Spencer County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Spencer County Courthouse inTaylorsville. | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°02′N85°19′W / 38.03°N 85.32°W /38.03; -85.32 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1824 |
| Named after | Spier Spencer |
| Seat | Taylorsville |
| Largest city | Taylorsville |
| Area | |
• Total | 192 sq mi (500 km2) |
| • Land | 187 sq mi (480 km2) |
| • Water | 5.0 sq mi (13 km2) 2.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,490 |
• Estimate (2024) | 20,823 |
| • Density | 104/sq mi (40.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd,4th |
| Website | www |
Spencer County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the total population was 19,490.[1] Itscounty seat isTaylorsville.[2] The county was founded in 1824[3] and named forSpier Spencer.
Spencer County is part of theLouisville/Jefferson County, KY—INMetropolitan Statistical Area.
Taylorsville Lake, located primarily within Spencer County, serves as a major economic resource for the area. Spencer was adry 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.
Spencer County was formed in January 1824, by the 32ndKentucky General Assembly. The land that now makes up Spencer County was taken fromBullitt County,Shelby County, andNelson County. Spencer County became Kentucky's 77th county. The county was named for Kentucky'sCaptain Spier Spencer, who fought and died in theBattle of Tippecanoe.[4]
Later that year, in December 1824,Taylorsville was made the county seat. In 1829, the city was incorporated.[5]
During theAmerican Civil War, the courthouse at Taylorsville was burned byConfederate guerrillas in January 1865, but the county's records were saved.[6]
According to theUnited 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]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 6,812 | — | |
| 1840 | 6,581 | −3.4% | |
| 1850 | 6,842 | 4.0% | |
| 1860 | 6,188 | −9.6% | |
| 1870 | 5,956 | −3.7% | |
| 1880 | 7,040 | 18.2% | |
| 1890 | 6,760 | −4.0% | |
| 1900 | 7,406 | 9.6% | |
| 1910 | 7,567 | 2.2% | |
| 1920 | 7,785 | 2.9% | |
| 1930 | 6,606 | −15.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,757 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 6,157 | −8.9% | |
| 1960 | 5,680 | −7.7% | |
| 1970 | 5,488 | −3.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,929 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 6,801 | 14.7% | |
| 2000 | 11,766 | 73.0% | |
| 2010 | 17,061 | 45.0% | |
| 2020 | 19,490 | 14.2% | |
| 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 thecensus of 2000, there were 11,766 people, 4,251 households, and 3,358 families residing in the county. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.22%Native American, 0.08%Asian, 0.27% fromother races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $19,848. About 7.70% of families and 8.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
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]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 271 | 17.10% | 1,052 | 66.37% | 262 | 16.53% |
| 1916 | 591 | 31.62% | 1,271 | 68.00% | 7 | 0.37% |
| 1920 | 1,102 | 33.88% | 2,135 | 65.63% | 16 | 0.49% |
| 1924 | 961 | 41.95% | 1,320 | 57.62% | 10 | 0.44% |
| 1928 | 1,565 | 62.20% | 947 | 37.64% | 4 | 0.16% |
| 1932 | 736 | 29.26% | 1,773 | 70.50% | 6 | 0.24% |
| 1936 | 638 | 27.81% | 1,647 | 71.80% | 9 | 0.39% |
| 1940 | 567 | 24.65% | 1,728 | 75.13% | 5 | 0.22% |
| 1944 | 646 | 30.82% | 1,443 | 68.85% | 7 | 0.33% |
| 1948 | 493 | 26.90% | 1,298 | 70.81% | 42 | 2.29% |
| 1952 | 723 | 36.02% | 1,283 | 63.93% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1956 | 896 | 42.32% | 1,214 | 57.35% | 7 | 0.33% |
| 1960 | 1,134 | 51.97% | 1,048 | 48.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 525 | 26.87% | 1,422 | 72.77% | 7 | 0.36% |
| 1968 | 733 | 41.89% | 564 | 32.23% | 453 | 25.89% |
| 1972 | 1,120 | 68.75% | 481 | 29.53% | 28 | 1.72% |
| 1976 | 742 | 37.42% | 1,209 | 60.97% | 32 | 1.61% |
| 1980 | 935 | 42.50% | 1,216 | 55.27% | 49 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | 1,456 | 61.38% | 910 | 38.36% | 6 | 0.25% |
| 1988 | 1,368 | 54.61% | 1,121 | 44.75% | 16 | 0.64% |
| 1992 | 1,305 | 41.21% | 1,383 | 43.67% | 479 | 15.12% |
| 1996 | 1,614 | 47.92% | 1,404 | 41.69% | 350 | 10.39% |
| 2000 | 3,150 | 66.01% | 1,554 | 32.56% | 68 | 1.42% |
| 2004 | 4,816 | 70.60% | 1,970 | 28.88% | 36 | 0.53% |
| 2008 | 5,378 | 66.82% | 2,519 | 31.30% | 152 | 1.89% |
| 2012 | 5,726 | 67.92% | 2,549 | 30.23% | 156 | 1.85% |
| 2016 | 7,196 | 75.63% | 1,921 | 20.19% | 398 | 4.18% |
| 2020 | 8,737 | 76.42% | 2,530 | 22.13% | 166 | 1.45% |
| 2024 | 8,927 | 77.76% | 2,415 | 21.04% | 138 | 1.20% |
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[28][29] | ||
| U.S. House | Thomas Massie (R) | KY 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Jimmy Higdon (R) | 14 |
| Ky. House | James Tipton (R) | 53 |
{{cite web}}:|last3= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Municipalities and communities ofSpencer County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
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| Other unincorporated communities | ||
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