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Nicholas County
Nicholas County
County
	Nicholas County courthouse in Carlisle
	Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
	Kentucky's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°20′N 84°01′W / 38.34°N 84.01°W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1799
Seat	Carlisle
Largest city	Carlisle
Area
• Total	197 sq mi (510 km2)
• Land	195 sq mi (510 km2)
• Water	1.7 sq mi (4 km2) 0.8%
Population (2020)
• Total	7,537
• Estimate (2023)	7,686
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	nicholascounty.ky.gov

Nicholas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,537.^[1] Its county seat is Carlisle, which is also the only incorporated community in the county.^[2] Founded in 1799, the county is named for Col. George Nicholas, the "Father of the Kentucky Constitution."^[3]^[4]

History

Nicholas County was established in 1799 from land given by Bourbon and Mason counties. Nicholas was the 42nd Kentucky county in order of formation.^[5] The general region is known for its scenery, history, horse farms and hospitality.^{[citation needed]} Nicholas County has a rural character and its countryside is typical of the Bluegrass belt with farms, wooded glades and small villages.^{[citation needed]} Nicholas County is home to Forest Retreat, listed on the National Historic register as a historic district, built in 1814 by Thomas Metcalf the 10th Governor of Kentucky. The 1954 Kentucky Derby Winner “Determine” was bred and born in Nicholas County on the Forest Retreat Farm. Daniel Boone's last Kentucky home place is also located in Nicholas County, the Historic marker is located on US HWY 68 just past the traffic islands heading north. Built by Boone in 1795, Boone and his family resided in the one room cabin until 1799. Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park is a park located near Mount Olivet, Kentucky in Robertson and Nicholas counties. The park encompasses 148 acres (60 ha) and features a monument commemorating the August 19, 1782 Battle of Blue Licks.^[6] The battle was regarded as the final battle of the American Revolutionary War.^[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 197 square miles (510 km²), of which 195 square miles (510 km²) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[8]

Adjacent counties

Robertson County (north)
Fleming County (northeast)
Bath County (southeast)
Bourbon County (southwest)
Harrison County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	4,898		—
1820	7,973		62.8%
1830	8,834		10.8%
1840	8,745		−1.0%
1850	10,361		18.5%
1860	11,030		6.5%
1870	9,129		−17.2%
1880	11,869		30.0%
1890	10,764		−9.3%
1900	11,952		11.0%
1910	10,601		−11.3%
1920	9,894		−6.7%
1930	8,571		−13.4%
1940	8,617		0.5%
1950	7,532		−12.6%
1960	6,677		−11.4%
1970	6,508		−2.5%
1980	7,157		10.0%
1990	6,725		−6.0%
2000	6,813		1.3%
2010	7,135		4.7%
2020	7,537		5.6%
2023 (est.)	7,686	^[9]	2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[10] 1790-1960^[11] 1900-1990^[12] 1990-2000^[13] 2010-2021^[14]

As of the census^[15] of 2010, there were 7,135 people, 2,809 households, and 1,956 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 per square mile (14/km²). There were 3,261 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,809 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.40% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 19, 4.8% from 20 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,259, and the median income for a family was $43,410. The per capita income for the county was $18,452. About 9.70% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Nicholas County, Kentucky^[16]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,408	70.91%	955	28.12%	33	0.97%
2016	1,957	68.88%	787	27.70%	97	3.41%
2012	1,583	61.33%	948	36.73%	50	1.94%
2008	1,634	55.02%	1,272	42.83%	64	2.15%
2004	1,700	55.57%	1,332	43.54%	27	0.88%
2000	1,613	60.34%	994	37.19%	66	2.47%
1996	950	41.11%	1,092	47.25%	269	11.64%
1992	894	32.05%	1,341	48.08%	554	19.86%
1988	1,271	49.67%	1,242	48.53%	46	1.80%
1984	1,535	57.38%	1,107	41.38%	33	1.23%
1980	915	38.92%	1,349	57.38%	87	3.70%
1976	738	31.03%	1,582	66.53%	58	2.44%
1972	1,076	56.22%	804	42.01%	34	1.78%
1968	725	35.16%	911	44.18%	426	20.66%
1964	621	26.11%	1,742	73.25%	15	0.63%
1960	1,058	42.10%	1,455	57.90%	0	0.00%
1956	999	37.07%	1,667	61.86%	29	1.08%
1952	1,156	38.80%	1,819	61.06%	4	0.13%
1948	815	29.27%	1,885	67.71%	84	3.02%
1944	1,059	36.71%	1,813	62.84%	13	0.45%
1940	1,207	36.08%	2,124	63.50%	14	0.42%
1936	1,277	35.28%	2,325	64.23%	18	0.50%
1932	1,219	30.57%	2,728	68.41%	41	1.03%
1928	1,867	50.36%	1,836	49.53%	4	0.11%
1924	1,348	37.19%	2,235	61.66%	42	1.16%
1920	1,496	33.29%	2,953	65.71%	45	1.00%
1916	964	34.09%	1,829	64.67%	35	1.24%
1912	700	26.95%	1,611	62.03%	286	11.01%

Communities

Cities

Carlisle (county seat)

Unincorporated Communities

Notable residents

Barton Stone Alexander, born in Nicholas County, brigadier general in the American Civil War, designer of Fort McPherson^[17]
Daniel Boone, moved to Nicholas County in 1795 after living in the Kanawha Valley, Virginia. Circa 1798, Boone moved to the mouth of the Little Sandy River at the site of present-day Greenup, Kentucky. Boone left Kentucky with his extended family for Missouri in 1799. While in Nicholas County, Boone lived on the Brushy Fork of Hinkston Creek in a cabin owned by his son Daniel Morgan Boone.^[18]^[19]
Thomas Metcalfe (March 20, 1780 – August 18, 1855), also known as Thomas Metcalf or as "Stonehammer", was a U.S. Representative, Senator, and the tenth Governor of Kentucky. Following his political career, he retired to "Forest Retreat", his estate in Nicholas County, where he died of cholera in 1855. Metcalfe County, Kentucky was named in his honor.^[20]
Author Barbara Kingsolver was raised in Carlisle, Nicholas County.^[21]
Joseph Drake was born in Nicholas County. Drake was a lawyer, plantation owner, and Colonel in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War.
David Rice Atchison (1807–1886) lived for a brief period in Nicholas County and holds the distinction of (possibly) being President of the United States for one day.^[22]

References

^ "Census - Geography Profile: Nicholas County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "Nicholas County". Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
^ "History". Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park. Kentucky Department of Parks. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
^ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Parks, State". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
^ "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 19, 2014.
^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
^ Boone A Biography. Robert Morgan: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. 2007.
^ "Daniel Boone's Cabin | Carlisle & Nicholas County, KY".
^ Carolyn Murray-Wooley (May 1984). "Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Thomas Metcalf House". National Park Service.
^ "Barbara Kingsolver Biography".
^ Atchison, David Rice." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed