Washington County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Washington County courthouse in Springfield | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:37°45′N85°10′W / 37.75°N 85.17°W /37.75; -85.17 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1792 |
| Named after | George Washington |
| Seat | Springfield |
| Largest city | Springfield |
| Area | |
• Total | 301 sq mi (780 km2) |
| • Land | 297 sq mi (770 km2) |
| • Water | 3.9 sq mi (10 km2) 1.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,027 |
• Estimate (2024) | 12,269 |
| • Density | 40.5/sq mi (15.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Washington County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, its population was 12,027.[1] Itscounty seat isSpringfield.[2] The county is named forGeorge Washington.[3] Washington County was the first county formed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it reached statehood, and the 16th county formed.[4] Thecenter of population of Kentucky is located in Washington County, in the city ofWillisburg.[5] Before 2025, the county wasdry, meaning that the sale ofalcohol was prohibited, but it contained the "wet" city of Springfield, where retail alcohol sales are allowed. This classified the jurisdiction as amoist county. The county become wet in November, 2024 after a ballot initiative. Three wineries operate in the county and are licensed separately to sell to the public.[6] Jacob Beam, founder ofJim Beam whiskey, sold his first barrel of whiskey in Washington County.[7]
Washington County was established in 1792 from land taken from Nelson County.[8] It was the first county created by the Commonwealth of Kentucky after its separation from Virginia.[9]
The Washington County Courthouse, completed in 1816, is the oldest courthouse still in use in Kentucky.[10] A significant county court record is the marriage bond ofThomas Lincoln andNancy Hanks, parents of PresidentAbraham Lincoln.[11] The bond is dated June 10, 1806; it was written the day before the marriage in the small community of Beechland, on the Little Beech River. The marriage return was signed by Jesse Head, the Methodist preacher who performed the ceremony, and dates the marriage to June 12, 1806.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 301 square miles (780 km2), of which 3.9 sq mi (10 km2) (1.3%) are covered by water.[12]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 9,050 | — | |
| 1810 | 13,248 | 46.4% | |
| 1820 | 15,947 | 20.4% | |
| 1830 | 19,017 | 19.3% | |
| 1840 | 10,596 | −44.3% | |
| 1850 | 12,194 | 15.1% | |
| 1860 | 11,575 | −5.1% | |
| 1870 | 12,464 | 7.7% | |
| 1880 | 14,419 | 15.7% | |
| 1890 | 13,622 | −5.5% | |
| 1900 | 14,182 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 13,940 | −1.7% | |
| 1920 | 14,773 | 6.0% | |
| 1930 | 12,623 | −14.6% | |
| 1940 | 12,965 | 2.7% | |
| 1950 | 12,777 | −1.5% | |
| 1960 | 11,168 | −12.6% | |
| 1970 | 10,728 | −3.9% | |
| 1980 | 10,764 | 0.3% | |
| 1990 | 10,441 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 10,916 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 11,717 | 7.3% | |
| 2020 | 12,027 | 2.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 12,269 | [13] | 2.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16] 1990–2000[17] 2010–2021[18] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 12,027. The median age was 42.5 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.1% 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 93.8 males age 18 and over.[19][20]
The racial makeup of the county was 87.6% White, 5.5%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 4.0% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.9% of the population.[20]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[21]
There were 4,674 households in the county, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
There were 5,196 housing units, of which 10.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.3% were owner-occupied and 22.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.[19]
As of the 2000census,[22] 10,916 people, 4,121 households, and 3,020 families resided in the county. Thepopulation density was 36 per square mile (14/km2). The 4,542 housing units had an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 90.62% White, 7.51% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. About 1.60% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 4,121 households, 33.1% had children under 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were not families. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.03.
The age distribution was 25.3% under 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,136, and for a family was $39,240. Males had a median income of $27,624 versus $21,593 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,722. About 10.3% of families and 13.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.4% of those under 18 and 19.6% of those 65 or over.
The county is served byWashington County Schools, a district that contains five schools:[23]
St. Catharine College (now closed) was located near Springfield.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 1,172 | 46.34% | 1,319 | 52.16% | 38 | 1.50% |
| 1884 | 1,133 | 49.61% | 1,144 | 50.09% | 7 | 0.31% |
| 1888 | 1,365 | 50.37% | 1,328 | 49.00% | 17 | 0.63% |
| 1892 | 1,035 | 41.55% | 1,193 | 47.89% | 263 | 10.56% |
| 1896 | 1,573 | 49.51% | 1,536 | 48.35% | 68 | 2.14% |
| 1900 | 1,600 | 48.50% | 1,669 | 50.59% | 30 | 0.91% |
| 1904 | 1,448 | 48.77% | 1,482 | 49.92% | 39 | 1.31% |
| 1908 | 1,515 | 48.06% | 1,615 | 51.24% | 22 | 0.70% |
| 1912 | 1,170 | 41.47% | 1,329 | 47.11% | 322 | 11.41% |
| 1916 | 1,654 | 49.77% | 1,654 | 49.77% | 15 | 0.45% |
| 1920 | 2,892 | 52.56% | 2,600 | 47.26% | 10 | 0.18% |
| 1924 | 2,286 | 50.39% | 2,238 | 49.33% | 13 | 0.29% |
| 1928 | 2,933 | 56.36% | 2,266 | 43.54% | 5 | 0.10% |
| 1932 | 2,340 | 44.97% | 2,841 | 54.60% | 22 | 0.42% |
| 1936 | 2,391 | 48.37% | 2,516 | 50.90% | 36 | 0.73% |
| 1940 | 2,362 | 47.47% | 2,612 | 52.49% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1944 | 2,353 | 50.56% | 2,283 | 49.05% | 18 | 0.39% |
| 1948 | 1,813 | 45.44% | 2,121 | 53.16% | 56 | 1.40% |
| 1952 | 2,290 | 51.87% | 2,114 | 47.88% | 11 | 0.25% |
| 1956 | 2,536 | 54.69% | 2,084 | 44.94% | 17 | 0.37% |
| 1960 | 2,632 | 52.40% | 2,391 | 47.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,561 | 35.88% | 2,790 | 64.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,863 | 46.35% | 1,675 | 41.68% | 481 | 11.97% |
| 1972 | 2,378 | 58.70% | 1,552 | 38.31% | 121 | 2.99% |
| 1976 | 1,765 | 41.68% | 2,376 | 56.10% | 94 | 2.22% |
| 1980 | 2,008 | 47.26% | 2,147 | 50.53% | 94 | 2.21% |
| 1984 | 2,804 | 60.24% | 1,786 | 38.37% | 65 | 1.40% |
| 1988 | 2,445 | 54.89% | 1,950 | 43.78% | 59 | 1.32% |
| 1992 | 2,098 | 44.69% | 2,008 | 42.77% | 589 | 12.55% |
| 1996 | 2,116 | 50.85% | 1,639 | 39.39% | 406 | 9.76% |
| 2000 | 3,044 | 66.35% | 1,458 | 31.78% | 86 | 1.87% |
| 2004 | 3,479 | 66.44% | 1,724 | 32.93% | 33 | 0.63% |
| 2008 | 3,305 | 62.65% | 1,890 | 35.83% | 80 | 1.52% |
| 2012 | 3,495 | 66.97% | 1,669 | 31.98% | 55 | 1.05% |
| 2016 | 4,013 | 71.20% | 1,420 | 25.20% | 203 | 3.60% |
| 2020 | 4,482 | 72.00% | 1,644 | 26.41% | 99 | 1.59% |
| 2024 | 4,720 | 74.44% | 1,533 | 24.18% | 88 | 1.39% |
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[25][26] | ||
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Jimmy Higdon (R) | 14 |
| Ky. House | Kim King (R) | 55 |
37°45′N85°10′W / 37.75°N 85.17°W /37.75; -85.17
Municipalities and communities ofWashington County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
