Livingston County is a rural county in western Kentucky, situated along the Ohio River and bordering Illinois across the river. It lies within the state’s Jackson Purchase region, an area with historical and economic ties to the Mississippi and Ohio river systems. Established in 1798 and named for New York statesman Robert R. Livingston, the county developed around river commerce, agriculture, and later transportation corridors. Livingston County is small in population, with roughly 9,000 residents, and remains lightly populated outside its main towns. The landscape includes bottomlands, river bluffs, and forested areas, with a land use pattern shaped by farming, hunting and fishing, and conservation lands. The local economy is anchored by agriculture and small-scale services, with commuting connections to larger nearby employment centers in western Kentucky and southern Illinois. The county seat is Smithland, located near the confluence of the Cumberland and Ohio rivers.

Livingston County Local Demographic Profile

Livingston County is a rural county in far western Kentucky, located along the Ohio River and bordering Illinois and Indiana. The county seat is Smithland; local government information is available via the Livingston County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Livingston County, Kentucky, the county’s population was 9,016 (2020).

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex composition are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts. Refer to the “Age and Sex” table in Livingston County QuickFacts for:

  • Age distribution (percent under 5, under 18, 65 and over)
  • Gender ratio / sex composition (female and male shares of the population)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

County-level race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity shares are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts. Refer to the “Race and Hispanic Origin” table in Livingston County QuickFacts for:

  • Race (e.g., White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Two or More Races)
  • Ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino, any race)

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing indicators are provided in QuickFacts under “Housing” and “Families & Living Arrangements.” Key county-level measures available in Livingston County QuickFacts include:

  • Number of households
  • Average household size
  • Owner-occupied housing rate
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units
  • Median gross rent
  • Housing units and household characteristics (as listed in the QuickFacts tables)

Email Usage

Livingston County, Kentucky is a sparsely populated, largely rural county along the Ohio River, where lower population density and longer last‑mile distances tend to constrain wired broadband buildout and make mobile or satellite service more common for digital communication.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are generally not published; email access is typically inferred from proxy indicators such as household broadband subscriptions, computer ownership, and smartphone access reported in federal surveys. The most commonly used local benchmarks are the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey tables on computer and internet use and related demographics (U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov).

Broadband subscription and computer access are key predictors of regular email adoption; households without a broadband subscription or a desktop/laptop computer face higher friction for account setup, attachment handling, and multi-factor authentication. Age distribution also influences adoption: older age profiles are associated with lower rates of digital account use and higher reliance on assisted access, while working-age populations show higher use of email for employment and services (American Community Survey (ACS)). Gender differences are typically smaller than age and access constraints in explaining email adoption.

Connectivity limitations are often tied to rural infrastructure gaps; county-level broadband availability and provider footprints are documented in the FCC National Broadband Map.

Mobile Phone Usage

Livingston County is located in western Kentucky along the Ohio River, with a predominantly rural settlement pattern and relatively low population density compared with Kentucky’s urban counties. The county’s terrain includes river valleys, forested areas, and dispersed residential development, all of which commonly increase the cost and complexity of building dense mobile infrastructure and can contribute to coverage gaps or weaker indoor reception in some locations.

Data availability and limits (county-specific)

Publicly available, consistently comparable indicators for mobile-phone ownership, smartphone vs. basic phone share, and mobile-internet adoption are more commonly published at the state level than at the individual-county level. County-level network availability is available from federal mapping, but county-level household adoption often requires modeled estimates or proprietary datasets.

Primary public sources used for county-relevant connectivity context:

Network availability (supply-side): 4G LTE and 5G in Livingston County

Network availability describes where providers report service could be available, not whether residents subscribe or experience consistent performance.

4G LTE

  • Across rural Kentucky, 4G LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband layer and is typically more geographically extensive than 5G due to longer-range propagation on lower-frequency bands.
  • County-specific, provider-reported LTE coverage footprints for Livingston County are visible on the FCC National Broadband Map by selecting “Mobile” and viewing reported coverage by provider and technology. The FCC map is the most direct public source for county-level mobile coverage polygons.

5G (availability varies by provider and spectrum)

  • 5G availability in rural counties is often concentrated along population centers and major road corridors, with broader-area “low-band” 5G more common than short-range high-capacity deployments.
  • Livingston County’s reported 5G coverage can be reviewed on the FCC National Broadband Map under mobile technology filters.
  • Limitations: FCC mobile availability is based largely on provider-reported propagation models and may not capture localized issues such as indoor penetration limits, seasonal foliage impacts, or tower backhaul constraints.

Household adoption and mobile penetration (demand-side)

Adoption describes whether households actually have devices and subscriptions. County-level mobile adoption indicators are limited in standard public releases:

  • The ACS provides county-level estimates for some “computer and internet” concepts, but mobile-specific breakdowns (smartphone-only vs. home broadband vs. multiple modes) are more reliably available at broader geographies or via specialized tables/products. The ACS reference portal is Census.gov ACS.
  • The CPS Internet Use Supplement provides detailed national and state patterns for smartphone and mobile broadband use; it is a standard reference for mobile adoption trends but is generally not a county-level product. See Census.gov CPS.
  • As a result, a definitive county-level “mobile penetration rate” (share of residents with a mobile subscription or smartphone) cannot be stated from standard public county tables without using modeled estimates or non-public microdata.

Mobile internet usage patterns (use-side): typical rural patterns and what can be measured

County-specific measurements of “how residents use mobile internet” (primary access method, data usage intensity, or smartphone-only households) are not commonly published for Livingston County in survey tables. The following patterns are documented in rural broadband research at broader geographies and are relevant context, while remaining non-quantified at the county level:

  • Mobile as a stopgap for fixed broadband gaps: In rural areas with limited fixed broadband availability or affordability challenges, some households rely on smartphones or mobile hotspots for home connectivity. County-level confirmation requires household survey data not typically released at Livingston County resolution.
  • Performance variability: Even where 4G/5G is reported available, real-world speeds can vary with tower density, spectrum holdings, terrain/foliage, and backhaul availability. The FCC map provides availability, not guaranteed speed or quality of service.
  • On-the-road connectivity: Rural counties often have more consistent mobile coverage along major highways than in sparsely populated interior areas. This is visible indirectly through provider coverage shapes on the FCC map but is not a direct adoption measure.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

No standard public dataset provides a definitive Livingston County estimate of smartphone share versus basic phones at present. At the state and national level, the CPS Internet Use and other federal statistical products document that smartphones are the dominant personal mobile device type for internet access, with additional connectivity via tablets, laptops, and dedicated hotspots. For county-specific device mix:

  • What can be stated with public sources: Livingston County can be evaluated for general “computer and internet” availability patterns using ACS tables (for example, households with/without internet subscriptions and device categories), via data.census.gov.
  • What cannot be stated definitively: A Livingston County-specific split of “smartphone vs. basic phone,” “smartphone-only households,” or “primary device for internet” is not consistently available in published county tables.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity in Livingston County

Rural settlement and tower economics

  • Lower population density typically reduces the return on investment for dense tower grids, which can affect coverage depth and indoor signal strength. This influences availability (where service is built) and can indirectly influence adoption (where service quality affects perceived usefulness).

Terrain, vegetation, and riverine geography

  • River valleys and forested areas can create localized propagation challenges, especially for higher-frequency 5G bands. These factors influence experienced coverage even where reported availability exists.

Transportation corridors and community centers

  • Coverage is often strongest near incorporated areas and along primary road corridors where demand and backhaul access are higher. The pattern is best assessed via reported coverage layers on the FCC National Broadband Map.

Age, income, and digital inclusion (data limits at county resolution for mobile)

  • Demographic factors such as age distribution, income, and disability status can influence device ownership and subscription adoption; however, mobile-specific adoption metrics are not typically published at Livingston County resolution. Broader demographic profiles for the county are available through the Census Bureau and can be used to contextualize likely adoption pressures without producing unsupported county-specific mobile rates. County demographic profiles are accessible through data.census.gov.

Clear distinction summary: availability vs. adoption in Livingston County

  • Network availability (what providers report they can serve): County-level mobile 4G/5G availability can be directly reviewed using the FCC National Broadband Map.
  • Household adoption (what residents actually subscribe to and use): County-level, mobile-specific adoption indicators (mobile penetration, smartphone-only households, device-type shares) are not consistently available in standard public releases for Livingston County; the most authoritative public sources for adoption trends are the ACS and CPS, which generally support state-level and larger-area estimates more reliably than county-specific mobile measures.

Social Media Trends

Livingston County is a rural county in far western Kentucky along the Ohio River, with Smithland as the county seat and a local economy shaped by river/transportation access, agriculture, and commuting to larger regional hubs. Lower population density and an older age profile than many urban Kentucky counties generally align with heavier reliance on Facebook and YouTube for local news, community updates, and practical information sharing.

User statistics (penetration / activity)

  • County-specific social media penetration is not published in standard federal datasets. The most defensible local estimate is to apply Kentucky- and U.S.-level survey benchmarks to Livingston County’s adult population profile.
  • Nationally, social media use among U.S. adults is ~7-in-10 (varies by platform and year). Pew’s ongoing tracking shows broad adoption with platform-specific differences by age and demographics (see Pew Research Center’s social media fact sheet).
  • YouTube and Facebook are the highest-reach platforms nationally; this typically translates well to rural counties because they require less dense local social networks than platforms driven by large metro audiences.

Age group trends

  • Highest overall social media use: Adults 18–29 and 30–49 consistently show the highest adoption across most platforms, while 65+ shows the lowest overall use but remains substantial on Facebook.
  • Platform-by-age patterns (U.S. adult benchmarks, Pew):
    • Facebook: skews older relative to many other platforms; strong usage among 30–64 and meaningful penetration among 65+.
    • Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok: skew younger, with the strongest concentration among 18–29.
    • YouTube: high usage across nearly all adult ages.
  • These patterns are consistent with Pew’s documented differences by age (source: Pew Research Center).

Gender breakdown

  • Women are more likely than men to use certain platforms (notably Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest in many survey waves), while YouTube tends to be closer to gender-balanced.
  • Pew publishes platform-by-gender distributions in its survey tables and summaries (source: Pew Research Center’s platform-by-demographic breakdowns).
  • In rural counties with strong community-group usage, women often appear more active in local Facebook groups (school, events, mutual aid, and community announcements), reflecting the broader national pattern of higher engagement on community-oriented platforms.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available; U.S. adult benchmarks)

County-level platform shares are rarely measured directly; the figures below are widely cited U.S. adult usage rates that commonly serve as the best available proxy for rural counties:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Community-information use dominates in rural settings: Facebook pages and groups are commonly used for school updates, church and civic announcements, local weather impacts, road conditions, and community events. This aligns with Facebook’s role as a high-coverage, broad-age platform in the U.S. (Pew: platform reach and demographics).
  • Video is central across age groups: YouTube’s high penetration supports how-to content, news clips, music, and local-interest video consumption; short-form video discovery is more concentrated among younger adults on TikTok and Instagram.
  • Messaging and private sharing complement public posting: National research consistently finds that many users engage more through reading, reacting, and sharing via private messages than by creating public posts, especially among older adults and smaller-community networks (Pew’s research summaries: Pew Research Center internet and technology research).
  • Platform preference tends to track local utility: In counties like Livingston with dispersed communities, platforms that efficiently distribute updates to broad local audiences (Facebook) and platforms with high passive consumption value (YouTube) generally over-index relative to trend-driven, creator-centric networks.

Family & Associates Records

Livingston County family and associate-related public records are primarily held at the Kentucky state level, with some indexes and related court records available locally. Kentucky maintains vital records statewide through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (birth and death certificates; marriages and divorces are also handled by the state). Certified copies are ordered through the state and its approved ordering service: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics and VitalChek (Kentucky). Adoption records are generally restricted under Kentucky law, with limited access through state processes rather than county public inspection.

Local records related to families and associates include probate, guardianship, estate administrations, and some domestic relations filings maintained by the Livingston County Circuit Court Clerk. Public access to court case information is provided through Kentucky’s statewide CourtNet access program and courthouse records systems: Kentucky Court of Justice – CourtNet. In-person access is available through the county clerk offices and the courthouse; county contacts and office locations are listed via the county’s official site: Livingston County, Kentucky (official website).

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to recent vital records, adoption matters, and cases involving juveniles or protected persons; identification and eligibility requirements are standard for certified vital-record copies.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage records (licenses and certificates/returns)
    • Kentucky marriage documentation is created when a marriage license is issued and is completed when the officiant returns the marriage return/certificate to the issuing office.
  • Divorce records (decrees and case files)
    • Divorce matters produce a final decree of dissolution (final judgment) and an associated civil case file (pleadings, motions, orders, and related filings).
  • Annulments
    • Annulments are handled as court cases and typically result in a judgment/order and a case file, maintained with other civil domestic relations matters.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage licenses and completed marriage returns

    • Filed/maintained locally: The Livingston County Clerk (county clerk’s office) is the office that issues and maintains Livingston County marriage license records.
    • State-level index/record access: The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) maintains statewide vital records, including marriage records, for official copies where available under state procedures.
    • Access routes: Requests are commonly made in person, by mail, or through authorized ordering systems used by the county or OVS. Some historical indexes may also be accessible through public records portals or library/archive resources, depending on coverage and digitization.

  • Divorce decrees and annulment judgments; court case files

    • Filed/maintained locally: Divorce and annulment cases are filed in the Livingston County Circuit Court (domestic relations jurisdiction). Records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk as part of the official court record.
    • State-level administrative systems: Kentucky courts use statewide case management and e-filing systems, but the official record remains with the clerk of the court of record.
    • Access routes: Copies of decrees and case documents are obtained through the Circuit Court Clerk. Many case dockets are viewable through Kentucky’s court case access systems where permitted, while certified copies are issued by the clerk.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license / marriage record

    • Full names of the parties
    • Date the license was issued; date and place of marriage (once returned)
    • Ages/date of birth and residence at time of application (as recorded on the application)
    • Names of parents (commonly recorded in Kentucky marriage applications, depending on era/form)
    • Officiant name and title; witnesses (where captured on the form)
    • License number, issuing county, and clerk information

  • Divorce decree (final judgment)

    • Names of the parties and case number
    • Date of decree and court jurisdiction
    • Disposition of the marriage (dissolution granted/denied)
    • Orders regarding property division, debt allocation, maintenance (spousal support), and restoration of a former name (when granted)
    • Orders regarding children (custody, parenting time, child support) when applicable
    • Judge’s signature and certification information

  • Divorce/annulment case file (full court file)

    • Petition/complaint and summons/service returns
    • Responses/appearances, motions, and affidavits
    • Temporary orders and final orders/decree
    • Child support worksheets and financial disclosures (when filed)
    • Exhibits and transcripts (when produced and filed)

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Marriage licenses and returns are generally treated as public records in Kentucky, though offices may redact or limit disclosure of specific identifiers consistent with state law and administrative policy (for example, certain sensitive data elements on applications).
    • Certified copies are issued under the rules of the maintaining office (county clerk or OVS), and requesters may be required to provide identifying information to locate the record.

  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Final decrees are generally public court records, but access can be limited by sealed cases, protective orders, or statutory confidentiality provisions affecting particular filings.
    • Portions of the case file (such as documents containing minor information, sensitive financial identifiers, or protected addresses) may be restricted, redacted, or sealed by court rule or order.
    • Kentucky courts apply court rules and administrative policies governing public access to electronic records; clerks provide access consistent with those rules and any sealing/redaction orders entered in the case.

Education, Employment and Housing

Livingston County is a rural county in western Kentucky along the Ohio River, anchored by the county seat of Smithland and characterized by small towns, low-density housing, and a labor market tied to river/transportation activity and regional job centers in the Purchase Area. Population scale and age structure are consistent with many rural Kentucky counties (small total population, a comparatively older median age than large metros), with public services concentrated around Smithland and the county school campus.

Education Indicators

Public schools (number and names)

Livingston County Schools operates a single, consolidated public school campus serving most grade levels:

  • Livingston Central Elementary School
  • Livingston Central Middle School
  • Livingston Central High School

School listings are reflected through the district and state directories, including the Livingston County Schools district site and the Kentucky School Report Card.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates (most recent available)

  • Student–teacher ratio: The most consistent county-level proxy is the district/school staffing ratios reported through state and federal education datasets; Livingston County typically aligns with rural Kentucky norms (about the mid-teens students per teacher). Exact, current ratios vary by school and year and are best verified in the school-level staffing pages on the Kentucky School Report Card.
  • Graduation rate: Kentucky reports 4-year cohort graduation rates annually at the high-school level. Livingston Central High School’s most recent posted graduation rate is available on the school’s page in the Kentucky School Report Card (rates may fluctuate year to year in smaller cohorts typical of rural counties).

Adult education levels (countywide)

Countywide educational attainment is most commonly reported through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS):

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): Reported in ACS county tables (Livingston County generally tracks below the U.S. average but near many rural Kentucky peers).
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Also reported in ACS; Livingston County typically reports a lower share than state and national averages, consistent with rural educational-attainment patterns.

The most recent ACS county profiles are accessible via data.census.gov (search “Livingston County, Kentucky educational attainment”).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Kentucky public high schools commonly provide CTE pathways (industry credentials, work-based learning) through district programming aligned with the Kentucky Department of Education’s career readiness framework. Livingston Central High School’s current CTE offerings and credentials are documented in its state report-card profile and district publications.
  • Advanced coursework (AP/dual credit): Kentucky high schools often offer Advanced Placement and/or dual-credit coursework through regional postsecondary partners; specific Livingston Central offerings are listed through the school course catalog and state reporting.
  • Regional workforce training: Adult and workforce training opportunities in the broader region are commonly supported through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and regional workforce boards; program availability relevant to Livingston County is documented through regional providers rather than county government.

(Program inventories vary by year; the most authoritative, current listing is the school’s and district’s state report-card and course/program pages.)

School safety measures and counseling resources

Kentucky districts generally implement a combination of:

  • Controlled building access, visitor check-in procedures, and safety drills aligned with state guidance
  • School Resource Officer (SRO) or law-enforcement coordination (common in many Kentucky districts, subject to staffing and interagency agreements)
  • Student support services, including school counseling; many districts also provide access to mental-health partnerships or regional service referrals

Livingston County’s specific safety policies and student-support staffing (counselors, psychologists, FRYSC where applicable) are typically published in district policy documents and the district’s student services pages, with comparative indicators (discipline, climate, staffing) reflected on the Kentucky School Report Card.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

  • The most consistent “official” unemployment series for counties comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Livingston County’s most recent annual average unemployment rate is reported in the BLS LAUS county tables and Kentucky releases. Use the BLS and state labor-market portals for the current value:

(County rates in the region often show notable year-to-year volatility due to small labor force size and seasonal factors.)

Major industries and employment sectors

Based on rural western Kentucky economic structure and county-level industry distributions reported through ACS and LMI profiles, Livingston County employment commonly concentrates in:

  • Educational services, health care, and social assistance (public schools, health and elder care)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local service economy)
  • Manufacturing and construction (often regionally oriented, with commuting to larger employment hubs)
  • Transportation and warehousing / river-related logistics (influenced by the Ohio River corridor)

Industry shares for Livingston County are available in ACS “Industry by Occupation” tables at data.census.gov and Kentucky LMI county profiles.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Typical occupational groupings reported for small rural counties in the Purchase Area include:

  • Management, business, and financial
  • Service occupations (food service, protective services, personal care)
  • Sales and office
  • Construction and extraction
  • Production
  • Transportation and material moving
  • Healthcare support and practitioner roles (often tied to regional facilities)

Livingston County’s occupation distribution is published through ACS county occupation tables on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

  • Mean travel time to work: ACS provides a countywide mean commute time; Livingston County typically reflects rural-to-regional commuting, with many workers traveling to job sites outside the county seat area.
  • How residents commute: Personal vehicles dominate; carpooling is more common than in large metros; public transit share is typically minimal in rural counties.

Commute-time and commuting-mode statistics are reported in ACS “Commuting (Journey to Work)” tables on data.census.gov.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Livingston County generally shows a net out-commuting pattern typical of small rural counties: a substantial share of working residents are employed in nearby counties with larger job bases. The most direct public measures come from:

  • ACS “Place of Work” and commuting-flow indicators (limited at small geographies)
  • LEHD OnTheMap (worker residence-to-workplace flows), which provides an accessible estimate of in-commuters, out-commuters, and local jobs filled by local residents.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

  • Livingston County housing tenure (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied) is reported through ACS. Rural Kentucky counties typically show high homeownership relative to national averages, with a comparatively smaller rental stock centered around small-town areas.
  • The most recent tenure shares for Livingston County are available through ACS housing tables at data.census.gov.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value: Reported by ACS (5-year estimates are commonly used for small counties). Livingston County values tend to be below Kentucky and U.S. medians, reflecting rural land-and-home markets.
  • Trend context: Recent years across Kentucky have generally shown rising valuations and constrained inventory, with smaller counties experiencing slower absolute price growth than major metros but still notable appreciation relative to pre-2020 levels. For a county-specific median value series, ACS is the most consistent source.

County median value is available in ACS “Median value (dollars) of owner-occupied housing units” tables at data.census.gov.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: Reported through ACS. Livingston County median rents typically fall below metro Kentucky medians, with limited multifamily supply.
  • County rent statistics are available in ACS “Median gross rent” tables at data.census.gov.

Types of housing (structure mix)

Livingston County’s housing stock is predominantly:

  • Single-family detached homes and manufactured housing in rural areas
  • Small-scale multifamily (duplexes/small apartment buildings) concentrated in and near Smithland and other small settlements
  • Rural lots/acreage tracts, with distance-to-services varying substantially by location

Structure type shares are reported in ACS “Units in structure” tables on data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

  • School proximity: The consolidated Livingston Central campus structure tends to concentrate school-related activity around the central school site, with longer bus routes and drive times typical in rural geographies.
  • Amenities: Daily retail, civic services, and public facilities are primarily clustered in Smithland and limited commercial nodes; many households rely on regional centers outside the county for broader shopping, healthcare specialties, and employment.

Specific neighborhood-level metrics are not consistently published for unincorporated rural areas; proximity is best interpreted through the county’s settlement pattern and road network rather than tract-level walkability measures.

Property tax overview (rate and typical cost)

  • Kentucky property taxes are levied through a combination of county, school district, and city (where applicable) rates applied to assessed value. Bills commonly include additional special districts depending on location.
  • County-level tax rate schedules and billing practices are administered locally; Livingston County taxpayer information is typically maintained through the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) and sheriff/tax collection offices, and state-level assessment rules are set by the Kentucky Department of Revenue.

For authoritative local rates and billing components, reference the Livingston County PVA and county tax collection postings and the Kentucky Department of Revenue property tax overview. (A single “average homeowner cost” varies materially by assessed value, exemptions, and special district levies; public sources usually present rates and assessment rules rather than a uniform countywide bill amount.)

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Other Counties in Kentucky