Scott County is located in north-central Kentucky in the Bluegrass Region, immediately north of Lexington and within the Cincinnati–Lexington corridor. Established in 1792 and named for Revolutionary War officer Charles Scott, the county developed early as an agricultural area supported by turnpikes and later rail connections that linked central Kentucky markets. Today it is a mid-sized county by Kentucky standards, with a population of roughly 58,000 (2020). Georgetown is the county seat and principal population center, while much of the surrounding area remains rural. The landscape features rolling Bluegrass terrain underlain by limestone geology typical of the region. Scott County’s economy combines manufacturing and logistics with agriculture, including horse and livestock operations. Its location along Interstate 75 and proximity to Lexington contribute to commuter-oriented growth and a blend of small-city and suburban development alongside longstanding Bluegrass cultural traditions.

Scott County Local Demographic Profile

Scott County is located in north-central Kentucky in the Bluegrass region, directly north of Fayette County (Lexington area). The county seat is Georgetown, and county government information is available via the Scott County official website.

Population Size

Age & Gender

Age distribution (shares of total population):

  • County-level age distribution is published by the U.S. Census Bureau in the American Community Survey (ACS). The standard table is ACS S0101 (Age and Sex), accessible via data.census.gov.
  • Exact percentages are not reproduced here because ACS values depend on the selected 1-year or 5-year release and year; the authoritative county table is S0101 on data.census.gov.

Gender ratio / sex composition:

Racial & Ethnic Composition

  • Race (2020 Census): County race counts are published in the 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data tables (e.g., DECENNIALPL2020.P1 for total population and DECENNIALPL2020.P2 for Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino by race) on data.census.gov.
  • Race and Hispanic/Latino origin (ACS): The U.S. Census Bureau also publishes race and ethnicity estimates through ACS tables and summaries; see the county’s ACS profile via data.census.gov and summary indicators on QuickFacts.

Household & Housing Data

Households and family characteristics:

  • County household totals, average household size, and related measures are available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS, including tables such as S1101 (Households and Families) on data.census.gov.
  • Selected household indicators are also summarized on the Scott County QuickFacts page.

Housing stock and occupancy:

  • County housing-unit totals, occupancy/vacancy, and tenure (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied) are available through ACS housing tables such as DP04 (Selected Housing Characteristics) and related detailed tables on data.census.gov.
  • QuickFacts also summarizes key housing measures (housing units, homeownership rate, median value, and related items) on the Scott County QuickFacts profile.

Source Notes (County-Level)

  • Population size: 2020 Census Decennial tables on data.census.gov (e.g., DECENNIALPL2020.P1).
  • Age, sex, households, and housing: ACS tables on data.census.gov (commonly S0101, S1101, DP04) and summary indicators on QuickFacts.

Email Usage

Scott County, Kentucky includes the suburban Georgetown area and adjacent rural spaces; lower density outside the I‑75 corridor can increase last‑mile buildout costs and contribute to uneven digital access, shaping reliance on email for government, school, and work communication.

Direct countywide email‑usage statistics are not routinely published, so email adoption is inferred from proxy indicators such as internet subscriptions, device availability, and age structure reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) and connectivity measures compiled by the FCC National Broadband Map.

Digital access indicators: American Community Survey tables on household computer ownership and broadband subscriptions (county profile in U.S. Census Bureau) indicate the baseline capacity to use email routinely; households lacking either are less able to maintain consistent email access.

Age distribution: ACS age profiles (via U.S. Census Bureau) are a key predictor of email use, as older populations generally show lower adoption of online services relative to working‑age adults.

Gender distribution: County sex composition from ACS is available (via U.S. Census Bureau), but it is not a strong standalone proxy for email access without device and connectivity measures.

Connectivity limitations: The FCC broadband availability data and local service conditions documented through the Scott County government provide context on infrastructure constraints that can limit consistent email connectivity.

Mobile Phone Usage

Scott County is in north-central Kentucky within the Lexington–Fayette metropolitan area, with Georgetown as the county seat. The county includes a mix of suburbanizing areas along the I‑75 corridor and lower-density rural land outside Georgetown. Population density and the built environment (denser development near Georgetown versus more dispersed households elsewhere) are practical factors affecting mobile network coverage quality and in-building signal performance. Basic geography and population context are available via U.S. Census Bureau (Census.gov) and local profiles published through the City of Georgetown and the county’s public resources.

Key distinction: network availability vs. household adoption

Network availability refers to whether mobile carriers report coverage (e.g., 4G LTE or 5G) in an area. These are typically model-based coverage maps and may not reflect real-world performance in every location (especially indoors and in fringe areas).

Household adoption refers to whether residents actually subscribe to and use mobile service (and whether they rely on mobile as their primary internet connection). Adoption is shaped by income, housing type, age distribution, device costs, and the availability of fixed broadband alternatives.

County-specific adoption metrics are more limited than availability metrics; when county-level adoption is not published, statewide or tract-level indicators are used with limitations noted.

Mobile penetration / access indicators (where available)

County-level direct “mobile penetration” measures are not commonly published in a standardized way. The most relevant public indicators are typically:

  • Subscription/access proxies from federal surveys and program datasets (often not reported cleanly at the county level for mobile subscriptions specifically).
  • Household internet access type and cellular data–only households from the U.S. Census Bureau’s survey products, which can be used as an adoption proxy (internet via cellular data plan versus fixed broadband).

For Scott County, the most defensible, regularly updated public sources for adoption-related indicators are:

Limitation: ACS “internet subscription” measures capture household-level connectivity types and can indicate the prevalence of cellular-data-only internet, but ACS is not a direct measure of mobile phone ownership, carrier market shares, or smartphone penetration.

Mobile internet usage patterns and network availability (4G/5G)

Reported 4G LTE and 5G availability

Mobile availability in Scott County is best characterized using carrier-reported and FCC-collated coverage layers:

  • The FCC’s public broadband mapping program provides mobile coverage information and is the primary federal reference for availability: FCC National Broadband Map.
  • The FCC’s broader mobile/broadband data documentation (methodology, limitations, challenges processes) is maintained by the agency: FCC Broadband Data Collection.

In practice, 4G LTE is broadly available across most populated corridors and towns, while 5G availability is typically most reliable in and near higher-demand areas (Georgetown and the I‑75 corridor) and can be more uneven in lower-density rural portions of the county. The FCC map is the authoritative public reference for where providers report 4G LTE and 5G coverage by technology.

Limitation: The FCC map depicts reported service availability and does not guarantee consistent speeds, indoor coverage, or performance during congestion. It also does not directly indicate what share of residents actively use 5G-capable devices.

Usage patterns (mobile as primary internet vs. supplemental)

County-level “usage pattern” measures (time spent, app use, data consumption) are generally not published publicly. The most relevant public indicators focus on whether households rely on mobile connections for internet:

  • ACS internet subscription categories can indicate cellular data plan as the household’s internet service, which is commonly used as a proxy for “mobile-first” or “mobile-only” connectivity at the household level (available through data.census.gov where estimates are published with sufficient reliability).

Limitation: Household cellular-data-only internet does not capture residents who have both fixed broadband and heavy mobile usage, nor does it measure commuting-related mobile use patterns tied to the Lexington region.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Direct county-level device-type breakdowns (smartphone vs. flip phone vs. tablet-only) are not consistently available from public administrative datasets. Publicly accessible indicators typically include:

  • Household computer/device availability (desktop/laptop/tablet) and internet subscription types, available via ACS tables on data.census.gov.
  • National-level smartphone ownership statistics (not county-specific) from federal survey programs; these describe broad U.S. patterns rather than Scott County specifically.

Within Scott County, the most defensible statement supported by public data is that smartphones are the dominant endpoint for mobile connectivity nationally and statewide, while county-specific device-type shares are not published in a standardized way. ACS can support statements about household computing devices and whether households subscribe to cellular data plans, but it does not directly enumerate “smartphone ownership” at the county level in the way commonly cited from private surveys.

Limitation: Private market research often reports smartphone penetration but is typically proprietary and not reproducible as a public reference for a county profile.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Geography, land use, and settlement patterns

  • Denser development near Georgetown and along major corridors (notably I‑75) generally corresponds to more robust mobile network densification (more cell sites, better capacity) compared with dispersed rural areas.
  • Rural housing patterns can increase the distance between users and serving cell sites, which can reduce signal strength and throughput and increase the likelihood of dead zones or weaker indoor service.

Public references for geography and community context include:

Socioeconomic and age-related factors (adoption-side)

Mobile adoption and mobile-only reliance tend to correlate with:

  • Income and affordability constraints (mobile-only households can reflect cost tradeoffs relative to fixed broadband).
  • Housing tenure and housing type (renters and multi-unit housing residents can face different fixed-broadband availability or installation friction, influencing reliance on mobile plans).
  • Age distribution (older populations often show lower adoption of newer device generations, affecting 5G uptake even where 5G is available).

These factors can be described using county-level demographic profiles from:

Summary of what is well-supported vs. data-limited for Scott County

  • Well-supported (public, county-relevant):

  • Data-limited (not reliably public at county level):

    • Direct “mobile phone penetration” (phone ownership/subscription rate) as a single county metric.
    • Smartphone vs. non-smartphone shares for Scott County.
    • Detailed behavioral “usage patterns” (data consumption, app usage), which are generally proprietary.

This separation reflects the practical availability of reproducible public datasets: the FCC provides the strongest county-relevant evidence for where mobile service is reported to be available, while Census products provide the strongest county-relevant evidence for household adoption and reliance patterns, with limited specificity on smartphone-only device composition.

Social Media Trends

Scott County is in north-central Kentucky within the Lexington–Fayette metropolitan area, anchored by Georgetown and shaped by commuter ties to Lexington, a mix of suburban and rural communities, and major employers such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. This metro adjacency and a sizable working-age population generally align local social media behavior with broader U.S. and Kentucky patterns rather than a distinct, standalone media market.

User statistics (penetration / activity)

  • County-level social media penetration: Public, county-specific estimates are not consistently published by major survey programs; most reliable benchmarking uses U.S.-level and state-level survey data.
  • U.S. benchmark (adults): About 7 in 10 U.S. adults use at least one social media site, according to Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use in 2023.
  • Internet access context (important for usage capacity): Social media use generally tracks broadband/smartphone access; for local connectivity indicators, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is a standard reference for household internet and device availability (county-level tables).

Age group trends

Patterns below reflect national survey findings that typically generalize to metro-adjacent counties like Scott County:

  • Highest use: Ages 18–29 show the highest social media usage rates across platforms (overall social media use is especially concentrated in younger adults).
  • Mid-high use: Ages 30–49 maintain high usage, with heavier reliance on a mix of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
  • Lower but substantial use: Ages 50–64 show moderate adoption, often skewing toward Facebook and YouTube.
  • Lowest use: Ages 65+ use social media at lower rates than younger groups but remain significant on Facebook and YouTube.
    Source: Pew Research Center (2023 platform-by-age breakouts).

Gender breakdown

Nationally, gender differences tend to be platform-specific rather than a simple overall gap:

  • Women are more likely than men to use Pinterest and are slightly more represented on some visually oriented platforms in several survey waves.
  • Men are more likely than women to use some discussion- or news-adjacent platforms (patterns vary by platform and year). Source: Pew Research Center platform demographics.

Most-used platforms (U.S. adult benchmarks)

County-specific platform shares are not published consistently; the most reliable comparable figures are national survey estimates:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

  • Video-centric consumption: High YouTube penetration indicates broad video usage across age groups; short-form video growth is reflected in TikTok usage, especially among younger adults. (Pew platform adoption; also see methodological context in Pew Research Center’s Internet & Technology research.)
  • Age-based platform clustering: Younger adults concentrate on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, while older adults over-index on Facebook; mixed-age households commonly use Facebook for community updates and YouTube for entertainment/how-to content.
  • Local community information flows: In metro-adjacent counties, Facebook groups/pages and local-news sharing tend to function as a primary channel for neighborhood information, events, and civic discussion, reflecting Facebook’s broad reach and older-skewing user base (consistent with Pew’s platform-by-age distributions).
  • Professional networking presence: LinkedIn usage is more common among college-educated and higher-income adults, which often maps to commuters and professional employment tied to the Lexington-area economy (see Pew’s demographic breakouts in the same report).

Family & Associates Records

Scott County family-related public records primarily include vital records and certain court filings. Kentucky centralizes certified birth and death certificates through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics; county offices do not issue these records. Birth and death records are requested online or by mail through Kentucky Vital Records (CHFS), or in person through the state office. Marriage licenses are recorded locally by the Scott County Clerk and may be requested from the clerk’s office; recorded documents and fees are posted via the Scott County Clerk. Divorce records are maintained by the Scott County Circuit Court Clerk, with case access and in-person requests handled through the Scott County Circuit Court (Kentucky Court of Justice).

Adoption records in Kentucky are generally confidential and sealed; access is restricted by statute and court order processes are handled through the court system rather than county open-record files.

Public databases vary by record type. Kentucky Court of Justice provides statewide court information and access points through KY Courts. Some recorded land and lien indexes are available through the county clerk, while certified vital records remain state-controlled.

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to sealed adoptions, protected person information, and certain vital-record access rules (identity and eligibility requirements for certified copies).

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records maintained

  • Marriage license records
    • Kentucky counties issue and record marriage licenses. In Scott County, licenses are created at the county level and retained as part of the county’s permanent marriage record set.
  • Divorce records (decrees/judgments)
    • Divorces are handled by the Kentucky Circuit Court. The court maintains divorce case files and the final decree/judgment of dissolution.
    • Kentucky also maintains statewide divorce information through the Office of Vital Statistics for qualifying years (see “Access points” below).
  • Annulment records
    • Annulments are court actions, maintained as civil case records in the court where filed, typically the Circuit Court. The court record includes the order or judgment granting (or denying) annulment.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Scott County Clerk (Marriage licenses)
    • Marriage licenses are filed and recorded with the Scott County Clerk’s office, which serves as the county recorder for marriage license documentation.
    • Access is typically available through:
      • In-person requests at the county clerk’s office for certified copies and searches.
      • Mail requests (county-specific procedures, fees, and identification requirements vary by office).
  • Scott County Circuit Court Clerk / Kentucky Court of Justice (Divorce and annulment case files)
    • Divorce decrees and annulment judgments are part of the court case record maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk’s office for the county where the case was filed.
    • Access is typically available through:
      • In-person review of court records at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office (public access depends on whether the file contains sealed or restricted material).
      • Copies of orders/decrees obtained from the clerk, often with per-page and certification fees.
      • Case information may also be available through Kentucky Court of Justice resources: https://kycourts.gov/.
  • Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (State-level divorce information for certain years)
    • Kentucky maintains statewide divorce certificates/verification records for divorces from 1973 to the present (coverage and format are set by the state). This is distinct from the full court case file and decree.
    • Vital records access is administered by Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Pages/default.aspx.

Typical information included

  • Marriage license records
    • Full names of both parties (including prior names where reported)
    • Date and place of license issuance
    • Ages/birth dates (as recorded on the application), and usually birthplaces
    • Residences/addresses at time of application
    • Marital status (single/divorced/widowed) and number of prior marriages (commonly collected)
    • Names of parents (commonly collected), sometimes including birthplaces
    • Officiant information and date/place of marriage return (when returned and recorded)
    • Recording details (book/page or instrument number), and certification/attestation by the clerk
  • Divorce decrees/judgments (court record)
    • Caption identifying the parties and case number
    • Date of filing and date of final judgment
    • Findings and orders dissolving the marriage
    • Terms addressing property division, debt allocation, maintenance (alimony), child custody/parenting time, and child support (as applicable)
    • Judicial signature and clerk certification on certified copies
    • The full case file may also include pleadings, motions, financial disclosures, and other exhibits, which may be restricted or sealed in part
  • Annulment judgments (court record)
    • Caption, case number, and filing/judgment dates
    • Legal basis for annulment and the court’s findings
    • Orders addressing status of the marriage and related relief (property, support, custody), as applicable
    • Judicial signature and clerk certification on certified copies

Privacy and legal restrictions

  • Marriage records
    • Marriage license records recorded by the county clerk are generally treated as public records, with certified copies issued by the custodian.
    • Some personal identifiers or sensitive information may be redacted consistent with Kentucky public records practices and identity-theft protections.
  • Divorce and annulment court records
    • Court records are generally public, but Kentucky courts may restrict access to specific documents or information by law or court order.
    • Records involving minors, domestic violence, or sensitive financial/medical information may include sealed filings or redactions. Protective orders and related proceedings have additional access limitations under Kentucky law and court rules.
    • The full decree is obtained from the court clerk; state vital records typically provide a certificate/verification rather than the entire case file.
  • Identity verification and fees
    • Certified copies commonly require payment of statutory or administrative fees and may require requester identification or notarized applications, depending on the custodian and record type.

Education, Employment and Housing

Scott County is in north-central Kentucky in the Bluegrass region, immediately north of Lexington–Fayette County and anchored by Georgetown (the county seat). The county is part of the Lexington metropolitan area and has experienced sustained population growth tied to manufacturing and suburban expansion; recent U.S. Census estimates place the population at roughly 60,000 residents. The community context combines a fast-growing suburban corridor along I‑75 with rural areas and small towns, producing mixed commuting and housing patterns.

Education Indicators

Public schools and school names

Scott County public schools are operated by Scott County Schools. The district’s schools include:

  • Elementary: Creekside Elementary; Eastern Elementary; Garth Elementary; Great Crossing Elementary; Northern Elementary; Southern Elementary; Stamping Ground Elementary; Western Elementary
  • Middle: Scott County Middle School; Georgetown Middle School
  • High school: Scott County High School; Great Crossing High School
    (Source: the district’s school listings via the Scott County Schools website.)

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratio: A commonly cited district-level ratio for Scott County Schools is approximately 16:1 (proxy based on recent district and school-profile reporting; ratios vary by school and year).
  • Graduation rate: The county’s four-year high school graduation rate is reported through the state accountability system; recent Kentucky district rates are typically in the upper-80% to low-90% range. The most recent official value for Scott County Schools is published in the Kentucky School Report Card.
    (Authoritative source: Kentucky School Report Card.)

Adult education levels

Adult attainment (countywide) is reported through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Recent ACS profiles for Scott County typically show:

Notable programs (STEM, career/technical, AP)

  • Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit: Offered at the county’s high schools; availability and course lists are documented in school/course catalogs and state report-card “academic opportunities” measures.
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Scott County high schools participate in Kentucky CTE pathways aligned to workforce needs (manufacturing, skilled trades, health and business pathways are common in the region).
  • STEM: STEM offerings are present through standard Kentucky academic standards, course pathways, and extracurriculars; school-level program details are typically documented in district/school improvement plans and course catalogs.
    (Program confirmation and participation measures: Kentucky School Report Card and district publications on Scott County Schools.)

School safety measures and counseling resources

Kentucky public schools operate under statewide school safety requirements, including emergency management planning and mandated safety procedures, while districts maintain building-level safety protocols (visitor controls, drills, coordination with local law enforcement). Counseling resources are commonly delivered through school counselors and support staff, with district-level student services reflected in staffing and support-service reporting.
(Reference frameworks and reporting: Kentucky School Report Card and Kentucky education safety guidance summarized through the Kentucky Department of Education.)

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

Scott County’s unemployment rate is tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). Recent annual averages have generally been in the low single digits (typical for the Lexington-area counties in the post‑2021 period), with year-to-year movement tied to broader state and national conditions.
(Authoritative source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).)

Major industries and employment sectors

Scott County’s employment base is shaped by:

  • Manufacturing (notably automotive-related supply chains and large-scale production)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (supporting residential growth and tourism/through-traffic)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Educational services
  • Construction and logistics/transportation (I‑75 corridor effects)

A major regional employment anchor is Toyota’s Georgetown operations, which has historically influenced local manufacturing employment levels and supplier networks.
(Industry composition sources: County Business Patterns, ACS industry tables.)

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational structure in Scott County commonly reflects:

  • Production, transportation, and material moving
  • Office and administrative support
  • Sales and related
  • Management and business
  • Education, healthcare, and protective services (Authoritative source: ACS occupation tables.)

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

  • Commute mode: Predominantly drive-alone, consistent with suburban and rural settlement patterns; carpooling and remote work represent smaller shares (remote work increased compared with pre‑2020 baselines but remains secondary to driving).
  • Mean travel time to work: Generally in the mid‑20 minutes range for Scott County in recent ACS releases, reflecting substantial commuting to Lexington and other nearby employment centers.
    (Authoritative source: ACS commuting tables.)

Local employment vs out-of-county work

Scott County is a net participant in the Lexington regional labor market. A substantial share of residents work outside the county (notably in Fayette County/Lexington), while Scott County also draws in commuters for manufacturing and industrial employment along the I‑75/Georgetown area.
(Primary measurement source: LEHD OnTheMap commuter flows.)

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Scott County is primarily owner-occupied, with recent ACS profiles typically indicating:

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value: Recent ACS estimates generally place Scott County’s median value in the low-to-mid $200,000s (variation by year and margin of error).
  • Trend: Values rose sharply during 2020–2022 across Kentucky and the Lexington metro area, then shifted to slower growth rates, consistent with higher interest rates and reduced affordability. County-specific short-term trends vary by data series (ACS vs market listings).
    (Authoritative baseline: ACS home value tables; market-trend proxies often reported by regional MLS summaries, not a single official federal series.)

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: Recent ACS medians for Scott County are typically around $1,000–$1,200 per month (year-dependent).
    (Authoritative source: ACS gross rent tables.)

Types of housing

  • Single-family detached homes dominate, especially in suburban subdivisions around Georgetown and along major corridors.
  • Apartments and attached housing are present near Georgetown’s denser areas and along growth nodes serving commuters.
  • Rural lots and farmland-associated residences remain common outside Georgetown and Stamping Ground, reflecting the county’s agricultural landscape.
    (Composition source: ACS housing unit structure tables.)

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

  • Georgetown growth areas tend to cluster near schools, shopping, and services, with shorter in-county travel for daily needs and direct access to I‑75.
  • Outlying communities (e.g., Stamping Ground and rural areas) generally offer larger parcels and lower-density housing, with longer travel times to schools, retail, and medical services.
    (These characteristics reflect the county’s settlement pattern and road network rather than a single standardized statistic.)

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Property taxes in Kentucky are levied by overlapping jurisdictions (county, school district, city where applicable). Scott County homeowners commonly face:

  • Effective property tax rates that are moderate by national standards (often around ~1% of assessed value, varying by taxing district and year).
  • Typical annual tax bills that scale with assessed value; a mid‑$200,000 home often yields a bill in the low-thousands range when county, school, and any city levies are combined.
    (Authoritative local rate tables and bills are maintained by the local property valuation administrator and county/city tax offices; statewide context summarized by the Kentucky Department of Revenue. Precise Scott County totals vary by jurisdiction and assessment year.)

Data notes: The most authoritative, regularly updated public sources for county profiles are the ACS (education, commuting, housing tenure/value/rent), BLS LAUS (unemployment), Kentucky School Report Card (graduation and academic opportunity measures), and LEHD OnTheMap (commuter flows). Where a single latest numeric value is not consistently published in one place (e.g., district student–teacher ratios across all schools; countywide “typical” tax bills), the summary uses clearly stated proxies and the official reporting systems noted above.

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Other Counties in Kentucky