# Calloway County, Kentucky

Calloway County is a county located on the southwest border of the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,103. Its county seat is Murray. The county was founded in November 1822 and named after Colonel Richard Callaway, one of the founders of Boonesborough. Calloway County comprises the Murray, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of July 18, 2012, Calloway County is a moist county: the sale of alcohol in the county is prohibited, with the exception of the city of Murray.

## History

Calloway County was created in 1822 from land taken from Hickman County. The courthouse was built in 1823. A fire at the courthouse in 1906 caused the almost complete destruction of the county records. Calloway county was named after Richard Callaway.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 411 square miles (1,060 km$^2$), of which 385 square miles (1,000 km$^2$) is land and 26 square miles (67 km$^2$) (6.3%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Marshall County (north)
* Trigg County (northeast)
* Stewart County, Tennessee (southeast)
* Henry County, Tennessee (south)
* Graves County (west)

### National protected area

* Fort Donelson National Battlefield (Fort Heiman part)

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,177 people, 13,862 households, and 8,594 families residing in the county. The population density was 88 per square mile (34/km$^2$). There were 16,069 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 93.48% White, 3.56% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,862 households, out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.00% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.79.
The age distribution was 18.70% under the age of 18, 19.80% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. The relatively large 18-to-24 population is mostly due to the presence of Murray State University. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,134, and the median income for a family was $39,914. Males had a median income of $31,184 versus $22,046 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,566. About 9.80% of families and 16.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.70% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Calloway County, Kentucky :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 11,539 | 68.10% | 5,111 | 30.16% | 295 | 1.74% |
| 2020 | 11,352 | 65.03% | 5,797 | 33.21% | 308 | 1.76% |
| 2016 | 10,367 | 64.60% | 4,749 | 29.59% | 933 | 5.81% |
| 2012 | 9,440 | 62.63% | 5,317 | 35.28% | 315 | 2.09% |
| 2008 | 8,991 | 58.37% | 6,165 | 40.02% | 248 | 1.61% |
| 2004 | 9,293 | 61.36% | 5,728 | 37.82% | 124 | 0.82% |
| 2000 | 7,705 | 56.35% | 5,635 | 41.21% | 333 | 2.44% |
| 1996 | 4,989 | 43.14% | 5,281 | 45.66% | 1,296 | 11.21% |
| 1992 | 4,654 | 36.53% | 6,181 | 48.52% | 1,905 | 14.95% |
| 1988 | 6,225 | 53.91% | 5,287 | 45.79% | 34 | 0.29% |
| 1984 | 6,442 | 55.94% | 5,028 | 43.66% | 45 | 0.39% |
| 1980 | 4,498 | 37.60% | 6,809 | 56.91% | 657 | 5.49% |
| 1976 | 3,171 | 27.56% | 8,141 | 70.75% | 195 | 1.69% |
| 1972 | 5,167 | 59.17% | 3,468 | 39.72% | 97 | 1.11% |
| 1968 | 2,672 | 30.78% | 3,854 | 44.39% | 2,156 | 24.83% |
| 1964 | 1,576 | 17.74% | 7,290 | 82.04% | 20 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 3,356 | 41.69% | 4,693 | 58.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,292 | 27.09% | 6,152 | 72.72% | 16 | 0.19% |
| 1952 | 1,829 | 25.14% | 5,434 | 74.69% | 12 | 0.16% |
| 1948 | 681 | 11.82% | 4,896 | 85.01% | 182 | 3.16% |
| 1944 | 1,121 | 18.60% | 4,888 | 81.12% | 17 | 0.28% |
| 1940 | 896 | 13.38% | 5,793 | 86.49% | 9 | 0.13% |
| 1936 | 939 | 14.51% | 5,523 | 85.34% | 10 | 0.15% |
| 1932 | 813 | 11.32% | 6,335 | 88.18% | 36 | 0.50% |
| 1928 | 1,557 | 31.13% | 3,431 | 68.59% | 14 | 0.28% |
| 1924 | 936 | 19.17% | 3,790 | 77.63% | 156 | 3.20% |
| 1920 | 1,520 | 24.19% | 4,574 | 72.79% | 190 | 3.02% |
| 1916 | 1,026 | 22.73% | 3,334 | 73.88% | 153 | 3.39% |
| 1912 | 628 | 17.49% | 2,380 | 66.28% | 583 | 16.24% |

### Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 :
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
| Ky. Senate | Jason Howell (R) | 1 |
| Ky. House | Mary Beth Imes (R) | 5 |

## Communities
### Cities

* Hazel
* Murray

### Census-designated place

* Dexter

### Other unincorporated communities

* Almo
* Backusburg
* Bethel
* Blood
* Boatwright
* Coldwater
* Crossland
* Elm Grove
* Faxon
* Hamlin
* Harris Grove
* Hico
* Kirksey
* Lynn Grove
* Midway
* New Concord
* Penny
* Protemus
* Shiloh
* Stella
* Wadesboro
* Wiswell

## Place of interest

* Fort Heiman, part of Fort Donelson National Battlefield

## Notable people

* W. Earl Brown, actor/musician
* T.R.M. Howard, surgeon, civil rights leader and entrepreneur
* Joe Staton, cartoonist
* Frank Stubblefield, politician
* Nathan Stubblefield, inventor
* Harry Lee Waterfield, politician
* Molly Sims, actress/model
* Cleanth Brooks, professor, literary critic
* Mel Purcell, professional tennis player
* Jackie DeShannon, 1960s singer-songwriter
* Tim Masthay, NFL Punter, Super Bowl Champion