Woodford County
County
Woodford County courthouse in Versailles
Woodford County courthouse in Versailles
Flag of Woodford County
Flag
Official seal of Woodford County
Seal
Map of Kentucky highlighting Woodford County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°02′N 84°44′W / 38.04°N 84.74°W / 38.04; -84.74
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedNovember 12, 1788
Named forWilliam Woodford
SeatVersailles
Largest cityVersailles
Area
 • Total192 sq mi (500 km2)
 • Land189 sq mi (490 km2)
 • Water3.3 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total26,871
 • Estimate 
(2022)
27,062 Increase
 • Density140/sq mi (54/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewoodfordcounty.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 center 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]

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.[11]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17909,210—
18006,624−28.1%
18109,65945.8%
182012,20726.4%
183012,2730.5%
184011,740−4.3%
185012,4235.8%
186011,219−9.7%
18708,240−26.6%
188011,80043.2%
189012,3804.9%
190013,1346.1%
191012,571−4.3%
192011,784−6.3%
193010,981−6.8%
194011,8477.9%
195011,212−5.4%
196011,9136.3%
197014,43421.2%
198017,77823.2%
199019,95512.2%
200023,20816.3%
201024,9397.5%
202026,8717.7%
2022 (est.)27,062[12]0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 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); the Life Adventure Center, an equine and outdoor experience to assist youth affected by trauma;[17] 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 and the 2023 gubernatorial election.

United States presidential election results for Woodford County, Kentucky[18]
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%

Notable residents

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
  4. ↑ "Woodford County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. p. 146. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  5. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 37.
  6. ↑ Railey, William E, "History of Woodford County, Kentucky," 1938, p 3
  7. ↑ Railey, William E, "History of Woodford County, Kentucky," 1938, p 4
  8. ↑ Railey, William E.; Railey, William Edward (1975). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. ISBN 9780806379999.
  9. ↑ "Pisgah Presbyterian Church & Academy, Pisgah-Georgetown Pike, Pisgah, Woodford County, KY". Library of Congress.
  10. ↑ "Pisgah Academy in Woodford County, KY. :: Visual Materials". www.kyhistory.com.
  11. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Life Adventure Center website". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  19. ↑ Capace, Nancy (January 1, 1999). Encyclopedia of Kentucky. Somerset Publishers, Inc. ISBN 9780403097401 – via Google Books.
  20. ↑ Rule, Lucien V. (December 9, 1927). "Forerunners of Lincoln in the Ohio Valley: With historic summaries". Press of Brandt & Fowler – via Google Books.
  21. 1 2 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 – via Google Books.
  22. ↑ Railey, William Edward (1938). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 91. ISBN 9780806379999. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  23. ↑ Kleber, John E. (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 179. ISBN 0813128838. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Ben Chandler is named director of Kentucky Humanities Council". Kentucky.com. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  25. ↑ Harrison, Lowell H. (January 13, 2015). Kentucky's Governors. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813159744 – via Google Books.
  26. ↑ Evans, Clement Anselm (1899). Johnston, J. S.; Kentucky. Moore, J. C.; Missouri. Confederate Publishing Company. p. 238. Retrieved July 17, 2014. Charles W. Field woodford county ky.
  27. ↑ Railey, William Edward (1938). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 179. ISBN 9780806379999. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  28. ↑ "UK Football: Former NFL quarterback Chad Pennington says Mark Stoops' hire a good one for Cats - Central Kentucky News". Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  29. ↑ Railey, William Edward (1938). History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 276. ISBN 9780806379999. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  30. ↑ The Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, vol. 64, pg. 97. 1904
  31. ↑ "TRIMBLE, William Allen, (1786 - 1821)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 16, 2014.

38°02′N 84°44′W / 38.04°N 84.74°W / 38.04; -84.74

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