# Meade County, Kentucky

Meade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,003. Its county seat is Brandenburg. The county was founded December 17, 1823, and named for Captain James M. Meade, who was killed in action at the Battle of River Raisin during the War of 1812. Meade County is part of the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Louisville/Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Madison, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 325 square miles (840 km$^2$), of which 305 square miles (790 km$^2$) is land and 19 square miles (49 km$^2$) (5.9%) is water. All 56 miles (90 km) of the county's northern border faces Indiana, across from the Ohio River.

### Outdoor attractions

* Doe Run Inn
* Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area
* Meade Olin Park
* Diana’s Park
* Park Down By The River

### Adjacent counties

* Hardin County (southeast)
* Breckinridge County (southwest/CST Border)
* Harrison County, Indiana (northeast)
* Perry County, Indiana (northwest/CST Border)
* Crawford County, Indiana (north)

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 per square mile (33/km$^2$). There were 10,293 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 92.37% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,470 households, out of which 42.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.90% were non-families. Of all households 18.40% were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.80% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 32.70% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,966, and the median income for a family was $40,592. Males had a median income of $30,835 versus $22,038 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,000. About 9.30% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Brandenburg (county seat)
* Ekron
* Muldraugh (partly in Hardin County)

### Census-designated places

* Doe Valley
* Fort Knox, a military base (partly in Hardin County)

### Other unincorporated places

* Battletown
* Big Spring (partly in Breckinridge County in the Central Time Zone and Hardin County in the Eastern Time Zone)
* Concordia
* Flaherty
* Garrett
* Guston
* Lickskillet
* Midway
* Payneville
* Rhodelia
* Rock Haven
* Wolf Creek
* Garnettsville
* Buck Grove

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Meade County, Kentucky :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 10,630 | 75.27% | 3,279 | 23.22% | 214 | 1.52% |
| 2020 | 10,185 | 72.17% | 3,632 | 25.74% | 296 | 2.10% |
| 2016 | 8,660 | 70.80% | 3,026 | 24.74% | 545 | 4.46% |
| 2012 | 6,606 | 60.52% | 4,122 | 37.76% | 188 | 1.72% |
| 2008 | 6,691 | 59.71% | 4,343 | 38.76% | 172 | 1.53% |
| 2004 | 7,152 | 65.31% | 3,724 | 34.01% | 75 | 0.68% |
| 2000 | 5,319 | 58.64% | 3,596 | 39.64% | 156 | 1.72% |
| 1996 | 2,855 | 38.33% | 3,653 | 49.04% | 941 | 12.63% |
| 1992 | 2,641 | 35.86% | 3,387 | 45.99% | 1,337 | 18.15% |
| 1988 | 3,441 | 52.57% | 3,079 | 47.04% | 25 | 0.38% |
| 1984 | 3,820 | 60.19% | 2,503 | 39.44% | 24 | 0.38% |
| 1980 | 2,740 | 45.22% | 3,205 | 52.90% | 114 | 1.88% |
| 1976 | 1,755 | 36.05% | 3,030 | 62.24% | 83 | 1.71% |
| 1972 | 2,492 | 60.93% | 1,541 | 37.68% | 57 | 1.39% |
| 1968 | 1,385 | 32.98% | 1,926 | 45.86% | 889 | 21.17% |
| 1964 | 1,055 | 25.51% | 3,076 | 74.37% | 5 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 1,826 | 43.36% | 2,385 | 56.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,670 | 45.23% | 2,016 | 54.60% | 6 | 0.16% |
| 1952 | 1,265 | 38.22% | 2,040 | 61.63% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1948 | 773 | 27.99% | 1,915 | 69.33% | 74 | 2.68% |
| 1944 | 1,040 | 36.11% | 1,828 | 63.47% | 12 | 0.42% |
| 1940 | 995 | 31.88% | 2,114 | 67.73% | 12 | 0.38% |
| 1936 | 785 | 26.47% | 2,102 | 70.87% | 79 | 2.66% |
| 1932 | 1,050 | 29.46% | 2,488 | 69.81% | 26 | 0.73% |
| 1928 | 1,610 | 48.54% | 1,700 | 51.25% | 7 | 0.21% |
| 1924 | 1,106 | 37.43% | 1,802 | 60.98% | 47 | 1.59% |
| 1920 | 1,468 | 39.75% | 2,195 | 59.44% | 30 | 0.81% |
| 1916 | 803 | 37.11% | 1,317 | 60.86% | 44 | 2.03% |
| 1912 | 337 | 16.58% | 1,145 | 56.35% | 550 | 27.07% |

### Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 :
| U.S. House | Brett Guthrie (R) | KY 2 |
| Ky. Senate | Stephen Meredith (R) | 5 |
| Ky. House | Nancy Tate (R) | 27 |

## Education

Most of the county is zoned to Meade County Schools, which operates Meade County High School.
However people living on Fort Knox are instead zoned to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which operates Fort Knox Middle High School.