Woodford County, Kentucky

Woodford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,871.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Versailles.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The area was home to Pisgah Academy. Woodford County is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY 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, Virginia in 1788.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was named for William Woodford, an American Revolutionary War general from Virginia who died while a prisoner of war in 1780.<ref>Template:Cite book</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 was formed from part of the county in 1792. 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>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite book</ref> The Library of Congress has photographs of the church and academy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Kentucky Historical Society has a photograph of the school building.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

File:Buckleyky.jpg

Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary, Woodford County, Kentucky

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

• Franklin County (northwest)
• Scott County (northeast)
• Fayette County (east)
• Jessamine County (southeast)
• Mercer County (southwest)
• Anderson County (west)

Demographics

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 Template:Convert. There were 9,374 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 92.08% White, 5.41% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 2.99% of the population were Hispanic or 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 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

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>Template:Cite web</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
• Woodford County Middle School
• Woodford Christian School K-5 (Private)
• Midway University

Politics

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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 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
U.S. House	Template:Party shading/Republican|Andy Barr (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican|Template:Ushr
Ky. Senate	Template:Party shading/Republican|Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican|12
Ky. House	Template:Party shading/Republican|Daniel Fister (R)	Template:Party shading/Republican|56

Notable residents

• William Taylor Barry<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Dr. Lyman Beecher, for one year<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref>
• William Campbell Preston Breckinridge, Representative from Kentucky<ref name=bio/>
• John Buford, Union cavalry officer during the American Civil War, was born in Woodford County but grew up in Illinois.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Alexander Campbell Template:Citation needed
• Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr., Governor of Kentucky, baseball commissioner<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Ben Chandler, U.S. Representative<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• James Clark
• John Conlee, country music singer
• John J. Crittenden, governor of Kentucky<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Charles W. Field, United States Army officer and Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Chris Hogan, New York Times best-selling author, motivational speaker, financial guru
• George B. Kinkead, who served as Kentucky secretary of state Template:Citation needed
• Thomas Marshall (1730–1802), colonel of the 3rd Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution; father of the future Chief Justice John Marshall<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Chad Pennington, former NFL quarterback<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Charles Scott, Brig. General during the American Revolution and fourth Governor of Kentucky 1808-12<ref>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Communities

Cities

• Midway
• Versailles (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Millville
• Nonesuch
• Mortonsville
• Milner
• Pinckard
• Huntertown
• Mundy's Landing
• Pisgah
• Wallace
• Troy
• Keene
• Jackson Town
• Clover Bottom

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Woodford County, Kentucky

External links

• Government web site
• Community web site
• Chamber of Commerce
• City-Data.com