Trigg County, Kentucky

Trigg County is a county located on the far southwest border of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,061. Its county seat is Cadiz. Formed in 1820, the county was named for Stephen Trigg, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was killed at the Battle of Blue Licks, now in Robertson County, Kentucky. It was a victory for British and allied troops.

Following the Prohibition era, Trigg continued as a prohibition or dry county until 2009. That year the county's voters narrowly approved a referendum to repeal the prohibition on alcohol sales for off-premises consumption.

Trigg County is part of the Clarksville, TN–KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Trigg County was formed in 1820 from portions of Christian County and Caldwell counties, as its population had increased.

Trigg County was named in honor of Lt. Col. Stephen Trigg, of Virginia. Trigg had settled near Harrodsburg, Kentucky; during the American Revolutionary War, he served as an officer for the rebels and was killed on August 19, 1782, in the Battle of Blue Licks.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 481 sqmi, of which 441 sqmi is land and 40 sqmi (8.3%) is water.

Adjacent counties

 * Lyon County (north)
 * Caldwell County (northeast)
 * Christian County (east)
 * Stewart County, Tennessee (south)
 * Calloway County (southwest)
 * Marshall County (northwest)

National protected area

 * Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (part)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,597 people, 5,215 households, and 3,765 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 /sqmi. There were 6,698 housing units at an average density of 15 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 88.34% White, 9.79% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,215 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.00% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,002, and the median income for a family was $40,886. Males had a median income of $31,158 versus $22,081 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,184. About 8.80% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

Radio stations

 * WKDZ-FM 106.5 (country music)
 * WKDZ-AM 1110 AM & 100.9 FM (oldies)
 * WHVO 1480 AM & 96.5 F.M. (oldies)

Newspapers
The Cadiz Record

City

 * Cadiz (county seat)

Census-designated place

 * Cerulean (partially in Christian County)

Other unincorporated places

 * Black Hawk (mostly in Caldwell County)
 * Buffalo
 * Caledonia
 * Canton
 * Donaldson
 * Fenton
 * Linton
 * Montgomery
 * Oak Grove
 * Roaring Spring
 * Rockcastle
 * Wallonia

Ghost town

 * Golden Pond

Politics
Trigg County is governed by a Fiscal Court, which is led by a Judge-Executive. The current Judge-Executive is Hollis Alexander (a Republican). Alexander was appointed to the position by the governor in 2013 after Stanley H. Humphries, former officeholder, was elected to the Kentucky State Senate from District 1.

Notable people

 * Coy Bacon, NFL player
 * Darcy C. Coyle, university president
 * John Egerton, journalist
 * Joe Bolton, poet
 * Charles Tyler, musician
 * Boots Randolph, musician
 * Roger Vinson, U.S. District Court judge
 * Hugh "Riccardo" Martin, opera singer