Breckinridge County, Kentucky

Breckinridge County is a located in the  of. It was formed in 1800. As of 2000, the population was 18,648. Its is. The county is named for, , , ,. Breckinridge is a prohibition or.

History
Considered one of the oldest counties in the United States, the county was formed out of by virtue of a  enactment of the Kentucky General Assembly, but the first fiscal court did not meet until. In, while former U.S. President was seven years old, the  family spent a few weeks in Hardinsburg and occupied a small cabin near what is now the Future Farmers of America Camp in Hardinsburg. Local residents gave them a cow for milk. A few weeks later, the Lincolns left Kentucky through Breckinridge County by crossing the at, on a ferry operated by Jacob Weatherholt. During the Civil War,  burned the local courthouse (the second such fire), but most of the records were saved. , a notorious Confederate outlaw, was arrested near and later hanged. In the nineteenth century, the Victoria Coal mines were the first to produce, and Cloverport exported coal oil to , where it was used to light. United States Supreme Court Justice, who served on the court from to , was born at Tar Springs in. On, , at , Sam Jennings became the second last person to be publicly executed in the United States. In the 1950's was developed at the southern border of the county. A third courthouse fire nearly destroyed county records in. Breckinridge County High School prides itself as the champion of the and   Boys' Basketball tournaments. The Breckinridge County Archives, formed in, was the first state-funded archival repository in the history of the United States and is known across the nation as an excellent resource for genealogical and historical research.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 1,517 (586 ). 1,483 km² (572 sq mi) of it is land and 34 km² (13 sq mi) of it (2.24%) is water.

Adjacent counties

 * (northwest – across the )
 * (northeast)
 * (east)
 * (south)
 * (southwest)
 * (west)

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 18,648 people, 7,324 households, and 5,309 families residing in the county. The was 13/km² (33/sq mi). There were 9,890 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (17/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 95.84%, 2.86% or , 0.23% , 0.08% , 0.02% , 0.09% from , and 0.90% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 7,324 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.60% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,554, and the median income for a family was $36,575. Males had a median income of $31,004 versus $19,371 for females. The for the county was $15,402. About 11.80% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

 * , prosecutor of the Lincoln conspirators, was born and raised in Holt, Kentucky. Holt served in five major federal posts,, , , , , and.
 * Union General was born in this county in 1812.
 * NBA player and coach was born in Hardinsburg in 1947
 * Former United States Supreme Court Justice was born at Tar Springs in 1894.
 * Kentucky author was raised in Hardinsburg.