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| Woodford County, Kentucky | |
 Woodford County courthouse in Versailles
| |
 Location in the state of Kentucky | |
 Kentucky's location in the U.S. | |
| Founded | November 12, 1788 |
|---|---|
| Named for | William Woodford |
| Seat | Versailles |
| Largest city | Versailles |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
192 sq mi (497 km²) 189 sq mi (490 km²) 3.3 sq mi (9 km²), 0.6 |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
26,871 |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| Website | woodfordcounty.ky.gov |
Woodford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,871.[1] Its county seat is Versailles.[2] The area was home to Pisgah Academy. Woodford County is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the heart of the Bluegrass region of Kentucky.
History[]
The county was formed from a part of Fayette County, Virginia in 1788.[3][4] It was named for William Woodford, an American Revolutionary War general from Virginia who died while a prisoner of war in 1780.[5] It was the last of the original nine counties established that formed the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1792.[6]
Scott County was formed from part of the county in 1792. Franklin County took another part of the county in 1794.[7]
Queen Elizabeth II stayed in Woodford County at Lane's End Farm in May 2007. She also attended the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.
Pisgah Academy[]
Pisgah Academy was a school in Woodford County. It was established by Col. Alexander Dunlap.[8] The Library of Congress has photographs of the church and academy.[9]
The Kentucky Historical Society has a photograph of the school building.[10]
Notable residents[]
- John J. Crittenden, governor of Kentucky[11]
- John Cabell Breckinridge, vice-president of the United States[12]
- William Campbell Preston Breckinridge, Representative from Kentucky[12]
- George B. Kinkead, who served as Kentucky secretary of state
- William Taylor Barry[13]
- Dr. Lyman Beecher, for one year[14]
- James Clark
- Alexander Campbell
Geography[]
Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary, Woodford County, Kentucky
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 192 square miles (500 km2), of which 189 square miles (490 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (1.7%) is water.[15]
Adjacent counties[]
- Franklin County (northwest)
- Scott County (northeast)
- Fayette County (east)
- Jessamine County (southeast)
- Mercer County (southwest)
- Anderson County (west)
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 9,210 | ||
| 1800 | 6,624 | −28.1% | |
| 1810 | 9,659 | 45.8% | |
| 1820 | 12,207 | 26.4% | |
| 1830 | 12,273 | 0.5% | |
| 1840 | 11,740 | −4.3% | |
| 1850 | 12,423 | 5.8% | |
| 1860 | 11,219 | −9.7% | |
| 1870 | 8,240 | −26.6% | |
| 1880 | 11,800 | 43.2% | |
| 1890 | 12,380 | 4.9% | |
| 1900 | 13,134 | 6.1% | |
| 1910 | 12,571 | −4.3% | |
| 1920 | 11,784 | −6.3% | |
| 1930 | 10,981 | −6.8% | |
| 1940 | 11,847 | 7.9% | |
| 1950 | 11,212 | −5.4% | |
| 1960 | 11,913 | 6.3% | |
| 1970 | 14,434 | 21.2% | |
| 1980 | 17,778 | 23.2% | |
| 1990 | 19,955 | 12.2% | |
| 2000 | 23,208 | 16.3% | |
| 2010 | 24,939 | 7.5% | |
| Est. 2021 | 27,075 | [16] | 16.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] 1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19] 1990-2000[20] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,208 people, 8,893 households, and 6,643 families residing in the county. The population density was 122 per square mile (47 /km2). There were 9,374 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile (19 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.08% White, 5.41% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 2.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,893 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,491, and the median income for a family was $58,218. Males had a median income of $39,284 versus $27,972 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,839. About 5.20% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture[]
Tourism[]
Barrels of bourbon outside the Woodford Reserve Distillery
Woodford County is home to one of Kentucky's oldest bourbon whiskey distilleries, Labrot & Graham (established 1812, now owned by Brown–Forman, which produces the Woodford Reserve brand); and to the Life Adventure Center, the Weisenberger flour mill and the Kentucky Castle.
Education[]
- Huntertown Elementary
- Northside Elementary
- Southside Elementary
- St. Leo's (Serves K-8/Private)
- Simmons Elementary
- Woodford County High School
- Woodford County Middle School
- Woodford Christian School K-5 (Private)
- Midway University
Politics[]
Since 1956, Woodford County has generally voted Republican at the federal level. However, it sometimes votes for Democrats statewide, which it did for Andy Beshear in the 2019 gubernatorial election.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 8,362 | 54.97% | 6,530 | 42.93% | 319 | 2.10% |
| 2016 | 7,697 | 56.75% | 4,958 | 36.56% | 908 | 6.69% |
| 2012 | 7,219 | 58.54% | 4,883 | 39.60% | 230 | 1.87% |
| 2008 | 7,130 | 57.98% | 5,027 | 40.88% | 140 | 1.14% |
| 2004 | 6,937 | 60.31% | 4,480 | 38.95% | 85 | 0.74% |
| 2000 | 5,890 | 58.10% | 3,995 | 39.41% | 252 | 2.49% |
| 1996 | 4,270 | 47.57% | 3,910 | 43.56% | 797 | 8.88% |
| 1992 | 3,992 | 45.75% | 3,161 | 36.23% | 1,572 | 18.02% |
| 1988 | 4,512 | 62.63% | 2,653 | 36.83% | 39 | 0.54% |
| 1984 | 4,746 | 66.73% | 2,290 | 32.20% | 76 | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 3,105 | 47.66% | 3,122 | 47.92% | 288 | 4.42% |
| 1976 | 2,646 | 48.42% | 2,689 | 49.20% | 130 | 2.38% |
| 1972 | 3,363 | 70.34% | 1,268 | 26.52% | 150 | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 1,901 | 42.51% | 1,646 | 36.81% | 925 | 20.68% |
| 1964 | 1,215 | 28.84% | 2,974 | 70.59% | 24 | 0.57% |
| 1960 | 2,227 | 53.32% | 1,950 | 46.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,170 | 50.97% | 2,027 | 47.62% | 60 | 1.41% |
| 1952 | 1,845 | 44.23% | 2,319 | 55.60% | 7 | 0.17% |
| 1948 | 1,229 | 33.16% | 2,175 | 58.69% | 302 | 8.15% |
| 1944 | 1,374 | 38.79% | 2,154 | 60.81% | 14 | 0.40% |
| 1940 | 1,514 | 36.47% | 2,630 | 63.36% | 7 | 0.17% |
| 1936 | 1,558 | 37.65% | 2,574 | 62.20% | 6 | 0.14% |
| 1932 | 1,720 | 34.97% | 3,180 | 64.66% | 18 | 0.37% |
| 1928 | 2,490 | 54.71% | 2,056 | 45.18% | 5 | 0.11% |
| 1924 | 2,091 | 45.69% | 2,472 | 54.02% | 13 | 0.28% |
| 1920 | 2,218 | 40.02% | 3,299 | 59.53% | 25 | 0.45% |
| 1916 | 1,300 | 41.85% | 1,786 | 57.50% | 20 | 0.64% |
| 1912 | 779 | 27.87% | 1,561 | 55.85% | 455 | 16.28% |
| 1908 | 1,369 | 44.18% | 1,690 | 54.53% | 40 | 1.29% |
| 1904 | 1,280 | 43.63% | 1,620 | 55.21% | 34 | 1.16% |
| 1900 | 1,617 | 48.14% | 1,712 | 50.97% | 30 | 0.89% |
| 1896 | 1,665 | 50.64% | 1,546 | 47.02% | 77 | 2.34% |
| 1892 | 1,097 | 44.18% | 1,289 | 51.91% | 97 | 3.91% |
| 1888 | 1,217 | 46.13% | 1,387 | 52.58% | 34 | 1.29% |
| 1884 | 1,126 | 46.51% | 1,267 | 52.33% | 28 | 1.16% |
| 1880 | 1,104 | 47.32% | 1,228 | 52.64% | 1 | 0.04% |
Notable residents[]
- Chris Hogan, New York Times best-selling author, motivational speaker, financial guru
- John Buford, Union cavalry officer during the American Civil War, was born in Woodford County but grew up in Illinois.[22]
- Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr., Governor of Kentucky, baseball commissioner[23]
- Ben Chandler, U.S. Representative[24]
- John Conlee, country music singer
- Charles W. Field, United States Army officer and Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives[25]
- Thomas Marshall (1730–1802), colonel of the 3rd Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution; father of the future Chief Justice John Marshall[26]
- Chad Pennington, former NFL quarterback[27]
- Charles Scott, Brig. General during the American Revolution and fourth Governor of Kentucky 1808-12[28]
- William Shatner, actor
- William T. Sterling, Wisconsin legislator and pioneer[29]
- William A. Trimble, United States Senator[30]
Communities[]
Cities[]
- Midway
- Versailles (county seat)
Unincorporated communities[]
- Millville
- Nonesuch
- Mortonsville
- Milner
- Pinckard
- Huntertown
- Mundy's Landing
- Pisgah
- Wallace
- Troy
See also[]
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Woodford County, Kentucky
References[]
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/woodfordcountykentucky/PST045221.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. pp. 26. https://books.google.com/books?id=gZFQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA26.
- ^ "Woodford County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. http://www.kyenc.org/entry/w/WOODF01.html.
- ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 37. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ.
- ^ Railey, William E, "History of Woodford County, Kentucky," 1938, p 3
- ^ Railey, William E, "History of Woodford County, Kentucky," 1938, p 4
- ^ Railey, William E.; Railey, William Edward (1975). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. ISBN 9780806379999. https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=%22pisgah+church%22+kentucky&pg=PA152.
- ^ "Pisgah Presbyterian Church & Academy, Pisgah-Georgetown Pike, Pisgah, Woodford County, KY". https://www.loc.gov/item/ky0071/.
- ^ "Pisgah Academy in Woodford County, KY. :: Visual Materials". http://www.kyhistory.com/cdm/ref/collection/PH/id/7096.
- ^ Harrison, Lowell H. (January 13, 2015). Kentucky's Governors. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813159744. https://books.google.com/books?id=Q84eBgAAQBAJ&q=Pisgah+Academy&pg=PA64.
- ^ a b Congress, United States; Printing, United States Congress Joint Committee on (December 9, 1928). "Biographical Directory of the American Congress. 1774-1927: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788 and the Congress of the United States from the First to the Sixty-ninth Congress, March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1927, Inclusive". U.S. Government Printing Office. https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8lAs_QeKkkC&q=Pisgah+Academy+woodford+county&pg=PA733.
- ^ Capace, Nancy (January 1, 1999). Encyclopedia of Kentucky. Somerset Publishers, Inc.. ISBN 9780403097401. https://books.google.com/books?id=Jhf4DaW0goQC&q=Pisgah+Academy&pg=RA1-PA26.
- ^ Rule, Lucien V. (December 9, 1927). "Forerunners of Lincoln in the Ohio Valley: With historic summaries". Press of Brandt & Fowler. https://books.google.com/books?id=SiwXAAAAIAAJ&q=Pisgah+Academy.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
- ^ Railey, William Edward (1938). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 91. ISBN 9780806379999. https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=John+Buford+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA91.
- ^ Kleber, John E. (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 179. ISBN 0813128838. https://books.google.com/books?id=8eFSK4o--M0C&q=Albert+Benjamin+%22Happy%22+Chandler%2C+Sr.+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA179.
- ^ "Ben Chandler is named director of Kentucky Humanities Council". Kentucky.com. http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/10/2635712/ben-chandler-named-director-of.html.
- ^ Evans, Clement Anselm (1899). Johnston, J. S.; Kentucky. Moore, J. C.; Missouri. Confederate Publishing Company. p. 238. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_U44vAAAAYAAJ. "Charles W. Field woodford county ky."
- ^ Railey, William Edward (1938). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 179. ISBN 9780806379999. https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=Charles+Scott+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA276.
- ^ "UK Football: Former NFL quarterback Chad Pennington says Mark Stoops' hire a good one for Cats - Central Kentucky News". http://articles.centralkynews.com/2013-01-14/amnews/36338536_1_mark-stoops-uk-football-national-guard-border-bowl.
- ^ Railey, William Edward (1938). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 276. ISBN 9780806379999. https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=Charles+Scott+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA276.
- ^ The Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, vol. 64, pg. 97. 1904
- ^ "TRIMBLE, William Allen, (1786 - 1821)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000377.
External links[]
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