Barren County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 36°58′N 85°56′W / 36.96°N 85.93°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kentucky |
Founded | 1798 |
Named for | The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky |
Seat | Glasgow |
Largest city | Glasgow |
Area | |
• Total | 500 sq mi (1,000 km2) |
• Land | 488 sq mi (1,260 km2) |
• Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 2.5% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 44,485 |
• Estimate (2023) | 45,008 |
• Density | 87/sq mi (34/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Website | barrencounty |
Barren County is a county located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,485.[1] Its county seat is Glasgow.[2] The county was founded on December 20, 1798,[3] from parts of Warren and Green Counties. It was named for the Barrens, meadowlands that cover the northern third, though actually the soil is fertile.[4][5] Barren County is part of the Glasgow, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY Combined Statistical Area. In 2007 Barren County was named the "Best Place to Live in Rural America" by Progressive Farmer Magazine.[6]