Editing Webster County, Kentucky

{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}}
{{Other uses|Webster County (disambiguation){{!}}Webster County}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Webster County
 | state                = Kentucky
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1860
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Dixon
 | largest city         = [[Providence, Webster County, Kentucky|Providence]]
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 336
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 332
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.7
 | area percentage      = 1.1
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 13017
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 12854 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | named for            = [[Daniel Webster]]
 | ex image             = Webster County Courthouse Kentucky.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Webster County Courthouse in Dixon
 | web                  = www.webstercountyky.com
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Webster 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 13,017.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/webstercountykentucky/PST045221 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Dixon, Kentucky|Dixon]] and its largest city is [[Providence, Kentucky|Providence]].<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> It is the southernmost county in the [[Evansville, Indiana|Evansville]], [[Indiana|IN]]–KY Combined Statistical Area. The county was formed in 1860 from parts of [[Henderson County, Kentucky|Henderson]], [[Hopkins County, Kentucky|Hopkins]], and [[Union County, Kentucky|Union]] Counties<ref>{{Cite web |title=KYGenWeb Project - Online Kentucky Genealogy Resources |url=https://www.kygenweb.net/counties/formation.html |access-date=January 7, 2022 |website=www.kygenweb.net}}</ref> and named for American statesman [[Daniel Webster]] (1782–1852).<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/n198 37]}}</ref> It was mainly pro-[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] during the [[American Civil War]] and was the site of several skirmishes and some [[guerrilla]] warfare. Since 2018 it has been a [[moist county]], with [[Providence, Kentucky|Providence]] and [[Sebree, Kentucky|Sebree]] voting to allow alcohol sales,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Matt |title=Providence, Sebree go wet |url=https://www.journalenterprise.com/web/providence-sebree-go-wet/article_8751d464-e2a3-11e8-8126-cba6f9819ce3.html |access-date=December 1, 2020 |website=The Journal-Enterprise |language=en}}</ref> and Clay doing so in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Clay prepares for start of alcohol sales after wet-dry vote |url=https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/your-local-election-hq/clay-prepares-for-start-of-alcohol-sales-after-wet-dry-vote/ |access-date=December 4, 2022 |website=Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW) |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|336|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|332|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.7|sqmi}} (1.1%) 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 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Webster County is part of the [[Western Coal Field]] region of [[Kentucky]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Henderson County, Kentucky|Henderson County]]  (north)
* [[McLean County, Kentucky|McLean County]]  (northeast)
* [[Hopkins County, Kentucky|Hopkins County]]  (southeast)
* [[Caldwell County, Kentucky|Caldwell County]]  (south)
* [[Crittenden County, Kentucky|Crittenden County]]  (southwest)
* [[Union County, Kentucky|Union County]]  (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1870 = 10937
| 1880 = 14246
| 1890 = 17196
| 1900 = 20097
| 1910 = 20974
| 1920 = 20762
| 1930 = 20534
| 1940 = 19198
| 1950 = 15555
| 1960 = 14244
| 1970 = 13282
| 1980 = 14832
| 1990 = 13955
| 2000 = 14120
| 2010 = 13621
| 2020 = 13017
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 12854
| 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 20, 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 20, 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 20, 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 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, 5,272 households, and 3,716 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|42|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 5,936 housing units at an average density of {{convert|19|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 91.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 4.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. 4.3% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 5,272 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 19, 5.8% from 20 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. 49.7% of the population is male and 50.3% female.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,635, and the median income for a family was $49,580. Males employed full-time had a median income of $41,662 versus $26,502 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,879. About 11.9% of families and 16% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

== Politics ==
{{PresHead|place=Webster 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 6, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,339|1,153|64|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,506|1,412|75|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,397|1,240|168|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,607|1,765|98|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,037|2,390|113|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,207|2,304|36|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,599|2,388|85|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,568|2,852|682|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,408|3,380|877|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,159|3,019|24|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|2,504|3,042|34|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,939|3,506|90|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,402|3,523|45|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,396|1,712|54|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,446|2,114|1,345|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,217|3,741|6|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,498|3,179|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,948|3,050|255|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,858|3,516|12|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,087|3,288|168|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,840|3,324|25|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,107|4,197|17|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,983|4,788|21|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,257|4,833|48|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|3,527|3,591|9|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,131|3,449|71|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,554|4,831|30|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,082|2,673|48|Kentucky}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|905|2,036|1,087|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}}|[[James Comer]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|1|B}}
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky Senate|Ky. Senate]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Robby Mills]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 4th Senate district|4]]
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Jim Gooch Jr.]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|12
|}

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Clay, Kentucky|Clay]]
* [[Dixon, Kentucky|Dixon]] (county seat)
* [[Providence, Kentucky|Providence]]
* [[Sebree, Kentucky|Sebree]]
* [[Slaughters, Kentucky|Slaughters]]
* [[Wheatcroft, Kentucky|Wheatcroft]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Onton, Kentucky|Onton]]
* [[Poole, Kentucky|Poole]] (partially in [[Henderson County, Kentucky|Henderson County]])

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Blackford, Kentucky|Blackford]]
* [[Derby, Kentucky|Derby]]
* [[Diamond, Kentucky|Diamond]]
* [[Elmwood, Kentucky|Elmwood]]
* [[Fairmont, Webster County, Kentucky|Fairmont]]
* [[Free Union, Kentucky|Free Union]]
* [[Hearin, Kentucky|Hearin]]
* [[Jolly, Kentucky|Jolly]]
* [[Lisman, Kentucky|Lisman]]
* [[Little Zion, Kentucky|Little Zion]]
* [[Ortiz, Kentucky|Ortiz]]
* [[Pratt, Kentucky|Pratt]]
* [[Stanhope, Kentucky|Stanhope]]
* [[Tilden, Kentucky|Tilden]]
* [[Vanderburg, Kentucky|Vanderburg]]
* [[Wanamaker, Kentucky|Wanamaker]]

==Notable residents==
* [[Robert A. Baker]], psychologist, author, influential [[scientific skepticism|skeptic]], and Past Fellow of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]
* [[William O. Head]], mayor of [[Louisville, Kentucky]] from 1909 to 1913
* [[Kristen Johnson (Miss Kentucky)|Kristen Johnson]], [[Miss Kentucky USA]] 2005, 2nd runner-up [[Miss USA]] 2005, [[Miss Kentucky Teen USA]] 2000
* [[Chris Knight (musician)|Chris Knight]], musician/songwriter.
* [[Cale Young Rice]], [[United States|American]] [[poet]] and [[Playwright|dramatist]].
* [[Laban Lacy Rice]], educator, author, and President of [[Cumberland University]]
* [[Garrett L. Withers]], represented [[Kentucky]] in both the [[United States Senate]] and the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
*[[Amy Slaton-Halterman]], reality TV star
*[[Tammy Slaton]], reality TV star

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Webster County, Kentucky]]
{{Portal|United States}}

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

{{Evansville Metropolitan Area}}
{{Webster County, Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|37.52|-87.68|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Webster County, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties]]
[[Category:1860 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Evansville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1860]]