Jefferson County, Kentucky
Jefferson County Courthouse in Louisville
Seal
Location in the state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Founded	1780
Named for	Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States (1801–1809)
Seat	Louisville
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	398.58 sq mi (1,032 km²) 385.09 sq mi (997 km²) 13.49 sq mi (35 km²), 3.38%
PopulationEst.  - (2010)  - Density	741,096 1,871/sq mi (722/km²)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.louisvilleky.gov

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the most populous county in Kentucky and is more than twice as populous as the second most populous, Fayette. It was formed in 1780. The population was 741,096 in the 2010 Census, but estimated at 750,828 in 2012.

Jefferson County is the most populous county in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History [edit]

Historic marker at the Jefferson County Courthouse

Jefferson County was organized in 1780 and one of the first three counties formed out of the original Kentucky County, which was still part of Virginia at the time (the other two being Fayette and Lincoln). The county is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was governor of Virginia at the time.

The last major American Indian raid in present day Jefferson County was the Chenoweth Massacre on July 17, 1789.

In 2003, its government merged with that of its largest city and county seat, Louisville, forming a new entity, the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government (the official long form) or simply Louisville Metro (the official short form). The new government generally avoids any self-reference including the name "Jefferson County" and has even renamed the Jefferson County Courthouse as "Metro Hall."

Prior to this merger, the head of local government was the County Judge/Executive, a post that still exists but now has few powers. The current incumbent is Ken Herndon. Local government is effectively now led by the Mayor of Louisville Metro, Greg Fischer.

Geography [edit]

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 398.58 square miles (1,032.3 km²), of which 385.09 square miles (997.4 km²) (or 96.62%) is land and 13.49 square miles (34.9 km²) (or 3.38%) is water.^[1] The Ohio River forms its northern boundary with the state of Indiana.

The highest point is South Park Hill, elevation 902 feet (275 m), located in the southern part of the county.^{[citation needed]} The lowest point is 383 feet (117 m) along the Ohio River just north of West Point, Kentucky.^{[citation needed]}

Adjacent counties [edit]

• Bullitt County (south)
• Shelby County (east)
• Oldham County (northeast)
• Spencer County (southeast)
• Hardin County (southwest)
• Clark County, Indiana (north, across the Ohio River)
• Harrison County, Indiana (west, across the Ohio River)
• Floyd County, Indiana (northwest, across the Ohio River)

Demographics [edit]

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,801 per square mile (695 /km²). There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of 794 per square mile (307 /km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.38% White, 18.88% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 287,012 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.20% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.20% were non-families. 30.50% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,789 (2005), and the median income for a family was $49,161. Males had a median income of $36,484 versus $26,255 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,352. About 9.50% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities, towns and census-designated places [edit]

NOTE: Since the formation of Louisville Metro on January 6, 2003, residents of the cities below also became citizens of the newly expanded Metro, but none of the incorporated places dissolved in the process. The functions formerly served by the county government for the town were assumed by Louisville Metro. However, the former City of Louisville was effectively absorbed into the new city-county government.

† Formerly a Census-designated Place in the county, but, in 2003, these places became neighborhoods within the city limits of Louisville Metro.

See also [edit]

	Louisville portal
	Kentucky portal

• Jefferson County Public Schools
• Jefferson County Sunday School Association
• Louisville, Kentucky
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Kentucky

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Jefferson County Clerks Office
• Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
• Louisville/Jefferson County Information Consortium
• Louisville Metro

v t e Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States County seat: Louisville Cities Anchorage Audubon Park Bancroft Barbourmeade Beechwood Village Bellemeade Bellewood Blue Ridge Manor Briarwood Broeck Pointe Brownsboro Farm Brownsboro Village Cambridge Coldstream Creekside Crossgate Douglass Hills Druid Hills Fincastle Forest Hills Glenview Glenview Hills Glenview Manor Goose Creek Graymoor-Devondale Green Spring Heritage Creek Hickory Hill Hills and Dales Hollow Creek Hollyvilla Houston Acres Hurstbourne Hurstbourne Acres Indian Hills Jeffersontown Kingsley Langdon Place Lincolnshire Louisville (balance) Lyndon Lynnview Manor Creek Maryhill Estates Meadow Vale Meadowbrook Farm Meadowview Estates Middletown Mockingbird Valley Moorland Murray Hill Norbourne Estates Northfield Norwood Old Brownsboro Place Parkway Village Plantation Poplar Hills Prospect Richlawn Riverwood Rolling Fields Rolling Hills St. Matthews St. Regis Park Seneca Gardens Shively South Park View Spring Mill Spring Valley Strathmoor Manor Strathmoor Village Sycamore Ten Broeck Thornhill Watterson Park Wellington West Buechel Westwood Wildwood Windy Hills Woodland Hills Woodlawn Park Worthington Hills

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Coordinates: 38°11′N 85°40′W / 38.19°N 85.66°W / 38.19; -85.66