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Marshall County is located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 30,125. Its county seat is Benton6. The county is named for John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 to 1835. Until 2004, it was a prohibition or dry county, when residents of Calvert City voted to allow sales of liquor by the drink in restaurants. It is the only Purchase Region county to not border another state.
History
The county was formed in 1842 from part of Calloway County. The first settlement was around 1818, when the area was bought from Native Americans as part of the Jackson Purchase.
From its settlement until the 1930s, the county was nearly completely agricultural. The creation of Kentucky Lake by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1940s brought tourism and industry to the county with resorts along the lake and chemical and manufacturing plants, mostly in the Calvert City area, attracted by the dam's cheap and plentiful electricity. The creation of the lake led to the destruction of two Marshall County towns, Birmingham, about six miles north of the present hamlet of Fairdealing, and Gilbertsville, which was at the present dam site. Gilbertsville was rebuilt somewhat to the west of its original location. Birmingham residents were dispersed. Gilbertsville was an incorporated town until the 1970s, when its charter was dissolved by public vote.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 881 km² (340 mi²). 790 km² (305 mi²) of it is land and 92 km² (35 mi²) of it (10.41%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Livingston County (north, across the Tennessee River)
- Lyon County (northeast, across Kentucky Lake)
- Trigg County (east, across Kentucky Lake)
- Calloway County (south)
- Graves County (west)
- McCracken County (northwest)
Annual Events
On the first Monday of April each year, Benton holds its Tater Day celebration of the sweet potato with a festival and parade.
On the fourth Sunday of each May, The Big Singing, a sing-along program of Southern Harmony shape note gospel music is held at the county courthouse. It is the only remaining program of such music.
Demographics
| '''Marshall County Population by year |
As of the census² of 2000, there were 30,125 people, 12,412 households, and 8,998 families residing in the county. The population density was 38/km² (99/mi²). There were 14,730 housing units at an average density of 19/km² (48/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.57% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,412 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,573, and the median income for a family was $43,670. Males had a median income of $36,673 versus $21,941 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,069. About 6.60% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
See also
Resources
Books
- Big Singing Day in Benton, Kentucky: A Study of the History, Ethnic Identity and Musical Style of Southern Harmony Singers, by Deborah Carlton Loftis, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kentucky, 1987. Review
External links
- Marshall County roadside historical markers
- Marshall County schools
- Marshall County Public Library
- The Southern Harmony Online
Kentucky counties | Marshall County, Kentucky
Marshall County (Kentucky) | マーシャル郡 (ケンタッキー州) | Condado de Marshall (Kentucky)
"Marshall County, Kentucky"