Nelson County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kentucky
. As of 2010, the population was 43,437. Its county seat
is Bardstown
. The county is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County
, KY–IN
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
in 1784 shortly after the Revolutionary War. The county is named for Thomas Nelson, Jr.
, a Virginia Governor who signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1808, another new Virginia county was named for Governor Nelson. (see Nelson County, Virginia
).
of 2010, there were 43,437 people and 18,075 housing units in the county. The population density
was 102.4 /sqmi. There were 18,075 housing units at an average density of 42.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county 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% from two or more races
. 2.04% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos
of any race.
There were 16,826 households out of which 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 non-families. 24.41% of all households 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 has not yet been released. As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $39,010, and the median income for a family was $44,600. Males had a median income of $32,015 versus $21,838 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,120. About 10.00% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.
Several private schools also operate in the county. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
operates five schools in all—three K-8 schools, a fourth that educates grades 1 through 8, and one high school. Several Protestant-affiliated schools also exist.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. As of 2010, the population was 43,437. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Bardstown
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
. The county is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, KY–IN
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The fourth county created in what is now Kentucky, it was formed from Jefferson County, VirginiaLost counties, cities, and towns of Virginia
Lost counties, cities, and towns of Virginia are those that existed within the English Colony of Virginia or, after statehood, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and no longer retain the same form within its boundaries. The settlements, towns, and administrative units discussed here ceased to exist in a...
in 1784 shortly after the Revolutionary War. The county is named for Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Thomas Nelson, Jr. was an American planter, soldier, and statesman from Yorktown, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and was its Governor in 1781. He is regarded as one of the U.S. Founding Fathers since he signed the Declaration of Independence as a member of the...
, a Virginia Governor who signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1808, another new Virginia county was named for Governor Nelson. (see Nelson County, Virginia
Nelson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,445 people, 5,887 households, and 4,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
).
Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 1098.35 square kilometres (424.1 sq mi), of which 1081.35 square kilometres (417.5 sq mi) (or 99.66%) is land and 17 square kilometres (6.6 sq mi) (or 0.34%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Spencer CountySpencer County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 11,766 people, 4,251 households, and 3,358 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,555 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.50% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.22% Native...
(north) - Anderson CountyAnderson County, KentuckyAnderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1827. In 2010 the population was 21,421. Its county seat is Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The county is named for Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., a Kentucky Legislator, U.S...
(northeast) - Washington CountyWashington County, KentuckyWashington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 10,916. Its county seat is Springfield. The county is named for George Washington. Washington County was the first county formed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it reached statehood...
(east) - Marion CountyMarion County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 18,212 people, 6,613 households, and 4,754 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 7,277 housing units at an average density of...
(southeast) - LaRue CountyLaRue County, KentuckyLaRue County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 13,373. Its county seat is Hodgenville...
(south) - Hardin CountyHardin County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 94,174 people, 34,497 households, and 25,355 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 37,673 housing units at an average density of...
(west) - Bullitt CountyBullitt County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 61,236 people, 22,171 households, and 17,736 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 23,160 housing units at an average density of...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 43,437 people and 18,075 housing units in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 102.4 /sqmi. There were 18,075 housing units at an average density of 42.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 93.48% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
(90.93% non-Hispanic
Non-Hispanic Whites
Non-Hispanic Whites or White, Not Hispanic or Latino are people in the United States, as defined by the Census Bureau, who are of the White race and are not of Hispanic or Latino origin/ethnicity. Hence the designation is exclusive in the sense that it defines who is not included as opposed to who is...
), 5.03% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.12% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.50% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 0.78% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races
Multiracial American
Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
. 2.04% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race.
There were 16,826 households out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.09% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 non-families. 24.41% of all households 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 has not yet been released. As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $39,010, and the median income for a family was $44,600. Males had a median income of $32,015 versus $21,838 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,120. About 10.00% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.
Cities, towns and census-designated places
|
Fairfield, Kentucky Fairfield is a city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 72 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fairfield is located at .... Howardstown, Kentucky Howardstown, Kentucky is located in the extreme southern portion of Nelson County.It includes both the actual Howardstown community and the Stiles community.Neither community contains a US post office... |
New Haven, Kentucky New Haven is a city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 849 at the 2000 census.New Haven was founded as Pottinger's Landing in 1781 and later named New Haven by Samuel Pottinger after the Connecticut town... Woodlawn, Kentucky Woodlawn is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 268 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodlawn is located at .... |
Education
Two public school districts operate in the county:- The Nelson County School District serves K-12 students throughout the county, with the exception of most of the city of Bardstown. The district operates two K-8 schools, two elementary schools, two middle schools, an alternative school, a vocational-technical school, and one high schoolNelson County High School (Kentucky)Nelson County High School is a public high school located in Bardstown, Kentucky. It is the only high school in the Nelson County School District, and is by far the largest of the city's four high schools .Located in one of the fastest-growing areas of Kentucky, the school's attendance...
. The district is building a second high school that is scheduled to open in 2012. - The Bardstown City Schools serve students in most of the city of Bardstown. However, some areas of the city are instead served by the Nelson County district, and some of the Nelson County schools are physically within the Bardstown district. The district operates a preschool, an ungraded primary school (K-2), one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. The preschool and primary school occupy separate buildings on adjacent plots of land in the north of the city, and the other schools are adjacent to one another near downtown.
Several private schools also operate in the county. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
operates five schools in all—three K-8 schools, a fourth that educates grades 1 through 8, and one high school. Several Protestant-affiliated schools also exist.
See also
- Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Nelson County, KentuckyNational Register of Historic Places listings in Nelson County, KentuckyThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Nelson County, Kentucky. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States...