Simpson County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Old Simpson County Courthouse in Franklin | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:36°44′N86°35′W / 36.74°N 86.58°W /36.74; -86.58 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Named after | John Simpson |
| Seat | Franklin |
| Largest city | Franklin |
| Area | |
• Total | 236 sq mi (610 km2) |
| • Land | 234 sq mi (610 km2) |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,594 |
• Estimate (2024) | 20,350 |
| • Density | 83.7/sq mi (32.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | simpsoncountyky |
Simpson County is acounty located in the south central portion of theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the total population was 19,594.[1] Itscounty seat isFranklin.[2]
Simpson County was established in 1819 from Allen, Logan, and Warren Counties.[3] The county is named forCaptain John Simpson, a Kentucky militia officer who fought inBattle of Fallen Timbers in theNorthwest Indian War, and was killed during theWar of 1812 in theBattle of River Raisin.[4]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 236 square miles (610 km2), of which 234 square miles (610 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (1.0%) is water.[5] The county is located in thePennyroyal Plateau region of the state.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4,852 | — | |
| 1830 | 5,815 | 19.8% | |
| 1840 | 6,537 | 12.4% | |
| 1850 | 7,733 | 18.3% | |
| 1860 | 8,146 | 5.3% | |
| 1870 | 9,573 | 17.5% | |
| 1880 | 10,641 | 11.2% | |
| 1890 | 10,878 | 2.2% | |
| 1900 | 11,624 | 6.9% | |
| 1910 | 11,460 | −1.4% | |
| 1920 | 11,150 | −2.7% | |
| 1930 | 11,336 | 1.7% | |
| 1940 | 11,752 | 3.7% | |
| 1950 | 11,678 | −0.6% | |
| 1960 | 11,548 | −1.1% | |
| 1970 | 13,054 | 13.0% | |
| 1980 | 14,673 | 12.4% | |
| 1990 | 15,145 | 3.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,405 | 8.3% | |
| 2010 | 17,327 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 19,594 | 13.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 20,350 | [6] | 3.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 19,594. The median age was 39.7 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.[11][12]
The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% White, 8.4%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 5.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.[12]
59.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 40.6% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 7,600 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 8,263 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.5% were owner-occupied and 35.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.[11]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 16,405 people, 6,415 households, and 4,638 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 70 per square mile (27/km2). There were 7,016 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.84%White, 10.22%Black or African American, 0.17%Native American, 0.55%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 0.30% fromother races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population wereHispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 6,415 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% weremarried couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,432, and the median income for a family was $42,525. Males had a median income of $32,160 versus $22,667 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,150. About 8.50% of families and 11.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.
In December 2025,Kroger, the largest traditional grocer in the country, announced plans to establish a new $391 million high-tech automated distribution center inFranklin, Simpson County, a project that will create approximately 430 new full-time jobs.[14]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 547 | 20.96% | 1,639 | 62.80% | 424 | 16.25% |
| 1916 | 955 | 33.41% | 1,887 | 66.03% | 16 | 0.56% |
| 1920 | 1,680 | 34.24% | 3,206 | 65.34% | 21 | 0.43% |
| 1924 | 1,294 | 32.08% | 2,688 | 66.63% | 52 | 1.29% |
| 1928 | 1,635 | 39.64% | 2,490 | 60.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,203 | 24.92% | 3,603 | 74.64% | 21 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 1,240 | 28.97% | 3,027 | 70.72% | 13 | 0.30% |
| 1940 | 987 | 25.02% | 2,950 | 74.78% | 8 | 0.20% |
| 1944 | 1,012 | 26.29% | 2,821 | 73.27% | 17 | 0.44% |
| 1948 | 762 | 20.46% | 2,752 | 73.90% | 210 | 5.64% |
| 1952 | 1,310 | 32.43% | 2,724 | 67.43% | 6 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 1,454 | 33.43% | 2,879 | 66.18% | 17 | 0.39% |
| 1960 | 1,927 | 42.18% | 2,642 | 57.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 967 | 23.33% | 3,168 | 76.45% | 9 | 0.22% |
| 1968 | 1,435 | 33.07% | 1,505 | 34.69% | 1,399 | 32.24% |
| 1972 | 2,285 | 62.57% | 1,325 | 36.28% | 42 | 1.15% |
| 1976 | 1,481 | 34.45% | 2,782 | 64.71% | 36 | 0.84% |
| 1980 | 2,020 | 41.92% | 2,713 | 56.30% | 86 | 1.78% |
| 1984 | 3,073 | 58.69% | 2,140 | 40.87% | 23 | 0.44% |
| 1988 | 2,699 | 55.55% | 2,138 | 44.00% | 22 | 0.45% |
| 1992 | 2,280 | 39.04% | 2,834 | 48.53% | 726 | 12.43% |
| 1996 | 2,186 | 40.80% | 2,749 | 51.31% | 423 | 7.89% |
| 2000 | 3,169 | 54.41% | 2,583 | 44.35% | 72 | 1.24% |
| 2004 | 4,273 | 60.67% | 2,730 | 38.76% | 40 | 0.57% |
| 2008 | 4,437 | 60.71% | 2,775 | 37.97% | 97 | 1.33% |
| 2012 | 4,355 | 61.40% | 2,650 | 37.36% | 88 | 1.24% |
| 2016 | 5,077 | 67.41% | 2,144 | 28.47% | 310 | 4.12% |
| 2020 | 5,888 | 67.43% | 2,681 | 30.70% | 163 | 1.87% |
| 2024 | 6,253 | 71.25% | 2,403 | 27.38% | 120 | 1.37% |
In contrast to the Western Coalfield and the eastern part of the Pennyroyal Plateau, Simpson County wasnot highly pro-Union duringthe Civil War.[16] Consequently, Simpson was as reliably Democratic as the Jackson Purchase and Bluegrass during the following century: no Republican carried Simpson County untilRichard Nixon’s 1972 landslide.
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[17][18] | ||
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Mike Wilson (R) | 32 |
| Ky. House | Shawn McPherson (R) | 22 |
Municipalities and communities ofSimpson County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
36°44′N86°35′W / 36.74°N 86.58°W /36.74; -86.58
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