Robertson County, Kentucky

Robertson County
County
Robertson County Courthouse in Mount Olivet
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°31′N84°03′W / 38.51°N 84.05°W / 38.51; -84.05
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1867
Named for	George Robertson
Seat	Mount Olivet
Largest city	Mount Olivet
Area
• Total	100 sq mi (300 km2)
• Land	100 sq mi (300 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,193
• Estimate  (2023)	2,313
• Density	22/sq mi (8.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.robertsoncounty.ky.gov

Robertson County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,193. ^[1] Its county seat is Mount Olivet. ^[2] The county is named for George Robertson, a Kentucky Congressman from 1817 to 1821. It is Kentucky's smallest county by both total area and by population.

History

Robertson County was formed on February 11, 1867, from portions of Bracken County, Harrison County, Mason County and Nicholas County. It was named after George Robertson, a judge and member of Congress. ^[3]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Robertson County, Kentucky ^[4]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	915	79.98%	215	18.79%	14	1.22%
2020	884	77.14%	253	22.08%	9	0.79%
2016	759	74.93%	222	21.92%	32	3.16%
2012	579	61.93%	340	36.36%	16	1.71%
2008	533	52.51%	451	44.43%	31	3.05%
2004	670	61.47%	413	37.89%	7	0.64%
2000	630	63.13%	341	34.17%	27	2.71%
1996	368	43.29%	360	42.35%	122	14.35%
1992	329	34.81%	439	46.46%	177	18.73%
1988	511	49.37%	515	49.76%	9	0.87%
1984	567	54.36%	467	44.77%	9	0.86%
1980	416	41.64%	562	56.26%	21	2.10%
1976	275	33.21%	546	65.94%	7	0.85%
1972	456	51.01%	421	47.09%	17	1.90%
1968	416	41.15%	406	40.16%	189	18.69%
1964	383	34.23%	734	65.59%	2	0.18%
1960	594	47.67%	652	52.33%	0	0.00%
1956	617	43.70%	793	56.16%	2	0.14%
1952	623	42.94%	827	57.00%	1	0.07%
1948	442	33.43%	864	65.36%	16	1.21%
1944	556	39.35%	855	60.51%	2	0.14%
1940	578	40.88%	829	58.63%	7	0.50%
1936	498	35.50%	897	63.93%	8	0.57%
1932	538	33.54%	1,056	65.84%	10	0.62%
1928	742	53.69%	640	46.31%	0	0.00%
1924	498	41.85%	680	57.14%	12	1.01%
1920	623	39.68%	940	59.87%	7	0.45%
1916	415	38.32%	663	61.22%	5	0.46%
1912	158	15.94%	570	57.52%	263	26.54%

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 100 square miles (260 km²), of which 100 square miles (260 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (0.2%) is water. ^[5] It is the smallest county by area in Kentucky. ^[6]

Adjacent counties

• Bracken County (north)
• Mason County (northeast)
• Fleming County (southeast)
• Nicholas County (south)
• Harrison County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	5,399		—
1880	5,814		7.7%
1890	4,684		−19.4%
1900	4,900		4.6%
1910	4,121		−15.9%
1920	3,871		−6.1%
1930	3,344		−13.6%
1940	3,419		2.2%
1950	2,881		−15.7%
1960	2,443		−15.2%
1970	2,163		−11.5%
1980	2,265		4.7%
1990	2,124		−6.2%
2000	2,266		6.7%
2010	2,282		0.7%
2020	2,193		−3.9%
2023 (est.)	2,313	[7]	5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2020 [12]

At the 2000 census there were 2,266 people, 866 households, and 621 families in the county, making it the least populated county in the state. The population density was 23 per square mile (8.9/km²). There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.63% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.22% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[13] Of the 866 households 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.70% of households were one person and 11.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

The age distribution was 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median household income was $30,581 and the median family income was $35,521. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $20,476 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,404. About 17.50% of families and 22.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.30% of those under age 18 and 24.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Mount Olivet (county seat)
• Sardis (mostly in Mason County)

Unincorporated Communities

• Kentontown
• Piqua

See also

• United States portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Robertson County, Kentucky

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Robertson County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 30, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp.  36.
4. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
6. "Kentucky Counties".
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. 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. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

38°31′N84°03′W / 38.51°N 84.05°W / 38.51; -84.05