Named for Thomas Nelson, Jr. Website www.nelsoncountyky.com Founded 1785 County seat Bardstown | Largest city Bardstown Area 1,098 km² Population 44,540 (2013) | |
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Rivers Rolling Fork, Beech Fork, Pottinger Creek, Chaplin River Points of interest | ||
Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,437. Its county seat is Bardstown.
Contents
- Map of Nelson County KY USA
- History
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- Demographics
- Attractions and events
- Education
- Cities
- Census designated places
- References
Map of Nelson County, KY, USA
Nelson County comprises the Bardstown, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Louisville/Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Madison, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area.
History
The fourth county created in what is now Kentucky, it was formed from Jefferson County, Virginia in 1784, shortly after the Revolutionary War. The county was named for Thomas Nelson, Jr., a Virginia Governor who signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1808, after Kentucky had become a state, a new Virginia county was named for Governor Nelson. (see Nelson County, Virginia).
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 424 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 418 square miles (1,080 km2) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.5%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 43,437 people and 18,075 housing units in the county. The population density was 102.4 per square mile (39.5/km2). There were 18,075 housing units at an average density of 42.6 per square mile (16.4/km2). 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.
Attractions and events
There are many attractions and events in Bardstown. Following are attractions and events outside the county seat:
Education
Two public school districts operate in the county:
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.