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Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 33,337. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. Its county seat is Shelbyville. Shelby County is a prohibition or completely dry county.6.
Shelby County's motto is "Good Land, Good Living, Good People"
History
Founding families
One of the first families to settle in Shelby County was the Daniel Ketcham family of Washington County, Maryland who settled in 1784. Daniel Ketcham was a soldier during the American Revolution. The Ketchams had 9 children. John Ketcham, Daniel's eldest son, would eventually move to Indiana and become involved in politics and in laying the groundwork for the founding of Indiana University.Another family was the Thomas Mitchell family which moved to Shelby County in 1784. Thomas Mitchell was was born on December 16, 1777 a native of Augusta County, Virginia. He married Rebecca Ketcham, daughter of Daniel Ketcham. The couple then settled near the headwaters of South Fork Clear Creek (or Mulberry Creek). Mitchell was commissioned an ensign in the 18th Regiment of Militia and on January 4, 1801, Governor James Garrard commissioned him as captain in the 18th Regiment. Thomas Mitchell became a minister of the Methodist Church and served in the War of 1812. *
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 999 km² (386 mi²). 995 km² (384 mi²) of it is land and 4 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.38%) is water. Jeptha Knob in Shelby County is the highest point in the Louisville area.
Adjacent counties
- Henry County (north)
- Franklin County (east)
- Anderson County (southeast)
- Spencer County (southwest)
- Jefferson County (west)
- Oldham County (northwest)
Demographics
| '''Shelby County Population by year |
As of the census² of 2000, there were 33,337 people, 12,104 households, and 9,126 families residing in the county. The population density was 34/km² (87/mi²). There were 12,857 housing units at an average density of 13/km² (34/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.61% White, 8.83% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.39% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 4.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,104 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 31.40% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,534, and the median income for a family was $52,764. Males had a median income of $35,484 versus $25,492 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,195. About 6.50% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Resources
- "Excerpts from the Executive Journal of Governor James Garrod," Kentucky Historical Society Register, vol. 32, p. 133.
- Woodfill, Gabriel, "A Preacher of the Gospel," Marriage Bonds of Shelby County - 1792-1800, Kentucky Marriage Records: From the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Baltimore 1983, p. 693.
- Willis, George L. Sr., History of Shelby County Kentucky, Shelbyville 1929, p. 115.
See also
External links
"Shelby County, Kentucky"