Nicholas County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Nicholas County courthouse in Carlisle | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°20′N84°01′W / 38.34°N 84.01°W /38.34; -84.01 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1799 |
| Seat | Carlisle |
| Largest city | Carlisle |
| Area | |
• Total | 197 sq mi (510 km2) |
| • Land | 195 sq mi (510 km2) |
| • Water | 1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2) 0.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,537 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 7,816 |
| • Density | 40.1/sq mi (15.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | nicholascounty |
Nicholas County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 7,537.[2] Itscounty seat isCarlisle, which is also the only incorporated community in the county.[3] Founded in 1799, the county is named for Col.George Nicholas, the "Father of the Kentucky Constitution."[4][5]
Nicholas County was established in 1799 from land given by Bourbon and Mason counties. Nicholas was the 42ndKentucky county in order of formation.[6]The general region is known for its scenery, history, horse farms and hospitality.[citation needed] Nicholas County has a rural character and its countryside is typical of the Bluegrass belt with farms, wooded glades and small villages.[citation needed]Nicholas County is home toForest Retreat, listed on the National Historic register as a historic district, built in 1814 by Thomas Metcalf the 10th Governor of Kentucky. The 1954 Kentucky Derby Winner “Determine” was bred and born in Nicholas County on the Forest Retreat Farm.Daniel Boone's last Kentucky home place is also located in Nicholas County, the Historic marker is located on US HWY 68 just past the traffic islands heading north. Built by Boone in 1795, Boone and his family resided in the one room cabin until 1799.Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park is a park located nearMount Olivet, Kentucky inRobertson and Nicholas counties. The park encompasses 148 acres (60 ha) and features a monument commemorating the August 19, 1782Battle of Blue Licks.[7] The battle was regarded as the final battle of theAmerican Revolutionary War.[8]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 197 square miles (510 km2), of which 195 square miles (510 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.8%) is water.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 4,898 | — | |
| 1820 | 7,973 | 62.8% | |
| 1830 | 8,834 | 10.8% | |
| 1840 | 8,745 | −1.0% | |
| 1850 | 10,361 | 18.5% | |
| 1860 | 11,030 | 6.5% | |
| 1870 | 9,129 | −17.2% | |
| 1880 | 11,869 | 30.0% | |
| 1890 | 10,764 | −9.3% | |
| 1900 | 11,952 | 11.0% | |
| 1910 | 10,601 | −11.3% | |
| 1920 | 9,894 | −6.7% | |
| 1930 | 8,571 | −13.4% | |
| 1940 | 8,617 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 7,532 | −12.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,677 | −11.4% | |
| 1970 | 6,508 | −2.5% | |
| 1980 | 7,157 | 10.0% | |
| 1990 | 6,725 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,813 | 1.3% | |
| 2010 | 7,135 | 4.7% | |
| 2020 | 7,537 | 5.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,816 | 3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2021[14] 2024[15] | |||
As of thecensus[16] of 2010, there were 7,135 people, 2,809 households, and 1,956 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 35 per square mile (14/km2). There were 3,261 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.9%White, 0.6%Black orAfrican American, 0.1%Native American, 0.2%Asian, 0.5% fromother races, and 0.7% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 2,809 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% weremarried couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.40% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 19, 4.8% from 20 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,259, and the median income for a family was $43,410. Theper capita income for the county was $18,452. About 9.70% of families and 13.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 700 | 26.95% | 1,611 | 62.03% | 286 | 11.01% |
| 1916 | 964 | 34.09% | 1,829 | 64.67% | 35 | 1.24% |
| 1920 | 1,496 | 33.29% | 2,953 | 65.71% | 45 | 1.00% |
| 1924 | 1,348 | 37.19% | 2,235 | 61.66% | 42 | 1.16% |
| 1928 | 1,867 | 50.36% | 1,836 | 49.53% | 4 | 0.11% |
| 1932 | 1,219 | 30.57% | 2,728 | 68.41% | 41 | 1.03% |
| 1936 | 1,277 | 35.28% | 2,325 | 64.23% | 18 | 0.50% |
| 1940 | 1,207 | 36.08% | 2,124 | 63.50% | 14 | 0.42% |
| 1944 | 1,059 | 36.71% | 1,813 | 62.84% | 13 | 0.45% |
| 1948 | 815 | 29.27% | 1,885 | 67.71% | 84 | 3.02% |
| 1952 | 1,156 | 38.80% | 1,819 | 61.06% | 4 | 0.13% |
| 1956 | 999 | 37.07% | 1,667 | 61.86% | 29 | 1.08% |
| 1960 | 1,058 | 42.10% | 1,455 | 57.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 621 | 26.11% | 1,742 | 73.25% | 15 | 0.63% |
| 1968 | 725 | 35.16% | 911 | 44.18% | 426 | 20.66% |
| 1972 | 1,076 | 56.22% | 804 | 42.01% | 34 | 1.78% |
| 1976 | 738 | 31.03% | 1,582 | 66.53% | 58 | 2.44% |
| 1980 | 915 | 38.92% | 1,349 | 57.38% | 87 | 3.70% |
| 1984 | 1,535 | 57.38% | 1,107 | 41.38% | 33 | 1.23% |
| 1988 | 1,271 | 49.67% | 1,242 | 48.53% | 46 | 1.80% |
| 1992 | 894 | 32.05% | 1,341 | 48.08% | 554 | 19.86% |
| 1996 | 950 | 41.11% | 1,092 | 47.25% | 269 | 11.64% |
| 2000 | 1,613 | 60.34% | 994 | 37.19% | 66 | 2.47% |
| 2004 | 1,700 | 55.57% | 1,332 | 43.54% | 27 | 0.88% |
| 2008 | 1,634 | 55.02% | 1,272 | 42.83% | 64 | 2.15% |
| 2012 | 1,583 | 61.33% | 948 | 36.73% | 50 | 1.94% |
| 2016 | 1,957 | 68.88% | 787 | 27.70% | 97 | 3.41% |
| 2020 | 2,408 | 70.91% | 955 | 28.12% | 33 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | 2,451 | 73.85% | 824 | 24.83% | 44 | 1.33% |
The county voted "No" on2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 60% to 40%, and backedDonald Trump with 71% of the vote toJoe Biden's 28% in the2020 presidential election.[18]
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[19][20] | ||
| U.S. House | Andy Barr (R) | KY 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Stephen West (R) | 27 |
| Ky. House | Matthew Koch (R) | 72 |
Municipalities and communities ofNicholas County, Kentucky,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
38°20′N84°01′W / 38.34°N 84.01°W /38.34; -84.01
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| National | |
| Other | |
