Spencer County, Kentucky

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Spencer County
County
Spencer County Courthouse, Taylorsville.jpg
Spencer County Courthouse in Taylorsville.
Map of Kentucky highlighting Spencer County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky in United States.svg
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°02′N85°19′W / 38.03°N 85.32°W / 38.03; -85.32
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky
Founded1824
Named after Spier Spencer
Seat Taylorsville
Largest cityTaylorsville
Area
 • Total
192 sq mi (500 km2)
 • Land187 sq mi (480 km2)
 • Water5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  2.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
19,490
 • Estimate 
(2024)
20,823 Increase2.svg
 • Density100/sq mi (39/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 4th
Website www.spencercountyky.gov

Spencer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,490. [1] Its county seat is Taylorsville. [2] The county was founded in 1824 [3] and named for Spier Spencer.

Contents

Spencer County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY—IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Taylorsville Lake, located primarily within Spencer County, serves as a major economic resource for the area. Spencer was a dry county until 2009 when the county's residents voted to overturn the ban on alcohol sales. From 2000 to 2005, Spencer County ranked 19th out of all U.S. counties in percent growth, with a 33% increase.

History

Spencer County was formed in January 1824, by the 32nd Kentucky General Assembly. The land that now makes up Spencer County was taken from Bullitt County, Shelby County, and Nelson County. Spencer County became Kentucky's 77th county. The county was named for Kentucky's Captain Spier Spencer, who fought and died in the Battle of Tippecanoe. [4]

Later that year, in December 1824, Taylorsville was made the county seat. In 1829, the city was incorporated. [5]

During the American Civil War, the courthouse at Taylorsville was burned by Confederate guerrillas in January 1865, but the county's records were saved. [6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 192 square miles (500 km2), of which 187 square miles (480 km2) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (2.6%) is water. [7]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830 6,812—
1840 6,581−3.4%
1850 6,8424.0%
1860 6,188−9.6%
1870 5,956−3.7%
1880 7,04018.2%
1890 6,760−4.0%
1900 7,4069.6%
1910 7,5672.2%
1920 7,7852.9%
1930 6,606−15.1%
1940 6,7572.3%
1950 6,157−8.9%
1960 5,680−7.7%
1970 5,488−3.4%
1980 5,9298.0%
1990 6,80114.7%
2000 11,76673.0%
2010 17,06145.0%
2020 19,49014.2%
2024 (est.)20,823 [8] 6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,766 people, 4,251 households, and 3,358 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 per square mile (24/km2). There were 4,555 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.50% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,251 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.90% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.00% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 33.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,042, and the median income for a family was $52,038. Males had a median income of $36,638 versus $24,196 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,848. About 7.70% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Spencer County Public Schools comprises six schools: Spencer County High School, Spencer County Middle School, Spencer County Elementary School, Taylorsville Elementary School, Hillview Academy, and Spencer County Preschool. [13]

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

Politics

United States presidential election results for Spencer County, Kentucky [27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 27117.10%1,05266.37%26216.53%
1916 59131.62%1,27168.00%70.37%
1920 1,10233.88%2,13565.63%160.49%
1924 96141.95%1,32057.62%100.44%
1928 1,56562.20%94737.64%40.16%
1932 73629.26%1,77370.50%60.24%
1936 63827.81%1,64771.80%90.39%
1940 56724.65%1,72875.13%50.22%
1944 64630.82%1,44368.85%70.33%
1948 49326.90%1,29870.81%422.29%
1952 72336.02%1,28363.93%10.05%
1956 89642.32%1,21457.35%70.33%
1960 1,13451.97%1,04848.03%00.00%
1964 52526.87%1,42272.77%70.36%
1968 73341.89%56432.23%45325.89%
1972 1,12068.75%48129.53%281.72%
1976 74237.42%1,20960.97%321.61%
1980 93542.50%1,21655.27%492.23%
1984 1,45661.38%91038.36%60.25%
1988 1,36854.61%1,12144.75%160.64%
1992 1,30541.21%1,38343.67%47915.12%
1996 1,61447.92%1,40441.69%35010.39%
2000 3,15066.01%1,55432.56%681.42%
2004 4,81670.60%1,97028.88%360.53%
2008 5,37866.82%2,51931.30%1521.89%
2012 5,72667.92%2,54930.23%1561.85%
2016 7,19675.63%1,92120.19%3984.18%
2020 8,73776.42%2,53022.13%1661.45%
2024 8,92777.76%2,41521.04%1381.20%

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025 [28] [29]
U.S. House Thomas Massie (R) KY4
Ky. Senate Jimmy Higdon (R) 14
Ky. House James Tipton (R) 53

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ E., Kleber, John; Kentucky, University Press of; Policy, Institute for Regional Analysis and Public; Library, Camden-Carroll; University, Morehead State (2000). "The Kentucky Encyclopedia". www.kyenc.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018.{{cite web}}: |last3= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 37.
  5. ↑ "Spencer County History".
  6. ↑ "KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database - Search for Markers".
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "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 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Our Schools". Spencer County Public Schools. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  14. ↑ "City of Taylorsville" . Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Elk Creek, KY Profile: Facts & Data". kentucky.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Little Mount, Kentucky". www.kyatlas.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Mount Eden, Kentucky". www.kyatlas.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Rivals Populated Place Profile / Spencer County, Kentucky Data". kentucky.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Wakefield Populated Place Profile / Spencer County, Kentucky Data". kentucky.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Yoder Populated Place Profile / Spencer County, Kentucky Data". kentucky.hometownlocator.com.
  21. ↑ "Wilsonville Populated Place Profile / Spencer County, Kentucky Data". kentucky.hometownlocator.com.
  22. ↑ "Crenshaw Populated Place Profile / Spencer County, Kentucky Data". kentucky.hometownlocator.com.
  23. ↑ "Normandy Populated Place Profile / Spencer County, Kentucky Data". kentucky.hometownlocator.com.
  24. ↑ "Edgewater Resort in Kentucky | Cottages at Taylorsville Lake". www.edgewatertaylorsvillelake.com.
  25. ↑ "Taylorsville Lake > Great Lakes and Ohio River Division > Recreation". Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Explore | Taylorsville Lake State Park". Kentucky State Parks.
  27. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  29. ↑ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly . Retrieved January 3, 2025.

38°02′N85°19′W / 38.03°N 85.32°W / 38.03; -85.32

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