Webster County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 37°31′N 87°41′W / 37.52°N 87.68°W / 37.52; -87.68
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Webster County
Webster County Courthouse in Dixon
Webster County Courthouse in Dixon
Map of Kentucky highlighting Webster County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°31′N 87°41′W / 37.52°N 87.68°W / 37.52; -87.68
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1860
Named forDaniel Webster
SeatDixon
Largest cityProvidence
Area
 • Total336 sq mi (870 km2)
 • Land332 sq mi (860 km2)
 • Water3.7 sq mi (10 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,017
 • Estimate 
(2023)
12,726 Decrease
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.webstercountyky.com

Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,017.[1] Its county seat is Dixon and its largest city is Providence.[2] It is the southernmost county in the Evansville, IN–KY Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county was formed in 1860 from parts of Henderson, Hopkins, and Union Counties[3] and named for American statesman Daniel Webster (1782–1852).[4] It was mainly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War and was the site of several skirmishes and some guerrilla warfare. Since 2018 it has been a moist county, with Providence and Sebree voting to allow alcohol sales,[5] and Clay doing so in 2022.[6]

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 336 square miles (870 km2), of which 332 square miles (860 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (1.1%) is water.[7] Webster County is part of the Western Coal Field region of Kentucky.

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
187010,937
188014,24630.3%
189017,19620.7%
190020,09716.9%
191020,9744.4%
192020,762−1.0%
193020,534−1.1%
194019,198−6.5%
195015,555−19.0%
196014,244−8.4%
197013,282−6.8%
198014,83211.7%
199013,955−5.9%
200014,1201.2%
201013,621−3.5%
202013,017−4.4%
2023 (est.)12,726[8]−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census of 2010, 5,272 households, and 3,716 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 per square mile (16/km2). There were 5,936 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.4% White, 4.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 4.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,272 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 19, 5.8% from 20 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. 49.7% of the population is male and 50.3% female.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,635, and the median income for a family was $49,580. Males employed full-time had a median income of $41,662 versus $26,502 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,879. About 11.9% of families and 16% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government officials[edit]

  • County Judge/Executive - Stephen "Steve" Henry
  • Providence Magistrate - Tony Felker
  • Sebree/Slaughters Magistrate - Bob Hardison
  • Dixon/Clay Magistrate - Chad Townsend
  • County Attorney - William Clint Prow
  • Coroner - Todd Vanover
  • Sheriff - William “Billy” Braden
  • Jailer - Morgan McKinley
  • County Surveyor - Keith Whitledge
  • Property Valuation Administrator - Jeffrey D. Kelley
  • County Clerk - Valerie Franklin Newell
  • Circuit Clerk - Janet Cole

National Association of Counties[13]

United States presidential election results for Webster County, Kentucky[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,506 75.19% 1,412 23.56% 75 1.25%
2016 4,397 75.75% 1,240 21.36% 168 2.89%
2012 3,607 65.94% 1,765 32.27% 98 1.79%
2008 3,037 54.82% 2,390 43.14% 113 2.04%
2004 3,207 57.82% 2,304 41.54% 36 0.65%
2000 2,599 51.24% 2,388 47.08% 85 1.68%
1996 1,568 30.73% 2,852 55.90% 682 13.37%
1992 1,408 24.85% 3,380 59.66% 877 15.48%
1988 2,159 41.50% 3,019 58.04% 24 0.46%
1984 2,504 44.87% 3,042 54.52% 34 0.61%
1980 1,939 35.03% 3,506 63.34% 90 1.63%
1976 1,402 28.21% 3,523 70.89% 45 0.91%
1972 2,396 57.57% 1,712 41.13% 54 1.30%
1968 1,446 29.48% 2,114 43.10% 1,345 27.42%
1964 1,217 24.52% 3,741 75.36% 6 0.12%
1960 2,498 44.00% 3,179 56.00% 0 0.00%
1956 1,948 37.08% 3,050 58.06% 255 4.85%
1952 1,858 34.50% 3,516 65.28% 12 0.22%
1948 1,087 23.93% 3,288 72.38% 168 3.70%
1944 1,840 35.46% 3,324 64.06% 25 0.48%
1940 2,107 33.33% 4,197 66.40% 17 0.27%
1936 1,983 29.20% 4,788 70.49% 21 0.31%
1932 2,257 31.62% 4,833 67.71% 48 0.67%
1928 3,527 49.49% 3,591 50.39% 9 0.13%
1924 3,131 47.08% 3,449 51.86% 71 1.07%
1920 3,554 42.23% 4,831 57.41% 30 0.36%
1916 2,082 43.35% 2,673 55.65% 48 1.00%
1912 905 22.47% 2,036 50.55% 1,087 26.99%

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Other unincorporated communities[edit]

Notable residents[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "KYGenWeb Project - Online Kentucky Genealogy Resources". www.kygenweb.net. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  4. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 37.
  5. ^ Hughes, Matt. "Providence, Sebree go wet". The Journal-Enterprise. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "Clay prepares for start of alcohol sales after wet-dry vote". Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). May 18, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  13. ^ "Data & Demographics". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2007.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018.

37°31′N 87°41′W / 37.52°N 87.68°W / 37.52; -87.68