Editing Woodford County, Kentucky

{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Woodford County
 | state                = Kentucky
 | flag                 = Flag of Woodford County, Kentucky.png
 | seal                 = Woodford County, Kentucky.png
 | founded year         = 1788
 | founded date         = November 12
 | seat wl              = Versailles
 | largest city wl      = Versailles
 | leader_title         = Judge/Executive
 | leader_name          = [[James Kay (Kentucky politician)|James Kay]] (D)
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 192
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 189
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.3
 | area percentage      = 0.6
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 26871
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 27728 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = woodfordcounty.ky.gov
 | named for            = [[William Woodford]]
 | ex image             = Woodford county courthouse kentucky.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Woodford County courthouse in Versailles
 | district             = 6th 
}}

'''Woodford 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 26,871.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/woodfordcountykentucky/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Versailles, Kentucky|Versailles]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The area was home to Pisgah Academy. Woodford County is part of the [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington-Fayette]], KY [[Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is located in the center of the [[Bluegrass region]] of Kentucky.

==History==
The county was formed from a part of [[Fayette County, Kentucky|Fayette County, Virginia]] in 1788.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZFQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA26 | title=Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2 | publisher=Collins & Company | author=Collins, Lewis | year=1882 | pages=26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_united_states_history/146|title=Woodford County|publisher=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|year=2000| pages=146| access-date=August 9, 2023}}</ref> It was named for [[William Woodford]], an [[American Revolutionary War]] general from [[Virginia]] who died while a prisoner of war in 1780.<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/n37 37]}}</ref> It was the last of the original nine counties established that formed the Commonwealth of [[Kentucky]] in 1792.<ref>Railey, William E, "History of Woodford County, Kentucky," 1938, p 3</ref>

[[Scott County, Kentucky|Scott County]] was formed from part of the county in 1792. [[Franklin County, Kentucky|Franklin County]] took another part of the county in 1794.<ref>Railey, William E, "History of Woodford County, Kentucky," 1938, p 4</ref>

Queen [[Elizabeth II]] stayed in Woodford County at Lane's End Farm in May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Get to Know UWBG: Woodford County |url=https://www.uwbg.org/post/get-to-know-uwbg-woodford-county |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=www.uwbg.org}}</ref> She also attended the [[Kentucky Derby]] in Louisville.

===Pisgah Academy===
'''Pisgah Academy''' was a school in Woodford County. It was established by Col. Alexander Dunlap.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=%22pisgah+church%22+kentucky&pg=PA152 |title = History of Woodford County, Kentucky|isbn = 9780806379999|last1 = Railey|first1 = William E.|last2 = Railey|first2 = William Edward|year = 1975| publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com }}</ref> The [[Library of Congress]] has photographs of the church and academy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/ky0071/|title=Pisgah Presbyterian Church & Academy, Pisgah-Georgetown Pike, Pisgah, Woodford County, KY|website=Library of Congress}}</ref>

The [[Kentucky Historical Society]] has a photograph of the school building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kyhistory.com/cdm/ref/collection/PH/id/7096|title=Pisgah Academy in Woodford County, KY. :: Visual Materials|website=www.kyhistory.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:buckleyky.jpg|thumb|right|Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary, Woodford County, Kentucky]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|192|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|189|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.3|sqmi}} (1.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|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}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Franklin County, Kentucky|Franklin County]]  (northwest)
* [[Scott County, Kentucky|Scott County]]  (northeast)
* [[Fayette County, Kentucky|Fayette County]]  (east)
* [[Jessamine County, Kentucky|Jessamine County]]  (southeast)
* [[Mercer County, Kentucky|Mercer County]]  (southwest)
* [[Anderson County, Kentucky|Anderson County]]  (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1790 = 9210
| 1800 = 6624
| 1810 = 9659
| 1820 = 12207
| 1830 = 12273
| 1840 = 11740
| 1850 = 12423
| 1860 = 11219
| 1870 = 8240
| 1880 = 11800
| 1890 = 12380
| 1900 = 13134
| 1910 = 12571
| 1920 = 11784
| 1930 = 10981
| 1940 = 11847
| 1950 = 11212
| 1960 = 11913
| 1970 = 14434
| 1980 = 17778
| 1990 = 19955
| 2000 = 23208
| 2010 = 24939
| 2020 = 26871
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 27728
| 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 = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |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 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 23,208 people, 8,893 households, and 6,643 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|122|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 9,374 housing units at an average density of {{convert|49|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.08% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 5.41% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.13% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.13% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. 2.99% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 8,893 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% 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 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,491, and the median income for a family was $58,218. Males had a median income of $39,284 versus $27,972 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $22,839. About 5.20% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Tourism===
[[File:Woodford Reserve Distillery-27527-7.jpg|thumb|Barrels of bourbon outside the [[Woodford Reserve]] Distillery]]
Woodford County is home to one of Kentucky's oldest [[bourbon whiskey]] distilleries, [[Labrot & Graham]] (established 1812, now owned by [[Brown–Forman]], which produces the [[Woodford Reserve]] brand); the Life Adventure Center, an equine and outdoor experience to assist youth affected by trauma;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lifeadventurecenter.org|title=Life Adventure Center website|access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> and the [[Kentucky Castle]].

==Education==
* Huntertown Elementary
* Northside Elementary
* Southside Elementary
* St. Leo's (Serves K-8/Private)
* Simmons Elementary
* [[Woodford County High School (Kentucky)|Woodford County High School]]
* Woodford County Middle School
* Woodford Christian School K-5 (Private)
* [[Midway University]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Woodford County, Kentucky|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,419|6,282|292|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,362|6,530|319|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,697|4,958|908|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|7,219|4,883|230|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|7,130|5,027|140|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,937|4,480|85|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|5,890|3,995|252|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,270|3,910|797|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,992|3,161|1,572|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,512|2,653|39|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,746|2,290|76|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,105|3,122|288|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,646|2,689|130|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,363|1,268|150|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,901|1,646|925|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,215|2,974|24|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,227|1,950|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,170|2,027|60|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,845|2,319|7|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,229|2,175|302|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,374|2,154|14|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,514|2,630|7|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,558|2,574|6|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,720|3,180|18|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,490|2,056|5|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,091|2,472|13|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,218|3,299|25|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,300|1,786|20|Kentucky}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|779|1,561|455|Kentucky}}
Since 1956, Woodford County has generally voted Republican at the federal level. However, it sometimes votes for Democrats statewide, which it did for [[Andy Beshear]] in the [[2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election|2019]] and [[2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election|2023]] gubernatorial elections.

The county voted "No" on [[2022 Kentucky Amendment 2]], an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 61% to 39%, and backed [[Donald Trump]] with 55% of the vote to [[Joe Biden]]'s 43% 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}}|[[Amanda Mays Bledsoe]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 12th Senate district|12]]
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Daniel Fister]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|56
|}

==Notable residents==
* [[William Taylor Barry]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jhf4DaW0goQC&q=Pisgah+Academy&pg=RA1-PA26|title=Encyclopedia of Kentucky|first=Nancy|last=Capace|date=January 1, 1999|publisher=Somerset Publishers, Inc.|via=Google Books|isbn=9780403097401}}</ref>
* Dr. [[Lyman Beecher]], for one year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SiwXAAAAIAAJ&q=Pisgah+Academy|title=Forerunners of Lincoln in the Ohio Valley: With historic summaries|first=Lucien V.|last=Rule|date=December 9, 1927|publisher=Press of Brandt & Fowler|via=Google Books}}</ref>
* [[James W. Blackburn]], former secretary of state of Kentucky
* [[Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn]], former U.S. senator, representative, and [[governor of Panama Canal Zone]]
* [[Luke P. Blackburn]], former governor of Kentucky
* [[John Cabell Breckinridge]], vice-president of the United States<ref name=bio>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8lAs_QeKkkC&q=Pisgah+Academy+woodford+county&pg=PA733|title=Biographical Directory of the American Congress. 1774-1927: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788 and the Congress of the United States from the First to the Sixty-ninth Congress, March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1927, Inclusive|first1=United States|last1=Congress|first2=United States Congress Joint Committee on|last2=Printing|date=December 9, 1928|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|via=Google Books}}</ref>
* [[William Campbell Preston Breckinridge]], Representative from Kentucky<ref name=bio/>
* [[John Buford]], [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] cavalry officer during the [[American Civil War]], was born in Woodford County but grew up in Illinois.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Railey|first1=William Edward|title=History of Woodford County, Kentucky|date=1938|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|page=91|isbn=9780806379999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=John+Buford+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA91|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Alexander Campbell (American politician)|Alexander Campbell]] {{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
* [[Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr.]], Governor of Kentucky, baseball commissioner<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kleber|first1=John E.|title=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|date=1992|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|page=179|isbn=0813128838|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8eFSK4o--M0C&q=Albert+Benjamin+%22Happy%22+Chandler%2C+Sr.+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA179|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Ben Chandler]], U.S. Representative<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/10/2635712/ben-chandler-named-director-of.html|title= Ben Chandler is named director of Kentucky Humanities Council|publisher=Kentucky.com|access-date=July 16, 2014}}</ref>
* [[James Clark (Kentucky politician)|James Clark]]
* [[John Conlee]], country music singer
* [[John J. Crittenden]], governor of Kentucky<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q84eBgAAQBAJ&q=Pisgah+Academy&pg=PA64|title=Kentucky's Governors|first=Lowell H.|last=Harrison|date=January 13, 2015|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|via=Google Books|isbn=9780813159744}}</ref>
* [[Charles W. Field]], [[United States Army]] officer and [[Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Evans|first1=Clement Anselm|title=Johnston, J. S.; Kentucky. Moore, J. C.; Missouri|date=1899|publisher=Confederate Publishing Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_U44vAAAAYAAJ/page/n250 238]|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_U44vAAAAYAAJ|quote=Charles W. Field woodford county ky.|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Chris Hogan (finance expert)|Chris Hogan]], New York Times best-selling author, motivational speaker, financial guru
* [[George B. Kinkead]], who served as Kentucky secretary of state {{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
* [[Thomas Marshall (U.S. politician)|Thomas Marshall]] (1730–1802), colonel of the 3rd Virginia Regiment in the [[American Revolution]]; father of the future Chief Justice [[John Marshall]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Railey|first1=William Edward|title=History of Woodford County, Kentucky|date=1938|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|page=179|isbn=9780806379999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=Charles+Scott+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA276|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Chad Pennington]], former NFL quarterback<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.centralkynews.com/2013-01-14/amnews/36338536_1_mark-stoops-uk-football-national-guard-border-bowl |title=UK Football: Former NFL quarterback Chad Pennington says Mark Stoops' hire a good one for Cats - Central Kentucky News |access-date=January 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212224257/http://articles.centralkynews.com/2013-01-14/amnews/36338536_1_mark-stoops-uk-football-national-guard-border-bowl |archive-date=December 12, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Charles Scott (governor)|Charles Scott]], Brig. General during the [[American Revolution]] and fourth Governor of Kentucky 1808-12<ref>{{cite book|last1=Railey|first1=William Edward|title=History of Woodford County, Kentucky|date=1938|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|page=276|isbn=9780806379999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43jEKg6VTLYC&q=Charles+Scott+woodford+county+ky&pg=PA276|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref>
* [[William Shatner]], actor
* [[William T. Sterling]], Wisconsin legislator and pioneer<ref>''The Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin'', vol. 64, pg. 97. 1904</ref>
* [[William A. Trimble]], United States Senator<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000377|title=TRIMBLE, William Allen, (1786 - 1821)|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=July 16, 2014}}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Midway, Kentucky|Midway]]
* [[Versailles, Kentucky|Versailles]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Millville, Kentucky|Millville]]
* [[Nonesuch, Kentucky|Nonesuch]]
* [[Mortonsville, Kentucky|Mortonsville]]
* Milner
* [[Pinckard, Kentucky|Pinckard]]
* Huntertown
* Mundy's Landing
* [[Pisgah, Kentucky|Pisgah]]
* Wallace
* [[Troy, Woodford County, Kentucky|Troy]]
*Keene
*Jackson Town
*Clover Bottom

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://woodfordcounty.ky.gov/ Government web site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090413204539/http://www.woodfordcommons.com/ Community web site]
* [http://woodfordcountyinfo.com/ Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.city-data.com/county/Woodford_County-KY.html City-Data.com]

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

{{Coord|38.04|-84.74|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Woodford County, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties]]
[[Category:Lexington–Fayette metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1788 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1788]]
[[Category:Former counties of Virginia]]