Geography

The county has a total area of 663 km² (256 mi²). 659 km² (254 mi²) of it is land and 5 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.73%) is water.

The county is transected southeast to northwest by Green River, the longest river entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky . Bridge crossings of Green River are at Calhoun, Livermore and west of Beech Grove. Green River is navigable throughout McLean County , with Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam #2 at Calhoun assisting boat navigation.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,938 people, 3,984 households, and 2,880 families residing in the county. The population density was 15/km² (39/mi²). There were 4,392 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (17/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.58% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,984 households out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 24.70% 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 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,675, and the median income for a family was $35,322. Males had a median income of $28,446 versus $19,432 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,046. About 13.70% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.10% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.

The county's highest census total was 13,241 in 1910. The population generally declined each decade after that, reaching a low of 9,062 in 1970.

Adjacent counties:

Henderson County (northwest)

Daviess County (northeast)

Ohio County (east)

Muhlenberg County (south)

Hopkins County (southwest, across the Green River )

Webster County (west)

Cities and towns

The county has four incorporated cities. Calhoun, population 837, sits on the north bank of Green River in the central area of the county and is the seat of government. The largest community in McLean County is the city of Livermore , population 1,482, which lies in the eastern part of the county at the scenic confluence of Rough and Green Rivers . Livermore 's bridge is noteworthy, as it begins in McLean County , crosses the Rough River , passes over and has a pylon on a sliver of Ohio County territory, crosses Green River, then ends back in McLean County . The two remaining cities, Sacramento and Island , are situated in the south of the county. Sacramento is home to the annual Battle of Sacramento Civil War Reenactment, the largest tourist event in the county, and has a population of 517. Island is noted for its annual Wooden Bridge Festival and has a population of 435. McLean County has two other sizable, but unincorporated, towns. The larger of the two, Beech Grove, is situated in the hills of the county panhandle. The other, Rumsey, is an historic community that lies across from Calhoun on the south bank of Green River . Other notable hamlets in the county include Comer, Congleton, Wrightsburg, Elba , Poverty, Cleopatra, Lemon, Wyman, Pack, Semiway, Poplar Grove, Guffie, Buel, Nuckols, Livia, Glenville, and Buttonsberry.

Education

McLean County has a county-wide public school district of some 1,700 students with one high school ( McLean County High School ) of approximately 500 students and one grade 6-8 middle school ( McLean County Middle School ) of roughly 350 students. Both schools are located just east of Calhoun on Highway 136 and have the cougar as mascots.

Additionally, the county school system has three grade K-5 elementary schools in the towns of Calhoun, Livermore and Sacramento . The Calhoun and Livermore elementaries have about 300 students each, while Sacramento Elementary has 125 students. The future of the Sacramento school is still in question, although the local board of education has endorsed plans to renovate the school if costs can be contained.

At any time, between 350 and 400 county residents are enrolled in higher education of some form.