 0.01
Constitutionalign = center 10align = center 0.03
Totalalign = center 32,153align = center 100%

Statewide elections

Previous gubernatorial elections results
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird parties
201958.15% 7,69339.91% 5,2801.94% 256
201557.40% 5,28938.72% 3,5683.88% 358
201138.22% 3,00356.31% 4,4255.47% 430
200747.41% 5,27952.59% 5,8560.00% 0
200356.53% 5,06543.47% 3,8950.00% 0
199917.33% 59875.83% 2,6166.84% 236
199545.38% 3,88254.62% 4,6720.00% 0

Education

The county is home to all or part of three school districts:

Transportation

Barren County is served by Interstate 65, which goes through the northwest part of the county, and the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway, a former toll road that was designated to be part of the future Interstate 66 corridor before that project was scrapped. U.S. Routes 31E, 31W, and 68 also pass through the county.

Railroad service is provided by CSX Transportation, whose former Louisville and Nashville Railroad main line passes through Cave City and Park City. The Glasgow Railway Company is a short line which owns a branch from Park City (which was formerly called Glasgow Junction) to Glasgow; the line is serviced via an operating lease by CSX.

Glasgow Transit operates deviated fixed-route bus service within Glasgow on weekdays.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Media

Economy

Barren County's industry includes these companies:

Cave City's main industry in Barren County's economy is tourism, thanks to its proximity to Mammoth Cave National Park, which is one of the top ten most visited attractions in Kentucky. A number of motels and restaurants are located at the interchange of Interstate 65 and state routes 70 and 90, which cater to tourists visiting the area or just passing through, thereby making Cave City, and much of northwest Barren County, a tourism hot-spot. The city operates a small convention center that is popular with church groups and other family-related organizations, mainly because of the area's lack of crime and abundance of tourist attractions. Cave City has long been a gateway to Mammoth Cave; in the era of passenger rail travel, trains of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad would discharge tourists there, who would then be shuttled to the cave. The agricultural industry is also a big factor in the area's economy. For more information, see the Barren County Economic Authority's website (www.BarrenCoEa.com).

Sites and events of interest

Events include, but are not limited to, the following:

Notable people

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State & County QuickFacts . July 6, 2022 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: Find a County . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . July 12, 2012 . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties.
  3. http://www.kyenc.org/entry/b/BARRE01.html Barren County
  4. Web site: July 4, 2008 . Barren County, Kentucky . https://web.archive.org/web/20080704174111/http://www.barrenco-ky.com/ . July 4, 2008.
  5. Book: The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1 . Kentucky State Historical Society . 1903 . 34.
  6. Web site: 2007 . Best Places to Live in Rural America 2007 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070223070207/http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/articles/01barren.html . February 23, 2007 . February 19, 2007 . The Progressive Farmer.
  7. Book: Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth . Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research . 1992 . Ancestry Publishing . 9780916489496 . 190 . July 26, 2013.
  8. Web site: Nie . Jacqueling . September 27, 2016 . Barren County votes to go wet . WBKO-TV.
  9. News: Kinslow . Gina . September 9, 2014 . Cave City liquor ordinance approved . September 23, 2014 . Glasgow Daily Times . Glasgow, KY.
  10. News: Dickerson, Brad . Neitzel, Stacy L. . November 7, 2007 . Liquor by the drink passes . dead . https://archive.today/20120911020137/http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_311011251.html . September 11, 2012 . February 7, 2008 . Glasgow (KY) Daily Times.
  11. Web site: August 22, 2012 . 2010 Census Gazetteer Files . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt . August 12, 2014 . August 13, 2014 . United States Census Bureau.
  12. Web site: U.S. Census website . January 31, 2008 . United States Census Bureau.
  13. Web site: Churches of Christ in the United States . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140814115822/https://www.21stcc.com/ccusa/lookup.cfm?state=KY&county=BARREN&state_link=KYBARREN . August 14, 2014 . June 9, 2012.
  14. Voter Registration Statistics Report . December 18, 2017 . Commonwealth of Kentucky - State Board of Elections . February 29, 2024.
  15. Web site: Home - Barren County School District . Barren County School District.
  16. Web site: 1996 . Glasgow Independent Schools map . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080410132033/http://www.revenue.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/13AB2876-DE30-4671-ADBD-2E01D2172D05/0/Barren_Glasgow_Ind.jpg . April 10, 2008 . February 7, 2008 . Kentucky Department of Revenue . PDF. As of 2008, Barren County High is still at the location indicated on the map (look in the southern part of the city, near the Cumberland Parkway). Although Barren County Middle is not listed on this map, it is located on the same street as the high school, as indicated at the official Barren County Schools website.
  17. Web site: 400 Mile Sale Across Kentucky Along Historic Hwy 68 . June 29, 2018 . www.400mile.com.
  18. Web site: August 1, 2019 . Glasgow woman on international stage .

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