| County: | Madison County |
| State: | Kentucky |
| Founded Year: | 1785 |
| Founded Date: | December 15 |
| Seat Wl: | Richmond |
| Largest City Wl: | Richmond |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 443 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 437 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 6.0 |
| Area Percentage: | 1.3 |
| Census Yr: | 2020 |
| Pop: | 92701 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Est: | 96735 |
| Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Time Zone: | Eastern |
| Web: | www.madisoncountyky.us |
| Ex Image: | Madison County, Kentucky courthouse.JPG |
| Ex Image Cap: | Madison County Courthouse in Richmond |
| District: | 6th |
Madison County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. At the 2020 census, its population was 92,701.[1] Its county seat is Richmond.[2] The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States.[3]
The county is part of the Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area.
Madison County was considered a moist county, meaning that although the county prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages (and is thus a dry county), it contained a city where retail alcohol sales are allowed. Nevertheless, two of the county's 19 precincts are completely dry.[4] Alcohol can also be sold by the drink in Berea,[5] Richmond, and at Arlington and The Bull golf clubs. In 2023, the county voted to become wet.[6]
Madison County is home to Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, and historic Boone Tavern.[7] Famous pioneer Daniel Boone lived in Madison County and built Fort Boonesborough, now a state historic site.
Indian trader John Findley, Daniel Boone, and four others first came into the area that is now Madison County in 1769 on a hunting and exploring expedition. In 1774, the Transylvania Company, led by Judge Richard Henderson of North Carolina, purchased of land west of the Appalachians (including present-day Madison County) from the Cherokee Nation. Daniel Boone was hired to cut a trail through the Cumberland Gap and establish a settlement on the Kentucky River. The settlement at Fort Boonesborough began in April 1775.
In 1785, Madison County was established from a portion of Lincoln County, Virginia.[8] [9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (1.3%) is water.[10]
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 70,872 people, 27,152 households, and 18,218 families residing in the county. The population density was 161/sqmi. There were 29,595 housing units at an average density of 67/sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 93.01% White, 4.44% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 27,152 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% 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 2.90.
By age, 21.90% were under 18, 18.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. Both the relatively large 18-to-24 population and the relatively low median age can be explained by the presence of Eastern Kentucky University, and to a considerably lesser extent Berea College. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,861, and the median income for a family was $41,383. Males had a median income of $31,974 versus $22,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,790. About 12.00% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.
The Madison County courthouse is located at 135 W Irvine Street in Richmond.
County Judge-Executive: Reagan Taylor County Clerk: Kenny Barger Sheriff: Mike Coyle Coroner: Jimmy Cornelison Jailer: Steve Tussey County Attorney: Jennie Haymond Circuit Clerk: David M. Fernandez County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA): Billy Ackerman County Surveyor: Stuart W. Spencer
Madison County is served by two school districts:[12]
The county is also served by Model Laboratory School which is part of Eastern Kentucky University.
The Blue Grass Army Depot is located just south of Richmond.