Washington County, Kentucky

Washington County
County
Washington County courthouse in Springfield
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°45′N 85°10′W / 37.75°N 85.17°W / 37.75; -85.17
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1792
Named for	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  (2023)	12,267
• Density	40/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.washingtoncountyky.com

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,027.^[1] Its county seat is Springfield.^[2] The county is named for George Washington.^[3] Washington County was the first county formed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it reached statehood, and the sixteenth county formed.^[4] The center of population of Kentucky is located in Washington County, in the city of Willisburg.^[5] The county is dry, meaning that the sale of alcohol is prohibited, but it contains the "wet" city of Springfield, where retail alcohol sales are allowed. This classifies the jurisdiction as a moist county. Three wineries operate in the county and are licensed separately to sell to the public.^[6] Jacob Beam, founder of Jim 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 of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, parents of President Abraham 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 the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 301 square miles (780 km²), of which 297 square miles (770 km²) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km²) (1.3%) is water.^[12]

• Anderson County - northeast
• Mercer County - east
• Boyle County - east
• Marion County - south
• Nelson County - west

Historical population

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%
2023 (est.)	12,267	[13]	2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16] 1990–2000[17] 2010–2021[18]

As of the census^[19] of 2000, there were 10,916 people, 4,121 households, and 3,020 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 per square mile (14/km²). There were 4,542 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.62% White, 7.51% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,121 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% 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 3.03.

The age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,136, and the median income for a family was $39,240. Males had a median income of $27,624 versus $21,593 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,722. About 10.30% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 19.60% of those age 65 or over.

The county is served by Washington County Schools, a district that contains five schools:^[20]

• North Washington Elementary School in Willisburg for grades PK, K-8 with 468 students
• Washington County Elementary School in Springfield for grades PK, K-5 with 387 students
• Care Academy, Inc. in Willisburg for grades 6–12 with 65 students
• Washington County Middle School in Springfield for grades 6–8 with 206 students
• Washington County High School in Springfield for grades 9–12 with 626 students

St. Catharine College (now closed) is located near Springfield.

• Mackville
• Springfield (county seat)
• Willisburg

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Kentucky^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,720	74.44%	1,533	24.18%	88	1.39%
2020	4,482	72.00%	1,644	26.41%	99	1.59%
2016	4,013	71.20%	1,420	25.20%	203	3.60%
2012	3,495	66.97%	1,669	31.98%	55	1.05%
2008	3,305	62.65%	1,890	35.83%	80	1.52%
2004	3,479	66.44%	1,724	32.93%	33	0.63%
2000	3,044	66.35%	1,458	31.78%	86	1.87%
1996	2,116	50.85%	1,639	39.39%	406	9.76%
1992	2,098	44.69%	2,008	42.77%	589	12.55%
1988	2,445	54.89%	1,950	43.78%	59	1.32%
1984	2,804	60.24%	1,786	38.37%	65	1.40%
1980	2,008	47.26%	2,147	50.53%	94	2.21%
1976	1,765	41.68%	2,376	56.10%	94	2.22%
1972	2,378	58.70%	1,552	38.31%	121	2.99%
1968	1,863	46.35%	1,675	41.68%	481	11.97%
1964	1,561	35.88%	2,790	64.12%	0	0.00%
1960	2,632	52.40%	2,391	47.60%	0	0.00%
1956	2,536	54.69%	2,084	44.94%	17	0.37%
1952	2,290	51.87%	2,114	47.88%	11	0.25%
1948	1,813	45.44%	2,121	53.16%	56	1.40%
1944	2,353	50.56%	2,283	49.05%	18	0.39%
1940	2,362	47.47%	2,612	52.49%	2	0.04%
1936	2,391	48.37%	2,516	50.90%	36	0.73%
1932	2,340	44.97%	2,841	54.60%	22	0.42%
1928	2,933	56.36%	2,266	43.54%	5	0.10%
1924	2,286	50.39%	2,238	49.33%	13	0.29%
1920	2,892	52.56%	2,600	47.26%	10	0.18%
1916	1,654	49.77%	1,654	49.77%	15	0.45%
1912	1,170	41.47%	1,329	47.11%	322	11.41%
1908	1,515	48.06%	1,615	51.24%	22	0.70%
1904	1,448	48.77%	1,482	49.92%	39	1.31%
1900	1,600	48.50%	1,669	50.59%	30	0.91%
1896	1,573	49.51%	1,536	48.35%	68	2.14%
1892	1,035	41.55%	1,193	47.89%	263	10.56%
1888	1,365	50.37%	1,328	49.00%	17	0.63%
1884	1,133	49.61%	1,144	50.09%	7	0.31%
1880	1,172	46.34%	1,319	52.16%	38	1.50%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Kentucky

37°45′N 85°10′W / 37.75°N 85.17°W / 37.75; -85.17