The following article appeared in the Evansville Journal of 28 July 1920.
"Marion,
Ky. showed an increase in population of 91 inhabitants, according to figures
issued by the census bureau.
"In
1910 Marion showed 1,627. In 1920 the figures reached a total of 1,718.
Crittenden County, Ky. recorded a loss in population in the 1920 census over ten
years ago. The total in 1920 is 13,125. In 1910 it was 13,296. Dycusburg's
population in 1920 is 162 in comparison with 176 in 1910. Tolu's population is
225. In 1910 it was 180."
For a more up-to-date view, the following population figures were provided by Wikipedia:
Population
of Marion in 2010: 3,039
Population
of Dycusburg in 2010: 26
Population
of Tolu in 2010: 88
Population
of Crittenden County in 2013: 9,255
Now, relate these figures to the lives of your Crittenden County ancestors and ask yourself the following questions:
1. What was the reason for the population increase of Marion?
2. How was life in town different from life in the country?
3. What drew them to town? Educational opportunities? Better medical care?
4. The entire county population decreased from 1910. Where did the people go and why?
5. Are there any stories in your family about relatives or friends who moved away?
6. Did the decrease in population affect your family and how?
Sometimes a look at the population statistics helps us understand what was happenings in our ancestors' lives.
Sometimes a look at the population statistics helps us understand what was happenings in our ancestors' lives.
Published 4 May 2017, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
3 comments:
Hi Brenda,
My great grandfather's family moved from Sturgis to Harrisburg, Illinois. In my research, I've found a lot of families moved from Crittenden County to Union County and later to Saline County, Ill., to follow the mining jobs. I'm not sure when coal and fluorspar mining declined in western Kentucky, but that seems a likely reason for the migration.
Brenda,
Another thought: As you know, I've researched the African American community of Crittenden and Livingston counties. A few years back, a McCain descendant told me that her ancestor, who was mixed race, went to Evansville and "passed" for white in order to obtain employment in a factory there. His grandchildren begged him to take them to his work, but he always told them no for fear his employer would see the darker-skinned children and discover he was black.
I agree with you. Several families moved from the Bells Mines area to around DeKoven and Caseyville in Union County and then on to southern Illinois, including Saline and Franklin counties. Quite a few people also moved over to Rosiclare in Hardin County, Illinois as well.
Thanks, Janet.
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