Editing Pulaski County, Kentucky

{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Pulaski County
 | state                = Kentucky
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1798
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Somerset
 | largest city wl      = Somerset
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 677
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 658
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 19
 | area percentage      = 2.8
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 65034
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 66842 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | website              = {{URL|pulaskigov.com}}
 | named for            = [[Casimir Pulaski]]
 | district             = 5th
 | ex image             = Pulaski County Kentucky courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Pulaski County Courthouse
}}

'''Pulaski County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the U.S. [[Commonwealth of Kentucky]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 65,034.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pulaskicountykentucky/PST045221 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Somerset, Kentucky|Somerset]].<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 in December 1798 from land given by [[Lincoln County, Kentucky|Lincoln]] and [[Green County, Kentucky|Green]] Counties and named for Polish patriot [[Count]] [[Casimir Pulaski]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.kyenc.org/entry/p/PULAS01.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717123544/http://www.kyenc.org/entry/p/PULAS01.html | archive-date=2019-07-17 | title=Pulaski County}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luoxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36 |title=The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1 |publisher=Kentucky State Historical Society |year=1903 |pages=36}}</ref><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> Pulaski County comprises the Somerset, KY [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. Somerset's population is just over 11,000, but the Micropolitan Area for Somerset/Pulaski County is over 65,000.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|677|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|658|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|19|sqmi}} (2.8%) 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> It is the third-largest county by area in Kentucky.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Lincoln County, Kentucky|Lincoln County]] (north)
* [[Rockcastle County, Kentucky|Rockcastle County]] (northeast)
* [[Laurel County, Kentucky|Laurel County]] (east)
* [[McCreary County, Kentucky|McCreary County]] (southeast)
* [[Wayne County, Kentucky|Wayne County]] (southwest)
* [[Russell County, Kentucky|Russell County]] (west/CST Border)
* [[Casey County, Kentucky|Casey County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1800 = 3161
| 1810 = 6897
| 1820 = 7597
| 1830 = 9500
| 1840 = 9620
| 1850 = 14195
| 1860 = 17201
| 1870 = 17670
| 1880 = 21318
| 1890 = 25731
| 1900 = 31293
| 1910 = 35986
| 1920 = 34010
| 1930 = 35640
| 1940 = 39863
| 1950 = 38452
| 1960 = 34403
| 1970 = 35234
| 1980 = 45803
| 1990 = 49489
| 2000 = 56217
| 2010 = 63063
| 2020 = 65034
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 66842
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population 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<ref name="GR2">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> of 2000, there were 56,217 people, 22,719 households, and 16,334 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|85|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 27,181 housing units at an average density of {{convert|41|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.37% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.17% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 22,719 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,370, and the median income for a family was $32,350. Males had a median income of $27,398 versus $19,236 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,352. About 14.80% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.90% of those under age 18 and 16.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Pulaski County, Kentucky|whig=no|source1=<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/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|26,051|5,351|333|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|25,442|5,666|449|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|22,902|4,208|931|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|20,714|4,976|313|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|19,862|5,590|314|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|19,535|5,829|152|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|15,845|5,415|281|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|11,945|5,340|1,544|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|11,423|5,465|2,526|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|13,482|4,788|72|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,434|4,384|75|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,970|6,570|379|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|9,226|5,752|105|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,602|3,080|88|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|8,290|2,823|1,788|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|7,383|5,840|55|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|11,899|3,097|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,636|3,899|37|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,651|4,032|24|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|7,549|3,844|234|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|8,318|3,934|76|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,533|4,896|39|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|7,570|4,711|25|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|6,905|4,931|25|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|9,348|2,494|15|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,435|3,158|676|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|7,262|3,749|48|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|4,136|2,531|75|Kentucky}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|1,731|1,980|1,871|Kentucky}}
As is typical of the Unionist bloc of south-central Kentucky comprising the eastern [[Pennyroyal Plateau]] and the western part of the [[Eastern Kentucky Coalfield|Eastern Coalfield]], Pulaski County has been deep red Republican ever since the Civil War. The solitary Democrat to carry Pulaski County since that time has been Woodrow Wilson in 1912 {{emdash}} and Wilson did so only when the Republican Party was deadlocked between the conservative incumbent [[William Howard Taft|Taft]] and the progressive [[Theodore Roosevelt]]{{emdash}} Wilson took just 34.68 percent of the county's vote and won Pulaski only by 195 votes over Roosevelt and 249 over Taft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidential Election of 1912 – Map by Counties (.xlsx file for €15) |url=http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1912.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613185010/http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1912.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |publisher=Géoelections}}</ref>

With the exception of the cities of Burnside and Somerset, Pulaski County is a [[dry county]].

===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}}|[[Hal Rogers]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|5|B}}
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky Senate|Ky. Senate]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Rick Girdler]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 15th Senate district|15]]
|- 
!rowspan=5 |[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Ken Upchurch]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|52
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Josh Bray (politician)|Josh Bray]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|71
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[David Meade]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|80
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Josh Branscum]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|83
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Shane Baker]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|85
|}

==Education==

===K-12===
Three public school districts serve the county:
* [http://www.pulaski.net/ Pulaski County School District]
** The largest of the three districts, it serves the county outside the independent school districts of Somerset and Science Hill, with numerous elementary and middle schools feeding into Pulaski County High School and Southwestern Pulaski County High School.
* [http://www.somerset.k12.ky.us/ Somerset Independent School District]
** Serves the city of Somerset with an elementary school (Hopkins Elementary), a middle school (Meece Middle) and a high school (Somerset High).
* [http://www.science.k12.ky.us/ Science Hill Independent School District]
** Serves the city of Science Hill, with a single K-8 school. Students graduating from Science Hill can choose to attend either Pulaski County, Southwestern or Somerset High School.

There are also several private schools in the county, including Somerset Christian School.

===Colleges and universities===
[[Campbellsville University-Somerset, Noe Education Center]]
[https://www.campbellsville.edu/academics/regional-centers/somerset-noe-education-center/ Somerset] is a regional center for Campbellsville University located in Campbellsville, KY. The Somerset Noe Education Center offers a variety of degree and certificate programs. CU-Somerset prides itself on being flexible and affordable for students from across the nation.

[[Somerset Community College]] is one of 16 two-year, open-admissions colleges of the [[Kentucky Community and Technical College System]]. The college offers academic, general education, and technical curricula leading to certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees. The college's Somerset Campus is located on Monticello Street in Somerset, across the street from the [[Center for Rural Development]].

==Transportation==
Through Pulaski County run U.S. Highway South 27 from north to south and Highway East and West 80. Through the city limits of Somerset, Highway 27 stems into a three-lane road with u-turn and left turn options at each stoplight. Many food chains, local businesses and commerce centers are strewn along the highway, due to accessibility and consistent traffic throughout the area. Outside the Somerset city limits, the highway becomes a four-lane road until it becomes a two-lane highway through downtown Burnside just south of Somerset.

Intersecting these highways are many junctions and bypasses that have been paved in order to allow quick and easy traffic flow through the county, revolving around the circumscribed [[Kentucky Route 914]] around the outskirts of Somerset, in which transporters can enter through or exit from the city from any direction easily. These series of roads mimic the infrastructure of larger cities such as [[Interstate 465]] in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]] and [[New Circle Road]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky]]. Many of these roads were paved in the 2000s. Despite the grand area of the county, the accessibility from one end to the other is smooth and expedited.

[[Lake Cumberland Regional Airport]] is located in Pulaski County, on the southern end of Somerset's US 27 business district. The airport is owned by the city of Somerset and Pulaski County. It also serves the area around Lake Cumberland. It is mostly used for general aviation, and from late 2008 until February 2010, was served by one commercial airline, Locair. Currently, the $3 million federally funded passenger terminal is not in use.

The airport was renamed in 2008; it was formerly known as Somerset-Pulaski County Airport or J.T. Wilson Field.[3]

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Burnside, Kentucky|Burnside]]
* [[Eubank, Kentucky|Eubank]]
* [[Ferguson, Kentucky|Ferguson]]
* [[Science Hill, Kentucky|Science Hill]]
* [[Somerset, Kentucky|Somerset]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Acorn, Kentucky|Acorn]]
* [[Alcalde, Kentucky|Alcalde]]
* [[Antioch, Pulaski County, Kentucky|Antioch]]
* [[Bandy, Kentucky|Bandy]]
* [[Barneburg, Kentucky|Barnesburg]]
* [[Bee Lick, Kentucky|Bee Lick]]
* [[Blue John, Kentucky|Blue John]]
* [[Bronston, Kentucky|Bronston]]
* [[Burnetta, Kentucky|Burnetta]]
* [[Cains Store, Kentucky|Cains Store]]
* [[Clarence, Kentucky|Clarence]]
* [[Coin, Kentucky|Coin]]
* [[Dabney, Kentucky|Dabney]]
* [[Delmer, Kentucky|Delmer]]
* [[Elihu, Kentucky|Elihu]]
* [[Estesburg, Kentucky|Estesburg]]
* [[Etna, Kentucky|Etna]]
* [[Faubush, Kentucky|Faubush]]
* [[Goochtown, Kentucky|Goochtown]]
* [[Hargis, Kentucky|Hargis]]
* [[Haynes Knob, Kentucky|Haynes Knob]]
* [[Ingle, Kentucky|Ingle]]
* [[Jacksonville, Kentucky|Jacksonville]]
* [[Keno, Kentucky|Keno]]
* [[King Bee, Kentucky|King Bee]]
* [[Mangum, Kentucky|Mangum]]
* [[Meece, Kentucky|Meece]]
* [[Mount Victory, Kentucky|Mount Victory]]
* [[Nancy, Kentucky|Nancy]]
* [[Norfleet, Kentucky|Norfleet]]
* [[Norwood, Kentucky|Norwood]]
* [[Oak Hill, Kentucky|Oak Hill]]
* [[Omega, Kentucky|Omega]]
* [[Pointer, Kentucky|Pointer]]
* [[Public, Kentucky|Public]]
* [[Pulaski, Kentucky|Pulaski]]
* [[Ringgold, Kentucky|Ringgold]]
* [[Shafter, Kentucky|Shafter]]
* [[Shopville, Kentucky|Shopville]]
* [[Slate Branch, Kentucky|Slate Branch]]
* [[Sloans Valley, Kentucky|Sloans Valley]]
* [[Squib, Kentucky|Squib]]
* [[Stab, Kentucky|Stab]]
* [[Tateville, Kentucky|Tateville]]
* [[Valley Oak, Kentucky|Valley Oak]]
* [[Welborn, Kentucky|Welborn]]
* [[White Lilly, Kentucky|White Lilly]]
* [[Woodstock, Pulaski County, Kentucky|Woodstock]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable residents==
* [[Harriette Arnow|Harriette Simpson Arnow]] (1908–1986), author of Eastern Kentucky novels and histories. She and her husband Harold Arnow farmed near Burnside in the late 1930s and early 1940s.<ref>*[http://www.arnow.org/ky.html The Arnow Farm, Keno, Kentucky, in pictures then and now]</ref>
* [[Silas Adams]], (1839–1896), born in Pulaski County, lawyer and member of the [[United States House of Representatives]]<ref name="Marquis 1607–1896">{{Cite book |title=Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 |publisher=Marquis Who's Who |year=1963 |location=Chicago}}</ref>
* [[John Sherman Cooper]], (1901–1991), born in Pulaski County. Lawyer, member [[Kentucky House of Representatives]], Pulaski County Judge, United Nations delegate, member [[United States Senate]], U.S. Ambassador to India and Nepal, first U.S. Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic (i.e. East Germany), member [[Warren Commission]].
* [[Jack Daws]], (1970–), born in Pulaski County. Conceptual artist.
* [[Daniel Dutton]], (1959–), born in Pulaski County. Contemporary artist, musician, and story teller.
* [[Vermont Garrison]], (1915–1994), career [[United States Air Force]] officer and "[[Flying ace|triple ace]]"
* [[Jack I. Gregory]], (1931–) is a former general in the United States Air Force and the former commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces.
* [[Reggie Hanson]], (1968–), former [[NBA]] player for the [[Boston Celtics]]
* [[Free Frank McWorter]], (1777–1854), enslaved resident of Pulaski country, managed a [[saltpeter]] mine so effectively that he bought freedom for himself and his family, and emigrated to [[Illinois]].
* Rose Will Monroe, or [[Rosie the Riveter]], (1920–1997) born in Pulaski County and moved to Michigan during World War II, where she helped build B-24s and B-29s for the war effort.
* [[Edwin P. Morrow]], (1877–1935), Kentucky Governor, 1919–1923.
* [[Venus Ramey]], (1924–2017), Miss America, 1944
* [[Lloyd B. Ramsey]], (1918–2016), Major General [[United States Army]], Commander [[23rd Infantry Division (United States)]] (1969–1970), [[United States Army Provost Marshal General]] (1970–1974)
* [[Hal Rogers]], (1937–), U.S. Congressman from Kentucky
* [[Brent Woods]], (1855–1906), Sergeant, United States Army, Medal of Honor recipient.

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Pulaski County, Kentucky]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://pcgovt.com/ Pulaski County official website]
* [http://www.somersetpulaskichamber.com Somerset-Pulaski Co. Chamber of Commerce]

{{Pulaski County, Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|37.06|-84.35|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:enwiki}}

[[Category:Pulaski County, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties]]
[[Category:1798 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1798]]