Nelson County, Kentucky

Last updated

Nelson County
County
New Nelson County KY Courthouse.JPG
Nelson County Courthouse in Bardstown
Map of Kentucky highlighting Nelson County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky in United States.svg
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°48′N85°28′W / 37.8°N 85.47°W / 37.8; -85.47
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kentucky.svg  Kentucky
FoundedNovember 29, 1784
Named for Thomas Nelson Jr.
Seat Bardstown
Largest cityBardstown
Area
 • Total
424 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land418 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Water6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
46,738
 • Estimate 
(2023)
47,730 Increase2.svg
 • Density110/sq mi (43/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 4th
Website nelsoncountyky.gov

Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,065. [1] Its county seat is Bardstown. [2] Nelson County comprises the Bardstown, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Louisville/Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Madison, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area.

Contents

History

The fourth county created in what is now Kentucky, it was formed from Jefferson County, Kentucky in 1784, shortly after the Revolutionary War. [3] [4] The county was named for Thomas Nelson Jr., the Virginia Governor who signed the Declaration of Independence. [5] In 1807, after Kentucky had become a state, a newly created Virginia county was named in his honor.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 424 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 418 square miles (1,080 km2) are land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.5%) are covered by water. [6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 11,315—
1800 9,866−12.8%
1810 14,07842.7%
1820 16,27315.6%
1830 14,932−8.2%
1840 13,637−8.7%
1850 14,7898.4%
1860 15,7996.8%
1870 14,804−6.3%
1880 16,60912.2%
1890 16,417−1.2%
1900 16,5871.0%
1910 16,8301.5%
1920 16,137−4.1%
1930 16,5512.6%
1940 18,0048.8%
1950 19,5218.4%
1960 22,16813.6%
1970 23,4775.9%
1980 27,58417.5%
1990 29,7107.7%
2000 37,47726.1%
2010 43,43715.9%
2020 46,7387.6%
2023 (est.)47,730 [7] 2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10]
1990–2000 [11] 2010–2020 [1]

As of the census [12] of 2010, 43,437 people inhabited the county. [13] The population density was 102.4 per square mile (39.5/km2). Its 18,075 housing units averaged 42.6 per square mile (16.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.48% White (90.93% non-Hispanic), 5.03% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. About 2.04% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 16,826 households, 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.09% were married couples living together, 13.19% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.35% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.37% were not families. Of all households, 24.41% were made up of individuals, and 8.09% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 25.98% under 18, 7.98% from 18 to 24, 26.47% from 25 to 44, 27.84% from 45 to 64, and 11.73% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

Income data for Kentucky locations from the 2010 Census have not yet been released. As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $39,010, and for a family was $44,600. Males had a median income of $32,015 versus $21,838 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,120. About 10.00% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions and events

Many attractions and events are available in Bardstown. The following is outside the county seat:

Education

Two public school districts operate in the county: [15]

Several private schools also operate in the county. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville operates five schools in all—three K–8 schools, a fourth that educates grades 1 through 8, and one high school. Several Protestant-affiliated schools also exist.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Nelson County, Kentucky [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 16,05270.24%6,51528.51%2851.25%
2020 15,70367.52%7,18830.91%3651.57%
2016 13,43164.57%6,43430.93%9374.50%
2012 10,67357.59%7,61141.07%2491.34%
2008 10,13955.87%7,65442.18%3531.95%
2004 10,16160.32%6,52438.73%1590.94%
2000 7,71457.19%5,48140.64%2932.17%
1996 4,64541.63%5,39248.32%1,12210.05%
1992 4,49538.51%5,43746.58%1,74014.91%
1988 5,28351.90%4,78847.04%1081.06%
1984 6,04458.57%4,19940.69%760.74%
1980 3,34936.75%5,51460.50%2512.75%
1976 2,80437.37%4,45459.36%2463.28%
1972 3,49553.54%2,82843.32%2053.14%
1968 2,37334.31%3,42049.45%1,12316.24%
1964 1,68323.07%5,58676.56%270.37%
1960 3,02139.06%4,71360.94%00.00%
1956 4,10755.76%3,24043.99%180.24%
1952 3,06447.18%3,41752.62%130.20%
1948 1,71531.75%3,55665.84%1302.41%
1944 2,13636.76%3,64862.78%270.46%
1940 2,10933.42%4,19366.45%80.13%
1936 1,91330.09%4,23466.59%2113.32%
1932 2,10028.37%5,27271.23%290.39%
1928 2,92642.04%4,03157.92%30.04%
1924 2,08234.56%3,86364.13%791.31%
1920 2,94536.66%5,06163.00%270.34%
1916 1,54636.64%2,63962.54%350.83%
1912 75119.85%2,27560.12%75820.03%

The county voted "No" on 2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 51% to 49% despite backing Donald Trump with 68% of the vote to Joe Biden's 31% in the 2020 presidential election. [17]

On March 5, 2025, current Nelson County Sheriff Nelson Pineiora and Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan were each indicted on felony charges involving of public trust, theft by deception and official misconduct. [18] [19] Deputy Chief Bryan would also receive an additional charge of forgery. [19] The charges stem from their role in an illegal sale of at least three vehicles from a local evidence warehouse. [19]

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [20] [21]
U.S. House Brett Guthrie (R) KY2
Thomas Massie (R) KY4
Ky. Senate Jimmy Higdon (R) 14
Ky. House Candy Massaroni (R)50

Notable residents

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Nelson County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  5. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 36. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ↑ "2010 Demographic Profile Data: Nelson County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  14. ↑ Delong, Hettie (1992). "Rooster Run". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN   0-8131-1772-0. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  15. ↑ "2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Nelson County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022. – Text list Archived July 26, 2022, at the Wayback Machine – For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: "Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Bardstown ISD" (PDF). Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer. Frankfort, KY: Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission. September 15, 2015. p. 90 (PDF p. 104/174). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 10, 2020.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  17. ↑ "November 8, 2022 - Official 2022 General Election Results" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  18. ↑ Suckow, Alex (March 5, 2025). "Nelson County sheriff, second-in-command indicted on felony charges". WLKY. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 "Nelson County sheriff, chief deputy indicted on multiple charges". WDRB. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.

Further reading

Government
General information

37°48′N85°28′W / 37.80°N 85.47°W / 37.80; -85.47

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