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Coordinates: 38°11′N 83°25′W / 38.19°N 83.42°W / 38.19; -83.42
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Trimmed section; this is covered in detail in the Kim Davis article
Undid revision 695005999 by Magnolia677 (talk) The Davis issue is a part of the history of Rowan County, and should be included. Photos included here are not found on the Davis page.
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In 1854, Morehead became the third community to be settled in the area.<ref name="thompson">{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=George E.|title=You Live Where?: Interesting and unusual facts about where we live|publisher=iUniverse|year=2009|page=236|isbn=978-1440134210}}</ref> Colonel John Hargis founded the city after purchasing land in the county, naming it after governor [[James Turner Morehead (Kentucky)|James Morehead]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Pearce|first=John Ed|title=Days of Darkness: The Feuds of Eastern Kentucky|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|year=2010|isbn=978-0813126579}}</ref> Rowan County came into existence in May 1856, seceding from [[Morgan County, Kentucky|Morgan County]] and [[Fleming County, Kentucky|Fleming County]]. It was divided into four districts with Morehead being declared the county seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentuckystewarts.com/RowanCounty/RowanCountyHistory.htm|title=Early history of Rowan County as taken from the records of the first established womens club here|publisher=The Rowan County News|date=30 April 1936|accessdate=26 February 2015}}</ref> In 1896, a tax was levied on Morehead, sourcing it with the revenue needed to construct hard surface roads. The road system was extended to Farmers by 1920.<ref name="farmers"/>
In 1854, Morehead became the third community to be settled in the area.<ref name="thompson">{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=George E.|title=You Live Where?: Interesting and unusual facts about where we live|publisher=iUniverse|year=2009|page=236|isbn=978-1440134210}}</ref> Colonel John Hargis founded the city after purchasing land in the county, naming it after governor [[James Turner Morehead (Kentucky)|James Morehead]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Pearce|first=John Ed|title=Days of Darkness: The Feuds of Eastern Kentucky|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|year=2010|isbn=978-0813126579}}</ref> Rowan County came into existence in May 1856, seceding from [[Morgan County, Kentucky|Morgan County]] and [[Fleming County, Kentucky|Fleming County]]. It was divided into four districts with Morehead being declared the county seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentuckystewarts.com/RowanCounty/RowanCountyHistory.htm|title=Early history of Rowan County as taken from the records of the first established womens club here|publisher=The Rowan County News|date=30 April 1936|accessdate=26 February 2015}}</ref> In 1896, a tax was levied on Morehead, sourcing it with the revenue needed to construct hard surface roads. The road system was extended to Farmers by 1920.<ref name="farmers"/>


[[File:Lovebelltower.jpg|thumbnail|left|David Ermold and David Moore at the Little Bell Tower on the campus of Morehead State Universtiy where they were married in October 2015.]]
In the summer of 2015, Rowan County attracted national attention when County Clerk [[Kim Davis (county clerk)|Kim Davis]] refused, on grounds of religion, to follow a court order requiring her to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/us/same-sex-marriage-kentucky-kim-davis.html?_r=0|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=September 1, 2015|date=September 1, 2015|title=Kentucky Clerk Denies Same-Sex Marriage Licenses, Defying Court}}</ref> The [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky]] and The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit]] ruled that she must issue the licenses. [[Supreme Court of the United States|The U.S. Supreme Court]] declined to hear the matter. After she was denied a religious exemption, Davis began denying licenses to all couples, heterosexuals included.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lidgett|first1=Adam|title=Kim Davis Jailed, Found In Contempt Of Court: Kentucky Clerk Who Denied Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Taken Into Custody|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/kim-davis-jailed-found-contempt-court-kentucky-clerk-who-denied-same-sex-marriage-2081463|accessdate=9/5/2015|agency=International Business Times}}</ref> She was jailed by U.S. District Court Judge [[David L. Bunning]] on contempt of court charges until she either complies or is removed from office by the legislature by impeachment.<ref name="Graham">{{cite web | url=http://www.wtvq.com/2015/09/03/court-adjourned-kim-davis-jailed-for-contempt-of-court/ | title=Court adjourned: Kim Davis jailed for contempt of court | work=[[ABC News]] | date=September 3, 2015 | accessdate=September 3, 2015 | author=Graham, Alexandria}}</ref><ref name="Ortiz">{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kentucky-clerk-kim-davis-held-contempt-court-n421126 | title=Kim Davis, Kentucky Clerk Blocking Gay Marriages, Held in Contempt | work=[[NBC News]] | date=September 3, 2015 | accessdate=September 3, 2015 | author=Ortiz, Erik}}</ref> She was released five days later and has stated she will not interfere; the licenses are now being validly issued, including to same-sex couples, by her deputies, without her involvement or signature, under the mandate of the judge.
In the summer of 2015, Rowan County attracted national attention when David Ermold and David Moore released [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU3yCvJWtDU video footage] of Rowan County Clerk, [[Kim Davis (county clerk)|Kim Davis]] refusing them a marriage license on grounds of religious authority.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU3yCvJWtDU</ref> After the Supreme Court ruling striking down Kentucky's ban on same-sex marriage, six couples, four represented by the ACLU, and two couples with separate legal representation, sued Davis in her official capacity as County Clerk.<ref>https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/8694432/Ermold_et_al_v_Davis_et_al</ref> <ref>https://dockets.justia.com/docket/kentucky/kyedce/0:2015cv00044/78171</ref>The [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky]] and The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit]] ruled that she must issue the licenses. [[Supreme Court of the United States|The U.S. Supreme Court]] declined to hear the matter. After she was denied a religious exemption, Davis began denying licenses to all couples, heterosexuals included.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lidgett|first1=Adam|title=Kim Davis Jailed, Found In Contempt Of Court: Kentucky Clerk Who Denied Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Taken Into Custody|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/kim-davis-jailed-found-contempt-court-kentucky-clerk-who-denied-same-sex-marriage-2081463|accessdate=9/5/2015|agency=International Business Times}}</ref> She was jailed by U.S. District Court Judge [[David L. Bunning]] on contempt of court charges until she either complies or is removed from office by the legislature by impeachment.<ref name="Graham">{{cite web | url=http://www.wtvq.com/2015/09/03/court-adjourned-kim-davis-jailed-for-contempt-of-court/ | title=Court adjourned: Kim Davis jailed for contempt of court | work=[[ABC News]] | date=September 3, 2015 | accessdate=September 3, 2015 | author=Graham, Alexandria}}</ref><ref name="Ortiz">{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kentucky-clerk-kim-davis-held-contempt-court-n421126 | title=Kim Davis, Kentucky Clerk Blocking Gay Marriages, Held in Contempt | work=[[NBC News]] | date=September 3, 2015 | accessdate=September 3, 2015 | author=Ortiz, Erik}}</ref> She was released five days later and has stated she will not interfere. However, immediately after Davis' release from jail, she confiscated the marriage license forms being issued by the deputy clerks, and instructed them to use forms devoid of their title and indication of their issuance from the Rowan County Clerk's office.<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/kim-davis-altered-marriage-licenses-375866</ref>. Then Governor, Steve Beshear, was asked by federal court judge, David Bunning, to brief the court on the validity of the licenses. Governor Beshear acknowledged that Kentucky would recognize the licenses being issued, but he could not verify the legality of the licenses issued or the means in which the marriage licenses were altered.<ref>http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article45066093.html</ref><ref>http://www.newsweek.com/kim-davis-altered-marriage-licenses-375866</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==

Revision as of 03:16, 13 December 2015

Rowan County
County
Rowan County Arts Center (formerly Rowan County Courthouse) in Morehead
Rowan County Arts Center (formerly Rowan County Courthouse) in Morehead
Map of Kentucky highlighting Rowan County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°11′N 83°25′W / 38.19°N 83.42°W / 38.19; -83.42
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1856
Named forJohn Rowan
SeatMorehead
Largest cityMorehead
Area
 • Total286 sq mi (740 km2)
 • Land280 sq mi (700 km2)
 • Water6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  2.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total23,333
 • Density83/sq mi (32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.moreheadrowan.org
/rowancounty

Rowan County (/ˈr[invalid input: 'ow'].[invalid input: 'i-']n/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,333.[1] Its county seat is Morehead.[2] The county was created in 1856 from parts of Fleming and Morgan counties, and named after John Rowan, who represented Kentucky in the U.S. House and Senate.[3]

With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is classified as a moist county—a county in which alcohol sales are prohibited (a dry county), but containing a "wet" city, in this case Morehead, where package alcohol sales are allowed.[4]

History

The town of Morehead in 1890

It is believed that Rowan County was first explored in 1773 by a party of surveyors from Pennsylvania. The first settlement was established in Farmers, a town 10 miles west of Morehead. Its population rapidly increased due its fertile farming land and proximity to water sources. Additional settlers came to Rowan County from Virginia in the late 18th century after being awarded land grants at the end of the American Revolutionary War. Clearfield was the second settlement established in the county, being colonized by a Virginia aristocrat named Dixon Clack in the early 1800s. It accommodated the first sawmill in the county.[5]

In 1854, Morehead became the third community to be settled in the area.[6] Colonel John Hargis founded the city after purchasing land in the county, naming it after governor James Morehead.[7] Rowan County came into existence in May 1856, seceding from Morgan County and Fleming County. It was divided into four districts with Morehead being declared the county seat.[8] In 1896, a tax was levied on Morehead, sourcing it with the revenue needed to construct hard surface roads. The road system was extended to Farmers by 1920.[5]

David Ermold and David Moore at the Little Bell Tower on the campus of Morehead State Universtiy where they were married in October 2015.

In the summer of 2015, Rowan County attracted national attention when David Ermold and David Moore released video footage of Rowan County Clerk, Kim Davis refusing them a marriage license on grounds of religious authority.[9] After the Supreme Court ruling striking down Kentucky's ban on same-sex marriage, six couples, four represented by the ACLU, and two couples with separate legal representation, sued Davis in her official capacity as County Clerk.[10] [11]The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that she must issue the licenses. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the matter. After she was denied a religious exemption, Davis began denying licenses to all couples, heterosexuals included.[12] She was jailed by U.S. District Court Judge David L. Bunning on contempt of court charges until she either complies or is removed from office by the legislature by impeachment.[13][14] She was released five days later and has stated she will not interfere. However, immediately after Davis' release from jail, she confiscated the marriage license forms being issued by the deputy clerks, and instructed them to use forms devoid of their title and indication of their issuance from the Rowan County Clerk's office.[15]. Then Governor, Steve Beshear, was asked by federal court judge, David Bunning, to brief the court on the validity of the licenses. Governor Beshear acknowledged that Kentucky would recognize the licenses being issued, but he could not verify the legality of the licenses issued or the means in which the marriage licenses were altered.[16][17]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km2), of which 280 square miles (730 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (2.3%) is water.[18] Its highest point is "Limestone Knob" at about 1,409 feet (429 m) above mean sea level.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,282—
18702,99131.1%
18804,42047.8%
18906,12938.7%
19008,27735.0%
19109,43814.0%
19209,4670.3%
193010,89315.1%
194012,73416.9%
195012,708−0.2%
196012,8080.8%
197017,01032.8%
198019,04912.0%
199020,3536.8%
200022,0948.6%
201023,3335.6%
2014 (est.)23,655[19]1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1790–1960[21] 1900–1990[22]
1990–2000[23] 2010–2013[1]

As of the census[24] of 2010, there were 23,333 people, and 7,956 households residing in the county. The population density was 83.4 per square mile (32.2/km2). There were 10,102 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, and 1.0% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,956 households out of which 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.20% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 20.30% under the age of 18, 23.50% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. Both the unusually large portion of the population in the 18-to-24 range and the relatively low median age are mainly because of the presence of Morehead State University. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,081. Males had a median income of $26,777 versus $20,104 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,888. About 15.90% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 16.20% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2014, the county had 14,263 registered voters.[25] Of these, 9,394 were Democrats, 3,929 were Republicans, and 626 listed themselves as members of other parties.[25]

Media

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 36.
  4. ^ "Wet & Dry Counties in Kentucky" (PDF). Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Farmers Once Industrial Center Of Rowan County". The Morehead News. 2 February 1977. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  6. ^ Thompson, George E. (2009). You Live Where?: Interesting and unusual facts about where we live. iUniverse. p. 236. ISBN 978-1440134210.
  7. ^ Pearce, John Ed (2010). Days of Darkness: The Feuds of Eastern Kentucky. The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0813126579.
  8. ^ "Early history of Rowan County as taken from the records of the first established womens club here". The Rowan County News. 30 April 1936. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  9. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU3yCvJWtDU
  10. ^ https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/8694432/Ermold_et_al_v_Davis_et_al
  11. ^ https://dockets.justia.com/docket/kentucky/kyedce/0:2015cv00044/78171
  12. ^ Lidgett, Adam. "Kim Davis Jailed, Found In Contempt Of Court: Kentucky Clerk Who Denied Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Taken Into Custody". International Business Times. Retrieved 9/5/2015. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ Graham, Alexandria (September 3, 2015). "Court adjourned: Kim Davis jailed for contempt of court". ABC News. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  14. ^ Ortiz, Erik (September 3, 2015). "Kim Davis, Kentucky Clerk Blocking Gay Marriages, Held in Contempt". NBC News. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  15. ^ http://www.newsweek.com/kim-davis-altered-marriage-licenses-375866
  16. ^ http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article45066093.html
  17. ^ http://www.newsweek.com/kim-davis-altered-marriage-licenses-375866
  18. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  19. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  20. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  21. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  22. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  23. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  24. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  25. ^ a b "Voter turnout expected to be high". Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. October 31, 2014.

http://abc.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/AA731626-9F43-4213-91BD-60F6FFBD451B/0/WetDryMap082008.pdf

38°11′N 83°25′W / 38.19°N 83.42°W / 38.19; -83.42

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