Editing Pendleton County, Kentucky

{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Pendleton County
 | state                = Kentucky
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1798
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Falmouth
 | largest city wl      = Falmouth
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 282
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 277
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 4.8
 | area percentage      = 1.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 14644
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 14844 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = pendletoncounty.ky.gov
 | named for            = [[Edmund Pendleton]]
 | ex image             = Pendleton County, Kentucky Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Pendleton County courthouse in Falmouth
 | district             = 4th
}}

'''Pendleton County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kentucky]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 14,644.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pendletoncountykentucky/PST045221 |access-date=February 26, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Falmouth, Kentucky|Falmouth]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]]}}</ref> The county was founded December 13, 1798.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PENDLETON COUNTY |url=http://www.kyenc.org/entry/p/PENDL01.html |website=kyenc.org}}</ref>
Pendleton County is included in the [[Cincinnati metropolitan area|Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Pendleton County was created from parts of [[Campbell County, Kentucky|Campbell]] and [[Bracken County, Kentucky|Bracken]] counties in 1798.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Collins, Lewis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZFQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA26 |title=Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2 |publisher=Collins & Company |year=1882 |pages=26}}</ref> The county was named after [[Edmund Pendleton]], a longtime member of the [[Virginia House of Burgesses]], the [[Continental Congress]] and chief justice of [[Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neighborhood History: Pendleton County |url=http://www.mypendleton.com/index.php?pageId=270797 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216021532/http://mypendleton.com/index.php?pageId=270797 |archive-date=February 16, 2006 |publisher=mypendleton.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ |title=The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1 |publisher=Kentucky State Historical Society |year=1903 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ/page/n36 36]}}</ref>

Falmouth, the future county seat, began as a settlement called Forks of Licking, {{circa}} 1776.<ref name="Hellmann, 248">Hellmann, 248.</ref>

Falmouth was chartered in 1793. Its name originated from the Virginians who settled there from Falmouth, Virginia.<ref>Lewis Collins, ''Historical Sketches of Kentucky'', (Maysville, KY: Lewis Collins, 1848): 494.</ref> It was also in 1793 that one of the first sawmills in Kentucky was built in Falmouth.<ref name="Hellmann, 248" /> Falmouth was designated the county seat in 1799.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find A County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/NACo_FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804201755/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/NACo_FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=August 4, 2010 |website=National Association of Counties (NACo)}}</ref> The county courthouse was erected in 1848.<ref name="Hellmann, 248" />

During the [[American Civil War]], the county sent men to both armies. A [[Union Army]] recruiting camp was established in Falmouth in September 1861. Two [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] recruiters were captured and executed by the Union Army in the Peach Grove area of northern Pendleton County. In July 1862, a number of county citizens were rounded up by Union troops during a crackdown against suspected Confederate sympathizers. In June 1863, a number of women were arrested at Demossville because they were believed to be potential spies dangerous to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal government]]. Falmouth was the site of a small skirmish on September 18, 1862, between twenty-eight Confederates and eleven Home Guardsmen.

The city of Butler was established {{circa}} 1852 when the Kentucky Central Railroad was built through the area. The city was named for [[William O. Butler]], U.S. [[congressman]] from the area, when it was incorporated on February 1, 1868.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|282|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|277|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.8|sqmi}} (1.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The county's northeastern border with [[Ohio]] is formed by the [[Ohio River]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Kenton County, Kentucky|Kenton County]]  (northwest)
* [[Campbell County, Kentucky|Campbell County]]  (north)
* [[Clermont County, Ohio]]  (northeast)
* [[Bracken County, Kentucky|Bracken County]]  (east)
* [[Harrison County, Kentucky|Harrison County]]  (south)
* [[Grant County, Kentucky|Grant County]]  (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1800 = 1613
| 1810 = 3061
| 1820 = 3086
| 1830 = 3863
| 1840 = 4455
| 1850 = 6774
| 1860 = 10443
| 1870 = 14030
| 1880 = 16702
| 1890 = 16346
| 1900 = 14947
| 1910 = 11985
| 1920 = 11719
| 1930 = 10876
| 1940 = 10392
| 1950 = 9610
| 1960 = 9968
| 1970 = 9949
| 1980 = 10989
| 1990 = 12036
| 2000 = 14390
| 2010 = 14877
| 2020 = 14644
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 14844
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident PopulaAtion for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 14,390 people, 5,170 households, and 3,970 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|51|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 5,756 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.39% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.49% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.35% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 5,170 households, out of which 39.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 20.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,125, and the median income for a family was $42,589. Males had a median income of $31,885 versus $23,234 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,551. About 9.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Pendleton County High School, just north of Falmouth, is the public high school. It currently is home to fewer than 1,000 students. The mascot for PCHS is the Wildcat, and the school colors are red, black and white. The school features two gyms and a 450-seat auditorium.

Other schools in the county are Sharp Middle School, named for Phillip Allen Sharp, American geneticist and molecular biologist and winner of the [[Nobel Prize]] in Physiology or Medicine (1993) and National Medal of Science (2004), located between Falmouth and Butler, Northern Elementary in Butler, and Southern Elementary in Falmouth.

===Library===
Pendleton County Public Library is located at 801 Robbins Avenue, Falmouth. The library provides public access computers with high speed internet and free wifi. The library also offers copying, a fax service, and a public meeting room that can be reserved.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Pendleton County, Kentucky|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=July 5, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,593|1,210|97|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,515|1,322|88|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,604|1,164|239|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,556|1,859|119|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,676|2,027|99|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,045|1,940|40|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,044|1,670|89|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,177|1,926|509|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,810|1,740|1,119|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,487|1,576|28|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,767|1,529|44|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,757|1,992|117|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,230|2,147|50|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,966|909|47|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,614|1,156|763|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,313|2,495|7|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,387|1,497|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,273|1,889|12|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,993|1,895|4|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,373|1,958|86|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,977|2,096|17|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,029|2,165|14|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,837|2,432|42|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,812|2,745|63|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,196|1,567|5|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,148|2,028|145|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,105|2,598|49|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,206|1,728|39|Kentucky}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|746|1,310|445|Kentucky}}

===Elected officials===
{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Elected officials as of January 3, 2025'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>
|- 
! scope=row|[[U.S. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Thomas Massie]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|4|B}}
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky Senate|Ky. Senate]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Shelley Funke Frommeyer]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 24th Senate district|24]]
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Mark Hart (politician)|Mark Hart]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|78
|}

==Culture==
Pendleton County is home to The Kentucky Wool Festival, Griffin Center Amphitheater, and Kincaid Regional Theatre.

* [[Phillip Allen Sharp]], who earned the [[Nobel Prize]] for work that fundamentally changed scientists' understanding of the structure of [[gene]]s, is a native of Falmouth.
* [[J. M. Lelen]] was pastor of St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Falmouth for many years in the first half of the 20th century.
* [[Beth Broderick]], actress on ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'' was born in Falmouth. 
* [[Nate Jones (baseball)|Nate Jones]], was drafted in the 5th round, 179th overall, by the [[Chicago White Sox]] in the 2007 MLB Draft. He also played for the [[Cincinnati Reds]], the [[Atlanta Braves]], and the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] before retiring. 
* [[Samuel Thomas Hauser]], born in Falmouth, was the first resident to become territorial governor of Montana and the seventh territorial governor to that date
*[[John Merritt (American football)|John Merritt]] coached at Jackson State University from 1953 to 1962 and then at Tennessee State from 1962 through the remainder of his coaching career.

==Communities==

=== Cities ===
* [[Butler, Kentucky|Butler]]
* [[Falmouth, Kentucky|Falmouth]] (county seat)

=== Unincorporated community ===
* [[DeMossville, Kentucky|DeMossville]]

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Bethel Cemetery and Church]], a historic frame church 5 miles north of Falmouth
* [[Fryer House]], an 1811 stone house, home of the Pendleton County Historical Society
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Pendleton County, Kentucky]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://pendletoncounty.ky.gov/ }}
* Pendleton County Historical Images and Documents: [http://www.nkyviews.com Northern Kentucky Views]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~kypendl2 Pendleton County Genealogy - a KYGenWeb site]

{{Pendleton County, Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|38.69|-84.36|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Pendleton County, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:1798 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1798]]