Morgan County, Kentucky

Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,726.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is West Liberty.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was voted a wet county in 2024

History

Morgan County was formed on December 7, 1822, from portions of Bath County and Floyd County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was named for Daniel Morgan, a distinguished general in the American Revolutionary War.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The first white settler in the county was Daniel Williams, a traveling preacher from Virginia who built the first permanent home in the vicinity several miles south of present-day West Liberty. Williams had also previously served in the American Revolution in the Kentucky Militia.

During the Civil War, Morgan County was a majority Pro-Confederate County. 220 Morgan County men served as Union Soldiers, while nearly 400 or more served as Confederate soldiers. Morgan County men formed nearly all of A, B, C and parts of D and E. companies of the 5th KY Infantry. (CSA)

On May 29, 1869, a portion of Morgan County became part of present day Menifee County.

Morgan County was hit by an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012, which cost the lives of six people and injured many others. Following the tornado, Morgan County's population decreased, but the county seat still has a strong population for a small town.

Morgan County had begun building a new court house in 2011, but the tornado delayed its construction to late 2013.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

• Rowan County (northwest)
• Elliott County (north)
• Lawrence County (northeast)
• Johnson County (east)
• Magoffin County (southeast)
• Wolfe County (southwest)
• Menifee County (west)

National protected area

• Daniel Boone National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,948 people, 4,752 households, and 3,568 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,487 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 94.59% White, 4.38% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,752 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,869, and the median income for a family was $26,135. Males had a median income of $23,966 versus $18,463 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,657. 27.20% of the population and 23.50% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 33.90% are under the age of 18 and 28.50% are 65 or older.

Politics

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Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
U.S. House	Template:Party shading/Republican|Hal Rogers (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican|Template:Ushr
Ky. Senate	Template:Party shading/Republican|Brandon Smith (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican|30
Ky. House	Template:Party shading/Republican|Richard White (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican|99

Communities

City

• West Liberty (county seat)

Census-designated place

• Ezel

Other unincorporated places

• Caney
• Cannel City
• Cottle
• Crockett
• Dingus
• Elamton
• Elkfork
• Grassy Creek
• Lenox
• Malone
• Maytown
• Mima
• Mize
• Moon
• Ophir
• Relief
• Stacy Fork
• White Oak
• Wrigley
• Yocum
• Zag

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Morgan County, Kentucky

External links

• County Background and History
• Morgan County Schools
• The Kentucky Highlands Project
• Morgan History & Ancestry