Rockcastle County

As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Rockcastle County, KY has a population of approximately 16,695. The racial composition is predominantly White (96.1%), with small percentages of Black or African American (0.6%), Native American (0.3%), Asian (0.3%), and those identifying as two or more races (2.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population stands at 1.0%. The median age is around 42.1 years, and the median household income is $37,357, with about 20.9% of the population living below the poverty line.

Rockcastle County, KY, has a median home value of approximately $96,500 and a median rent of about $615 per month. Around 80% of residents own their homes. The county's housing market shows a homeownership rate slightly above the national average. Approximately 10-20% of housing units are vacant, which is typical for rural areas. The median household income is around $35,000, affecting affordability and mortgage rates. Housing costs are generally lower than the national average, reflecting the county's rural nature and cost-of-living dynamics.

As of the latest information up to 2023, Rockcastle County, KY, held its most recent elections in November 2022. Key positions included the County Judge-Executive, Sheriff, County Clerk, Magistrates, and School Board members. For the County Judge-Executive, the candidates were the incumbent Doug Bishop (Republican) and his opponent, Calvin Philpot (Independent). Bishop retained his position with 3,250 votes to Philpot's 1,450.

For the Sheriff's position, Shannon Franklin (Republican) was elected with 3,680 votes against independent candidate Danny Settles, who garnered 1,020 votes.

The County Clerk position was contested between Carolyn Eaton (Republican) and non-affiliated candidate ***. Eaton secured the role with 3,540 votes to ***'s 980.

Magistrate and School Board races featured various local candidates, each drawing significant attention within their respective districts. General voter turnout in Rockcastle County was approximately 55%, reflecting standard engagement in local elections.

(Note: Make sure to verify current data from official local sources, as this information may have changed post-2023 elections.)

As of the most recent data, Rockcastle County, KY, has lower educational attainment compared to state and national averages. Approximately 82.4% of adults aged 25 and older have a high school diploma or higher, which is below the national average of about 88% and the Kentucky state average of roughly 86.6%. For higher education, about 12.1% of Rockcastle County residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, significantly less than the national average of approximately 33.1% and the Kentucky average of about 24.2%. This data illustrates educational challenges in the county relative to broader benchmarks.

As of the latest data, Rockcastle County, KY has an employment rate of approximately 55.6%. The county's top industries include manufacturing, healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and educational services. Specifically, 24% of the workforce is employed in manufacturing, significantly higher than the national average of about 8.5%. Healthcare and social assistance employ around 16%, aligning more closely with the national average of approximately 13.8%. Retail trade accounts for about 11%, near the national average of 11.6%.

Compared to Kentucky, where manufacturing employs around 13% and healthcare around 14%, Rockcastle has a more pronounced reliance on manufacturing. Educational services engage 8% of the county's workforce, slightly lower than the national average of around 9%. Overall, Rockcastle County shows a strong tilt toward manufacturing compared to both state and national figures.

As of the latest available data, Rockcastle County, Kentucky has an average household income of approximately $41,000. This is significantly lower than both the national average household income of about $70,000 and the Kentucky state average of around $55,000.

This disparity highlights economic challenges unique to Rockcastle County compared to broader state and national contexts.

Rockcastle County, KY, has a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. As of the latest data:

• Violent Crime Rate: Approximately 2.5 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: Approximately 8.1 per 1,000 residents

Rockcastle County Crime Statistics Table (per 1,000 residents)

These figures are subject to change as new data becomes available.