Editing Bourbon County, Kentucky

{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Bourbon County
 | state                = Kentucky
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1785
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Paris
 | largest city wl      = Paris
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 292
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 290
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.9
 | area percentage      = 0.6%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 20252
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 20333 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = http://www.bourbonky.com/
 | named for            = [[House of Bourbon]]
 | ex image             = Bourbon county, kentucky courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Bourbon County Courthouse in Paris
 | district             = 6th
}}

'''Bourbon County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kentucky]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 20,252.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bourboncountykentucky/PST045221 |access-date=October 16, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Paris, Kentucky|Paris]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Bourbon County is part of the [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington-Fayette]], KY [[Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is one of Kentucky's nine original counties, and is best known for its historical association with [[bourbon whiskey]].

==History==

===Old Bourbon===
Bourbon County was established in 1785 from a portion of [[Fayette County, Kentucky|Fayette County, Virginia]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Collins, Lewis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZFQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA26 |title=Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2 |publisher=Collins & Company |year=1882 |pages=26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bourbon County |url=http://www.kyenc.org/entry/b/BOURB02.html |access-date=June 7, 2013 |publisher=Kyenc.org}}</ref> and named after the French [[House of Bourbon]],<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ |title=The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1 |publisher=Kentucky State Historical Society |year=1903 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ/page/n34 34]}}</ref> in gratitude for [[Louis XVI of France]]'s assistance during the [[American Revolutionary War]].

Bourbon County, Virginia, originally comprised 34 of Kentucky's 120 current counties, including the current Bourbon County.<ref>City of [[Cynthiana, Kentucky|Cynthiana]], [http://www.cynthianaky.com/history2.htm "Early History of Kentucky County Virginia"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114150135/http://www.cynthianaky.com/history2.htm |date=January 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Edge">''The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture'', John T. Edge, volume editor, Volume 7: Foodways, p. 128.</ref><ref name=CowderyNaming/> This larger area later became known as ''Old Bourbon''. Bourbon became part of the new state of Kentucky when it was [[Admission to the Union|admitted to the Union]] in 1792.

===Birthplace of Bourbon whiskey===
[[Whiskey]] was an early product of the area, and whiskey barrels from the area were marked ''Old Bourbon'' when they were shipped downriver from the local port on the [[Ohio River]].<ref name="CowderyNaming">{{Cite journal |last=Cowdery |first=Charles K. |date=July 1996 |title=How Bourbon Whiskey Really Got Its Famous Name |journal=The Bourbon Country Reader |volume=3 |number=1}}</ref><ref name="CowderyStraight">{{Cite book |last=Cowdery |first=Charles K. |title=Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey |year=2004 |isbn=9780975870303 |page=25}}</ref>  As it was made mostly from [[Maize|corn]] (maize), it had a distinctive flavor, and the name ''bourbon'' came to be used to distinguish it from other regional whiskey styles, such as Monongahela, a product of western [[Pennsylvania]], which may have generally been a [[rye whiskey]]. The use of the term ''Old'' in the phrase ''Old Bourbon'', was likely misconstrued as a reference to the aging of the whiskey rather than part of the name of the geographic area.<ref name=CowderyNaming/> The port, originally known as ''Limestone'', now [[Maysville, Kentucky|Maysville]], was in Bourbon County until the borders were redrawn in 1789 when it became part of the Mason County of Virginia, and it is now in [[Mason County, Kentucky]].<ref name=CowderyNaming/> Thirty-four modern Kentucky counties were once part of the original Bourbon County, including the current county of that name.<ref name=Edge/>

Except for a few distilleries that were authorized to produce it for medicinal purposes, the bourbon industry was wiped out in 1919 when [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]] took effect. Kentucky adopted prohibition a year earlier than the national prohibition.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warren |first=Jim |date=October 18, 2011 |title=Revisiting Prohibition: Kentucky was ahead of the times |url=http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article44131437.html |access-date=February 4, 2018 |work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |language=en |via=kentucky.com}}</ref>  Within the boundaries of Bourbon County as it stands today there were, by some counts, 26 distilleries. All of these were shut down in 1919, and no distilleries resumed operation there until late 2014, a period of 95 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Andrew |date=July 25, 2016 |title=Gurkha Partners with Hartfield & Co. for Bourbon Collection |url=https://www.hartfieldandcompany.com/press/2016/7/25/gurkha-partners-with-hartfield-co-for-bourbon-collection |access-date=June 11, 2020 |website=hartfieldandcompany.com |publisher=Hartfield & Co}}</ref>  At present, alcohol production and sales in Kentucky are regulated by [[alcohol laws of Kentucky|a patchwork of laws]] which the Kentucky Supreme Court called a "maze of obscure statutory language".<ref name="Buy or sell">{{Cite news |last=Brammer |first=Jack |date=August 10, 2012 |title=Want to buy or sell an alcoholic drink in Kentucky? That'll depend on where you are |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2012/08/10/2294424/want-to-buy-or-sell-an-alcoholic.html |access-date=August 24, 2012 |work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]]}}</ref>

===Courthouse=== 
The courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1872 and 1901, resulting in the loss of county records. The current courthouse is the county's fourth.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAVlVS29NKIC&q=%22bell+county%22+1914+1918+1976&pg=PA197 |title=Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research |date=1992 |publisher=Ancestry Publishing |isbn=9780916489496 |pages=197 |access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|292|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|290|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.9|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 12, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

There are no sizable lakes in the county, although there are several streams. Primary among these is [[Stoner Creek (Kentucky)|Stoner Creek]], on which the county seat is situated. This large stream is a principal tributary of the South Fork of the [[Licking River (Kentucky)|Licking River]].

The county's topography is predominantly gently rolling hills. Due to agricultural development, very little of the county's land area can be characterized as forested, though [[deciduous]] trees are a common feature of the landscape.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Harrison County, Kentucky|Harrison County]]  (northwest)
* [[Nicholas County, Kentucky|Nicholas County]]  (northeast)
* [[Bath County, Kentucky|Bath County]]  (east)
* [[Montgomery County, Kentucky|Montgomery County]]  (southeast)
* [[Clark County, Kentucky|Clark County]]  (south)
* [[Fayette County, Kentucky|Fayette County]]  (southwest)
* [[Scott County, Kentucky|Scott County]]  (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1790 = 7837
| 1800 = 12825
| 1810 = 18009
| 1820 = 17664
| 1830 = 18436
| 1840 = 14478
| 1850 = 14466
| 1860 = 14860
| 1870 = 14863
| 1880 = 15956
| 1890 = 16976
| 1900 = 18069
| 1910 = 17462
| 1920 = 18418
| 1930 = 18060
| 1940 = 17932
| 1950 = 17752
| 1960 = 18178
| 1970 = 18476
| 1980 = 19405
| 1990 = 19236
| 2000 = 19360
| 2010 = 19985
| 2020 = 20252
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 20333
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=August 12, 2014 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=August 12, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt |access-date=August 12, 2014 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=August 12, 2014 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

As to the [[census]] of 2010, there were 19,985 people and 8,128 households residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|66|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 8,349 housing units at an average density of {{convert|29|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 90.38% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 6.94% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.36% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.02% from two or more races. 2.60% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 7,681 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,038, and the median income for a family was $42,294. Males had a median income of $30,989 versus $23,467 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,335. About 12.30% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Bourbon County is served by a public school school district that operates six schools and has 2,674 students, along with a 20% minority rate as of 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/kentucky/districts/bourbon-county-105054#:~:text=Bourbon%20County%20contains%206%20schools,district's%20minority%20enrollment%20is%2020%25.|title= Bourbon County -U.S. News Education|publisher=U.S.News|accessdate=January 2, 2025}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Millersburg, Kentucky|Millersburg]]
* [[North Middletown, Kentucky|North Middletown]]
* [[Paris, Kentucky|Paris]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated Communities===
* [[Cane Ridge, Kentucky|Cane Ridge]]
* [[Centerville, Bourbon County, Kentucky|Centerville]]
* [[Clintonville, Kentucky|Clintonville]]
* [[Little Rock, Kentucky|Little Rock]]
* [[Ruddels Mills, Kentucky|Ruddles Mills]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Bourbon County, Kentucky|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=June 29, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,284|3,088|165|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,190|3,296|162|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,569|2,791|443|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,692|3,075|156|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,820|3,385|125|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,953|3,198|66|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,881|3,048|173|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,592|3,030|636|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,707|2,895|1,318|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,308|2,793|74|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,836|2,649|68|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,475|3,641|230|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,260|3,504|140|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,180|1,860|87|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,848|2,566|1,046|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,222|4,068|26|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,379|3,156|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,475|3,263|52|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,229|3,339|2|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,610|3,562|260|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,957|3,828|18|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,673|4,254|4|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,471|3,872|21|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,820|4,759|25|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,512|3,218|4|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,691|4,034|118|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|4,029|5,452|43|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,167|2,715|38|Kentucky}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|1,744|2,362|445|Kentucky}}
For most of the 20th century Bourbon county was a fairly reliable Democratic county. However, since the dawn of the 21st century it has now become a solidly Republican county.

The county voted "No" on [[2022 Kentucky Amendment 2]], an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 58% to 42%, and backed [[Donald Trump]] with 64% of the vote to [[Joe Biden]]'s 34% in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=November 8, 2022 - Official 2022 General Election Results |url=https://elect.ky.gov/results/2020-2029/Documents/2022%20General%20Election%20results.pdf |publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections |access-date=December 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224001202/https://elect.ky.gov/results/2020-2029/Documents/2022%20General%20Election%20results.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2022}}</ref>

===Elected officials===
{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Elected officials as of January 3, 2025'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>
|- 
! scope=row|[[U.S. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Andy Barr (American politician)|Andy Barr]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|6|B}}
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky Senate|Ky. Senate]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Steve West (Kentucky politician)|Stephen West]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 27th Senate district|27]]
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Matthew Koch]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|72
|}

==Notable people==
* [[Mitchell Dazey]] (1820–1896), Illinois politician and farmer; was born in Bourbon County.
* [[Mary Rootes Thornton McAboy]] (1815–1892), poet

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Bourbon County, Kansas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Bourbon County, Kentucky]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bourbon County, Kentucky}}
{{Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Area}}
{{Kentucky}}

{{Coord|38.20|-84.21|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bourbon County, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties]]
[[Category:Lexington–Fayette metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1785 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1785]]
[[Category:Former counties of Virginia]]