Barren County, Kentucky

Barren County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°58′N 85°56′W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1799
Named for	The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky.
Seat	Glasgow
Area
• Total	500 sq mi (1,295 km2)
• Land	491 sq mi (1,272 km2)
• Water	9 sq mi (23 km2)  1.79%
Population  (2000)
• Total	38,033
• Density	78/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Website	www.barrencounty.com

For the progressive bluegrass album see Barren County (album)

Barren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1799. As of 2000, the population was 38,033. Its county seat is Glasgow, Kentucky.

In 2007 Barren County was named the "Best Place to Live in Rural America" by Progressive Farmer Magazine.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 500 square miles (1,295 km²), of which, 491 square miles (1,272 km²) of it is land and 9 square miles (23 km²) of it (1.79%) is water.

Barren River Lake is located in the southern part of the county, forming part of its boundary with Allen County. Barren River Lake State Resort Park is located primarily within Barren County, along the lake's shoreline.

Adjacent counties

• Hart County (north)
• Metcalfe County (east)
• Monroe County (southeast)
• Allen County (southwest)
• Warren County (west)
• Edmonson County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	4,784		—
1810	11,286		135.9%
1820	10,328		−8.5%
1830	15,079		46.0%
1840	17,288		14.6%
1850	20,240		17.1%
1860	16,665		−17.7%
1870	17,780		6.7%
1880	22,321		25.5%
1890	21,490		−3.7%
1900	23,197		7.9%
1910	25,293		9.0%
1920	25,356		0.2%
1930	25,844		1.9%
1940	27,559		6.6%
1950	28,461		3.3%
1960	28,303		−0.6%
1970	28,677		1.3%
1980	34,009		18.6%
1990	34,001		0.0%
2000	38,033		11.9%
2006 (est.)	40,737
http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21009.txt

As of the census² of 2000, there were 38,033 people, 15,346 households, and 10,941 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 17,095 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.30% White, 4.09% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,346 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% 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 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,240, and the median income for a family was $37,231. Males had a median income of $29,860 versus $21,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,816. About 11.80% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.30% of those under age 18 and 19.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Cave City
• Eighty Eight
• Glasgow, county seat
• Hiseville
• Park City

Culture

Barren County is primarily rural in nature, with agriculture as the primary industry. Glasgow, the county seat, has numerous manufacturing facilities, and is also a medical and retail hub for the area. Cave City is also a popular lodging area for tourists visiting nearby Mammoth Cave National Park.

Barren County, like most of south central Kentucky, was settled by the Scots-Irish, and still bears many cultural aspects that trace back to that heritage. The Scottish heritage is the most evident, as indicated by the name of the county seat, which is named for Glasgow, Scotland, and is celebrated annually with the Glasgow Highland Games, one of three highland games held each year in Kentucky.

The county is home to all or part of three school districts:

• Most of the county is served by the Barren County Schools, which includes Barren County High School and Middle School in Glasgow, and several elementary schools throughout the county, many of which were formerly also high schools before they were consolidated into Barren County High in the early 1970s.
• The Glasgow Independent Schools serve the city of Glasgow proper, with small areas of overlap outside the city limits. The district includes Glasgow High School, Glasgow Middle School and two elementary schools. In addition, the Glasgow and Caverna (see below) districts jointly operate an alternative school for "at-risk" children in middle and high school located in the Glasgow district. Note also that Barren County High and Middle Schools, although operated by the county district, are actually located within the boundaries of the Glasgow district.
• The Caverna Independent Schools take in Cave City and surrounding northwest Barren County, as well as Horse Cave and the southwest corner of neighboring Hart County. It is served by Caverna High School and Caverna Elementary School, located just inside Barren County between Cave City and Horse Cave. The district is one of only a handful in the United States which is located in more than one county. Interestingly, one of the other districts with this distinction is in Kentucky—specifically the Corbin Independent School District, serving a single city split by a county line.

Christianity is the predominant religion in the county. The Southern Baptist Convention is the leading Protestant denomination in terms of adherents, with Glasgow Baptist Church being the largest congregation in the county. Missionary Baptist, United Methodist, Free Methodist, Presbyterian (including Cumberland Presbyterian), Episcopalian, Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ, Assemblies of God, and numerous independent churches are located in the county, as well as two Roman Catholic parishes and a sizable Amish community. No known Jewish, Muslim or other religions are known to have houses of worship within the county.

Barren is a prohibition or dry county, with the exception of Cave City, which voted in 2005 to become "moist" (selling only liquor by the drink in restaurants of a certain minimum size and which derive 70% or more of their revenue from food), and Glasgow, which approved liquor by the drink under the same restrictions on November 6, 2007, after three previous elections to allow full alcohol sales in the city being soundly defeated. (Bowling Green, just to the west, offers full liquor sales.)

Transportation

Barren County is served by Interstate 65, which goes through the northwest part of the county, and the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway, a former toll road that is designated to be part of the future Interstate 66 corridor. U.S. Route 31E, 31W and 68 also pass through the county.

Railroad service is provided by CSX Transportation, whose former Louisville and Nashville Railroad main line passes through Cave City and Park City. The Glasgow Railway Company is a short line which owns a branch from Park City (which was formerly called Glasgow Junction) to Glasgow; the line is serviced via an operating lease by CSX.