Hartford is a home rule-class city in Ohio County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 2,668 at the 2020 census. The town slogan, "Home of 2,000 happy people and a few soreheads", welcomes visitors when they enter the community. The Hartford, Kentucky website explains that "soreheads are community-minded, progressive citizens who work to promote civic pride".
History
The town was initially part of a 4000-acre grant from Virginia to Gabriel Madison. The area was surveyed in 1782 and settled before 1790. Fort Hartford (also known as Hartford Station) grew up around the head of navigation on the Rough River, which the bridge crossing that river is called the Fort Hartford Bridge. About the town, It initially faced Indian attacks but was named the seat of Ohio County the year after its formation in 1798 in exchange for a grant of land from Mr. Madison. The post office was established as Hartford Court House in 1801 and the settlement was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1808.
The town's second courthouse was burned during the Civil War by Confederate Gen. Hylan B. Lyon on December 20, 1864. According to data provided by OCEDA, 163 businesses employ 1,886 employees in Hartford Kentucky. Leading industries in Hartford include: Healthcare/Social Assistance, Public Administration, Retail Trade Business, Educational Services, Financial/Insurance, and Food & Beverage Stores. The OC Hub, located in downtown Hartford, provides office space, conference, and training room rentals as a business incubator.
Geography
Hartford is located at (37.450415, -86.902026).
With a population of approximately 2,000, Hartford is the county seat of Ohio County, Kentucky, which is in the eastern end of Kentucky's western coal fields and geographically one of the state's largest counties. The town covers approximately 1.8 square miles on the southeast bank of the Rough River a few miles southwest of the center of the county. Its gently rolling terrain characteristic of the county overall is laid out primarily in a somewhat irregular grid interrupted by rural roads at its northern reaches and U.S. 231, the town's major access, near its southern boundary. Hartford's oldest and most densely developed portion is its western area along the Rough River which continues to display the town's original early nineteenth-century plan in its grid of small square and larger rectangular blocks.
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Hartford had a population of 2,668. The median age was 39.3 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.2 males age 18 and over.
86.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,070 households in Hartford, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.4% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2000, there were 2,571 people, 1,079 households, and 684 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,165 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.81% White, 1.40% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 1,079 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,958, and the median income for a family was $32,083. Males had a median income of $31,020 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,542. About 11.8% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 23.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Louise Alexander – dancer
- Allison J. Barnett (1892–1971) – U.S. Army major general
- Charles Courtney Curran (1861–1942), an American painter born in Hartford, particularly known for his depiction of women in various settings. Curran studied at both the Fine Arts Academy of Cincinnati, the New York National Academy of Design, and the Academia Jullian in Paris and died in New York City.
- James and Virgil Earp – brothers of Old West lawman Wyatt Earp
- William Smeathers – well known frontiersman, Smeathers served on first grand jury of Court of Quarter Sessions at Hartford, 1803; credited as the first settler of Yellow Banks, now Owensboro and cited on Kentucky historical marker #1548 in Hartford.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hartford has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Education
Hartford has a lending library, the Ohio County Public Library.
Public education in Hartford, Kentucky and Ohio County is provided by the Ohio County Public School district. Wayland Alexander Elementary School, a preschool - 6th grade facility, is located in Hartford. According to the 2021 Kentucky Department of Education Report Card, Wayland Alexander Elementary School served 633 students. The school mascot is a Mustang.
According to the Ohio County Economic Development Alliance, of the 2,684 residents of Hartford in 2021, 584 (21.7%) residents have earned a college degree (Associates to Graduate).