Nelson County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Nelson County Courthouse in Bardstown | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:37°48′N85°28′W / 37.8°N 85.47°W /37.8; -85.47 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | November 29, 1784 |
| Named after | Thomas Nelson Jr. |
| Seat | Bardstown |
| Largest city | Bardstown |
| Area | |
• Total | 424 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Land | 418 sq mi (1,080 km2) |
| • Water | 6.6 sq mi (17 km2) 1.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 46,738 |
• Estimate (2024) | 48,706 |
| • Density | 112/sq mi (43.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd,4th |
| Website | nelsoncountyky |
Nelson County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 46,738.[1] Itscounty seat isBardstown.[2] Nelson County comprises the Bardstown, KYMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theLouisville/Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Madison, KY-INCombined Statistical Area.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(November 2025) |
The fourth county created in what is now Kentucky, it was formed fromJefferson County, Kentucky in 1784, shortly after theRevolutionary War.[3][4] The county was named forThomas Nelson Jr., theVirginia Governor who signed theDeclaration of Independence.[5] In 1807, after Kentucky had become a state, a newly createdVirginia county was named in his honor.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 424 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 418 square miles (1,080 km2) are land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.5%) are covered by water.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 11,315 | — | |
| 1800 | 9,866 | −12.8% | |
| 1810 | 14,078 | 42.7% | |
| 1820 | 16,273 | 15.6% | |
| 1830 | 14,932 | −8.2% | |
| 1840 | 13,637 | −8.7% | |
| 1850 | 14,789 | 8.4% | |
| 1860 | 15,799 | 6.8% | |
| 1870 | 14,804 | −6.3% | |
| 1880 | 16,609 | 12.2% | |
| 1890 | 16,417 | −1.2% | |
| 1900 | 16,587 | 1.0% | |
| 1910 | 16,830 | 1.5% | |
| 1920 | 16,137 | −4.1% | |
| 1930 | 16,551 | 2.6% | |
| 1940 | 18,004 | 8.8% | |
| 1950 | 19,521 | 8.4% | |
| 1960 | 22,168 | 13.6% | |
| 1970 | 23,477 | 5.9% | |
| 1980 | 27,584 | 17.5% | |
| 1990 | 29,710 | 7.7% | |
| 2000 | 37,477 | 26.1% | |
| 2010 | 43,437 | 15.9% | |
| 2020 | 46,738 | 7.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 48,706 | [7] | 4.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 46,738. The median age was 40.7 years. 23.5% 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 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.6 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
Theracial makeup of the county was 88.8% White, 4.7%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 4.7% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.[13]
37.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 62.2% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 18,462 households in the county, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 19,716 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.9% were owner-occupied and 24.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.[12]
As of thecensus of 2010, 43,437 people inhabited the county.[15] Thepopulation density was 102.4 per square mile (39.5/km2). Its 18,075 housing units averaged 42.6 per square mile (16.4/km2).
The racial makeup of the county in 2010 was 93.48%White (90.93%non-Hispanic), 5.03%Black or African American, 0.12%Native American, 0.50%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.62% fromtwo or more races. About 2.04% of the population wasHispanic or Latino of any race.[16]
Of the 16,826 households, 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.09% were married couples living together, 13.19% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.35% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.37% were not families. Of all households, 24.41% were made up of individuals, and 8.09% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.
The age distribution was 25.98% under 18, 7.98% from 18 to 24, 26.47% from 25 to 44, 27.84% from 45 to 64, and 11.73% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.
Income data for Kentucky locations from the 2010 Census have not yet been released. As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $39,010, and for a family was $44,600. Males had a median income of $32,015 versus $21,838 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,120. About 10.00% of families and 12.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.
Nelson County is primarily known for its connection to bourbon, earning the title "Bourbon Capital of the World" for its high concentration of distilleries in and around Bardstown[17][18] andBoston.[19][20]
Two public school districts operate in the county:[21]
Several private schools also operate in the county. TheRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville operates five schools in all—three K–8 schools, a fourth that educates grades 1 through 8, andone high school. Several Protestant-affiliated schools also exist.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 751 | 19.85% | 2,275 | 60.12% | 758 | 20.03% |
| 1916 | 1,546 | 36.64% | 2,639 | 62.54% | 35 | 0.83% |
| 1920 | 2,945 | 36.66% | 5,061 | 63.00% | 27 | 0.34% |
| 1924 | 2,082 | 34.56% | 3,863 | 64.13% | 79 | 1.31% |
| 1928 | 2,926 | 42.04% | 4,031 | 57.92% | 3 | 0.04% |
| 1932 | 2,100 | 28.37% | 5,272 | 71.23% | 29 | 0.39% |
| 1936 | 1,913 | 30.09% | 4,234 | 66.59% | 211 | 3.32% |
| 1940 | 2,109 | 33.42% | 4,193 | 66.45% | 8 | 0.13% |
| 1944 | 2,136 | 36.76% | 3,648 | 62.78% | 27 | 0.46% |
| 1948 | 1,715 | 31.75% | 3,556 | 65.84% | 130 | 2.41% |
| 1952 | 3,064 | 47.18% | 3,417 | 52.62% | 13 | 0.20% |
| 1956 | 4,107 | 55.76% | 3,240 | 43.99% | 18 | 0.24% |
| 1960 | 3,021 | 39.06% | 4,713 | 60.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,683 | 23.07% | 5,586 | 76.56% | 27 | 0.37% |
| 1968 | 2,373 | 34.31% | 3,420 | 49.45% | 1,123 | 16.24% |
| 1972 | 3,495 | 53.54% | 2,828 | 43.32% | 205 | 3.14% |
| 1976 | 2,804 | 37.37% | 4,454 | 59.36% | 246 | 3.28% |
| 1980 | 3,349 | 36.75% | 5,514 | 60.50% | 251 | 2.75% |
| 1984 | 6,044 | 58.57% | 4,199 | 40.69% | 76 | 0.74% |
| 1988 | 5,283 | 51.90% | 4,788 | 47.04% | 108 | 1.06% |
| 1992 | 4,495 | 38.51% | 5,437 | 46.58% | 1,740 | 14.91% |
| 1996 | 4,645 | 41.63% | 5,392 | 48.32% | 1,122 | 10.05% |
| 2000 | 7,714 | 57.19% | 5,481 | 40.64% | 293 | 2.17% |
| 2004 | 10,161 | 60.32% | 6,524 | 38.73% | 159 | 0.94% |
| 2008 | 10,139 | 55.87% | 7,654 | 42.18% | 353 | 1.95% |
| 2012 | 10,673 | 57.59% | 7,611 | 41.07% | 249 | 1.34% |
| 2016 | 13,431 | 64.57% | 6,434 | 30.93% | 937 | 4.50% |
| 2020 | 15,703 | 67.52% | 7,188 | 30.91% | 365 | 1.57% |
| 2024 | 16,052 | 70.24% | 6,515 | 28.51% | 285 | 1.25% |
The county voted "No" on2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 51% to 49% despite backingDonald Trump with 68% of the vote toJoe Biden's 31% in the2020 presidential election.[23]
On March 5, 2025, current Nelson County Sheriff Nelson Pineiora and Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan were each indicted on felony charges involving of public trust, theft by deception and official misconduct.[24][25] Deputy Chief Bryan would also receive an additional charge of forgery.[25] The charges stem from their role in an illegal sale of at least three vehicles from a local evidence warehouse.[25]
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[26][27] | ||
| U.S. House | Brett Guthrie (R) | KY 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Massie (R) | KY 4 | |
| Ky. Senate | Jimmy Higdon (R) | 14 |
| Ky. House | Candy Massaroni (R) | 50 |
Manyattractions and events are available inBardstown. The following is outside the county seat:
Geographic data related toNelson County, Kentucky atOpenStreetMapMunicipalities and communities ofNelson County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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