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Campbell County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 38°57′N 84°23′W / 38.95°N 84.38°W / 38.95; -84.38
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Campbell County
County
The Campbell County Courthouse in Newport, Kentucky
The Campbell County Courthouse in Newport, Kentucky
Map of Kentucky highlighting Campbell 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°57′N 84°23′W / 38.95°N 84.38°W / 38.95; -84.38
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1795
Named forColonel John Campbell (1735–1799), Revolutionary War soldier.
SeatAlexandria
Largest city[[Fort Thomas, Kentucky|Fort Thomas]]
Area
 • Total159.43 sq mi (412.9 km2)
 • Land151.55 sq mi (392.5 km2)
 • Water7.87 sq mi (20.4 km2)  4.94%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total90,336
 • Density585/sq mi (226/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Websitewww.campbellcounty.ky.gov

Campbell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed on December 17, 1794, from sections of Scott, Harrison and Mason counties.[1] As of 2010, the population was 90,336. [2] Its county seats are Alexandria and Newport.[3] The county is named for Colonel John Campbell (1735–1799), Revolutionary War soldier. It is part of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area.

History

Campbell County was founded December 17, 1794, two years after the creation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, becoming the state's 19th county. Campbell County was carved out of Scott, Harrison and Mason counties. The original county included all of present Boone, Kenton, Pendleton, and most of Bracken and Grant counties. Campbell County is named in honor of John Campbell, an Irish immigrant who was a soldier, explorer, statesman and one of the drafters of the Kentucky Constitution.

County seat

Wilmington, a pioneer settlement, was the original county seat of Campbell County from 1794 until 1797.

Newport was the county seat of Campbell County, Kentucky from 1797 until 1823.

The county seat was moved to Visalia in 1823, as it was the geographical center of the county at that time, but this was an unpopular move, as the overwhelming majority of residents live in northern Campbell County.

The county seat was moved back to Newport in 1824, and remained in Newport until 1840.

In 1840, Kenton County, Kentucky was created, primarily out of a significant portion of Campbell County. That same year, a new Kentucky law forced the county to move the county seat from Newport to Alexandria, along with all of the county offices that are legislatively tied to the county seat. The county, having a population primarily in its northern section, did not want the seat in Alexandria.

In 1883, after years of lobbying, Kentucky created a special section of law, allowing Campbell County to form a Court House District. This allowed the county to conduct county business in Newport, in addition to its legal requirement to conduct business in Alexandria.

The special Courthouse Commission legislation has led to a misconception that Newport is still a county seat, and that Campbell County was dual-seated. However, a recent court ruling clarified that, indeed, Alexandria is the only county seat, and Newport is not a county seat.[3] It explained that "In 1840, pursuant to an act of the Kentucky Legislature, the county seat, then located at Newport, was established at Alexandria. No evidence has been presented to this court that this formal designation of Alexandria as the county seat of Campbell County has ever changed. Evidence provided by the Defendants that Newport is considered a county seat or one of two county seats by historians, encyclopedias and government agencies is based upon practical realities of how county government and the court system have functioned, pursuant to law, in Campbell County for the past 150 years. However, none of the special acts related to the Newport Court House District ever designated Newport as the county seat."

However, a state court ruled on November 24, 2010, that both Alexandria and Newport are county seats after all.[1]

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 159.43 square miles (412.9 km2), of which 151.55 square miles (392.5 km2) (or 95.06%) is land and 7.87 square miles (20.4 km2) (or 4.94%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18001,903—
18103,47382.5%
18207,022102.2%
18309,88340.7%
18405,214−47.2%
185013,127151.8%
186020,90959.3%
187027,40631.1%
188037,44036.6%
189044,20818.1%
190054,22322.7%
191059,3699.5%
192061,8684.2%
193073,39118.6%
194071,918−2.0%
195076,1965.9%
196086,80313.9%
197088,7042.2%
198083,317−6.1%
199083,8660.7%
200088,6165.7%
201090,3361.9%

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 88,616 people, 34,742 households, and 23,103 families residing in the county. The population density was 585 per square mile (226/km2). There were 36,898 housing units at an average density of 244 per square mile (94/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.64% White, 1.57% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. This number has decreased to about 0.2% based on a 2006 Census Estimate by the United States Census Bureau.

There were 34,742 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09.

The age distribution was 25.60% under 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,903, and the median income for a family was $51,481. Males had a median income of $37,931 versus $27,646 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,637. About 7.30% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Campbell County Courthouse and county historical marker in Alexandria, Kentucky

Major Roads

These are the major highway routes through Campbell County:

Interstate 275 Interstate 471 U.S. Highway 27 KY 8 KY 9

Schools

There are 7 school districts in Campbell County (6 Public and 1 Private). Students in the county attend one of 6 public and 2 parochial high schools. Northern Kentucky University located in Highland Heights provides the area with access to higher education.

Public High Schools

Private High Schools

See also

References

  1. ^ Campbell County Kentucky GenWeb
  2. ^ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/21/21037.html
  3. ^ a b Judge: Alexandria the only county seat, The Kentucky Enquirer, 2009-05-12. Accessed 2009-05-28.
  4. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.

38°57′N 84°23′W / 38.95°N 84.38°W / 38.95; -84.38

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