Oldham County, Kentucky

Oldham County
County
Oldham County courthouse in La Grange
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°24′N85°26′W / 38.4°N 85.44°W / 38.4; -85.44
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	December 15, 1823
Named for	William Oldham (1753–1791), American Revolutionary War colonel
Seat	La Grange
Largest city	La Grange
Area
• Total	196 sq mi (510 km2)
• Land	187 sq mi (480 km2)
• Water	9.2 sq mi (24 km2)  4.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	67,607
• Estimate  (2023)	70,183
• Density	340/sq mi (130/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	oldhamcountyky.gov

Oldham County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state and commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,607. ^[1] Its county seat is La Grange. ^[2] The county is named for Colonel William Oldham.

Oldham County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Oldham County is the wealthiest county in Kentucky ^[3] and 47th-wealthiest county in the U.S. ^[4] (and 37th in the U.S. by median income ^[5] ) and ranks as the most educated county in Kentucky. ^[6] While the causes for this are complicated, areas east of Louisville have long been popular with wealthy residents, initially as summer residences and eventually as year-round suburban estates and bedroom communities. Oldham County lies northeast of the best known of these areas, Anchorage, just outside Louisville's pre-merger East End.

History

Oldham County was established on December 15, 1823, from parts of Henry, Jefferson, and Shelby Counties. ^[7] It was the 74th Kentucky county, and was named in honor of Col. William Oldham of Jefferson County, a Revolutionary War officer. ^[8]

Initially, it was mainly a rural county with small, scattered developments in places like Westport which was founded in 1800 and served as the county seat early on. When the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad Company introduced rail lines in the area in the 1850s, many new towns and communities sprang up. Eventually the railroad ceased operating as a form of public transportation, but the more rural nature of the county continued to draw residents away from the metropolitan areas in Jefferson County.^{[ citation needed ]} Since the early 1970s and the completion of Interstate 71, which connects Oldham County to Downtown Louisville and shopping in Eastern Jefferson County, Oldham County has increasingly become suburban in nature, a natural extension of Louisville's wealthy East End as it ran out of large tracts of undeveloped land.^{[ citation needed ]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 196 square miles (510 km²), of which 187 square miles (480 km²) are land and 9.2 square miles (24 km²) (4.7%) are covered by water. ^[9] It is the 13th-smallest county in Kentucky. The county's northern border with Indiana is formed by the Ohio River.

Adjacent counties

• Clark County, Indiana (northwest)
• Trimble County (northeast)
• Henry County (east)
• Shelby County (southeast)
• Jefferson County (southwest)

Demographics

Graph of Oldham County population over time

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	9,588		—
1840	7,380		−23.0%
1850	7,629		3.4%
1860	7,283		−4.5%
1870	9,027		23.9%
1880	7,667		−15.1%
1890	6,754		−11.9%
1900	7,078		4.8%
1910	7,248		2.4%
1920	7,689		6.1%
1930	7,402		−3.7%
1940	10,716		44.8%
1950	11,018		2.8%
1960	13,388		21.5%
1970	14,687		9.7%
1980	27,795		89.2%
1990	43,455		56.3%
2000	46,178		6.3%
2010	60,316		30.6%
2020	67,607		12.1%
2023 (est.)	70,183	[10]	3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790–1960 [12] 1900–1990 [13] 1990–2000 [14] 2010–2020 [1]

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 46,178 people, 14,856 households, and 12,196 families residing in the county. The population density was 244 per square mile (94/km²). There were 15,541 housing units at an average density of 82 per square mile (32/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.62% White, 4.21% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,856 households, out of which 44.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.50% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.90% were non-families. 14.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.17.

The age distribution was 27.40% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 33.10% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 7.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $70,171 (2005), and the median income for a family was $70,495. Males had a median income of $46,962 versus $28,985 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,374. About 2.90% of families and 4.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.50% of those under age 18 and 6.00% of those age 65 or over. Oldham County is the most affluent county in the state of Kentucky; most residents work in Louisville and choose to live in Oldham County due to the lack of crime and the nationally recognized school system. North Oldham High School in particular, is ranked very highly among state high schools, having been named a national blue ribbon school of excellence, and ranked in the top 250 best schools in the nation through Us Weekly.^{[ citation needed ]} 2006 classes at Oldham County High School were reported as to have a teacher:student ratio of 1:15, but that number does not accurately reflect the ratio of a normal class.^{[ citation needed ]} That number includes, for example, the small classes of five to six students in Behavioral Disorders.^{[ citation needed ]} The published ratio also includes small classes at the County Career Center, which is located on the same campus.^{[ citation needed ]} The actual teacher-student ratios are closer to 1:30. Regardless of population swelling and diminishing student-teacher ratios, which have led to a slight decline as of late, Oldham county is still widely recognized as the best public school system in the state.^{[ citation needed ]}

Communities

Cities

• Crestwood
• Goshen
• La Grange (county seat)
• Orchard Grass Hills
• Pewee Valley
• Prospect (mostly in Jefferson County)
• River Bluff

Census-designated places

• Buckner
• Westport

Other unincorporated places

• Ballardsville
• Brownsboro
• Centerfield
• Floydsburg
• Park Lake

Politics

United States presidential election results for Oldham County, Kentucky ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	23,025	60.26%	14,402	37.69%	783	2.05%
2020	22,654	59.65%	14,505	38.20%	817	2.15%
2016	20,469	62.30%	10,268	31.25%	2,116	6.44%
2012	20,179	67.52%	9,240	30.92%	465	1.56%
2008	18,997	64.80%	10,000	34.11%	319	1.09%
2004	18,801	69.29%	8,080	29.78%	251	0.93%
2000	13,580	67.00%	6,236	30.77%	452	2.23%
1996	10,477	57.25%	6,202	33.89%	1,622	8.86%
1992	8,263	49.66%	5,457	32.80%	2,919	17.54%
1988	8,716	68.14%	4,025	31.46%	51	0.40%
1984	8,112	73.81%	2,857	25.99%	22	0.20%
1980	5,586	58.74%	3,487	36.67%	437	4.60%
1976	3,695	55.72%	2,819	42.51%	117	1.76%
1972	3,041	68.00%	1,311	29.32%	120	2.68%
1968	1,655	41.45%	1,399	35.04%	939	23.52%
1964	1,256	32.34%	2,622	67.51%	6	0.15%
1960	2,221	53.12%	1,960	46.88%	0	0.00%
1956	2,128	54.44%	1,769	45.25%	12	0.31%
1952	1,723	49.57%	1,735	49.91%	18	0.52%
1948	1,036	35.49%	1,703	58.34%	180	6.17%
1944	1,021	34.65%	1,908	64.74%	18	0.61%
1940	848	29.85%	1,983	69.80%	10	0.35%
1936	760	27.20%	2,020	72.30%	14	0.50%
1932	888	27.47%	2,319	71.73%	26	0.80%
1928	1,604	54.02%	1,359	45.77%	6	0.20%
1924	906	31.30%	1,954	67.50%	35	1.21%
1920	1,014	27.52%	2,655	72.07%	15	0.41%
1916	642	30.34%	1,455	68.76%	19	0.90%
1912	261	14.88%	1,159	66.08%	334	19.04%

The county voted "No" on 2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 58% to 42%, and backed Donald Trump with 60% of the vote to Joe Biden's 38% in the 2020 presidential election. ^[17]

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [18] [19]
U.S. House	Thomas Massie (R)	KY4
Ky. Senate	Lindsey Tichenor (R)	6
Ky. House	Jason Nemes (R)	33
	Ken Fleming (R)	48
	David W. Osborne (R)	59

Education

It is in the Oldham County School District. ^[20] It operates Oldham County High School.

Notable people

• D. W. Griffith, highly influential film director ( The Birth of a Nation , Intolerance )
• Kyra Elzy, women's collegiate basketball player and coach of Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball
• Buddy Pepper, former songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger, and actor.
• Knocked Loose, a hardcore band signed to Pure Noise Records
• Justin Thomas, a Professional golfer
• Dean Kiekhefer, MLB pitcher
• Jon Rauch, MLB pitcher
• Donta Smith, professional basketball player

See also

• Kentucky portal

• Louisville/Jefferson County–Elizabethtown–Madison, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area
• Moist county
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Oldham County, Kentucky
• The Oldham Era

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Oldham County KY Data & Peer Group Rankings". kentucky.hometownlocator.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
4. "Wealthiest counties in the U.S." Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
5. "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
6. "Most educated county in every state". MSN . Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
7. "Oldham County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
8. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p.  36.
9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
10. "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.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
13. "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.
14. "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.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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. "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
19. "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Oldham County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved December 4, 2024. - Text list

External links

• Official website
• Oldham County Chamber of Commerce

38°24′N85°26′W / 38.40°N 85.44°W / 38.40; -85.44