LaRue County, Kentucky


LaRue County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky, outside the Bluegrass Region and larger centers of population. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,193. Its county seat is Hodgenville, a city best known as the birthplace of United States President Abraham Lincoln. The county was formed on March 4, 1843 from portions of Hardin County and named after John LaRue, an early settler.
LaRue County is included in the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Louisville/Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Bardstown, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area.
LaRue is a prohibition or dry county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Adjacent counties

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,373 people, 5,275 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile. There were 5,860 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 94.65% White, 3.54% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,275 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% 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 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 24.00% 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 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,056, and the median income for a family was $37,786. Males had a median income of $30,907 versus $20,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,865. 15.40% of the population and 12.60% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 18.90% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.

Communities

Cities

The county sponsors the annual Lincoln Days celebration, which takes place on the first full weekend of each October. The festival is Friday through Sunday. Highlights include the Lincoln Look-A-Like contests, rail-splitting competitions, a parade at noon on Saturday, shopping booths and concerts by local talent.

Politics