Bath County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bath County
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Bath County Courthouse in Owingsville
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Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
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 Kentucky's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1811 |
| Named for | Medicinal springs located within the county |
| Seat | Owingsville |
| Largest city | Owingsville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 284 sq mi (740 km2) |
| • Land | 279 sq mi (720 km2) |
| • Water | 5.2 sq mi (13 km2) 1.8%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,750 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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12,975  |
| • Density | 44.89/sq mi (17.33/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
Bath County is a place in Kentucky, a state in the United States. It's called a county. In 2020, about 12,750 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Owingsville.
Bath County was created in 1811. It is part of the Mount Sterling area. This area is also part of a larger region that includes Lexington and Frankfort.
Contents
History
Bath County was formed in 1811. It was made from land that used to be part of Montgomery County, Kentucky. The county got its name from natural springs found there. People believed these springs had special healing powers.
During the American Civil War in 1864, the courthouse in Owingsville was accidentally burned down. This happened because of Union soldiers.
A very strange event happened in Bath County in 1876. It is known as the Kentucky Meat Shower. On March 3, 1876, for about an hour, a mysterious substance fell from the sky. Many people thought it looked like meat!
In 1932, experts looked for old sites in Bath County. They found fourteen places where ancient people might have lived. These included a large mound called Ramey Mound near Sharpsburg. They also found old burial sites near the Springfield Presbyterian Church.
Geography
Bath County covers about 284 square miles. Most of this area, about 279 square miles, is land. The rest, about 5.2 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bath County shares borders with several other counties:
- Fleming County (to the north)
- Rowan County (to the east)
- Menifee County (to the southeast)
- Montgomery County (to the southwest)
- Bourbon County (to the west)
- Nicholas County (to the northwest)
Protected Areas
A part of the Daniel Boone National Forest is located in Bath County. This is a large forest area protected by the government.
Population Information
The number of people living in Bath County has changed over many years. Here is a look at how the population has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 7,961 | — | |
| 1830 | 8,799 | 10.5% | |
| 1840 | 9,763 | 11.0% | |
| 1850 | 12,115 | 24.1% | |
| 1860 | 12,113 | 0.0% | |
| 1870 | 10,145 | −16.2% | |
| 1880 | 11,982 | 18.1% | |
| 1890 | 12,813 | 6.9% | |
| 1900 | 14,734 | 15.0% | |
| 1910 | 13,988 | −5.1% | |
| 1920 | 11,996 | −14.2% | |
| 1930 | 11,075 | −7.7% | |
| 1940 | 11,451 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 10,410 | −9.1% | |
| 1960 | 9,114 | −12.4% | |
| 1970 | 9,235 | 1.3% | |
| 1980 | 10,025 | 8.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,692 | −3.3% | |
| 2000 | 11,085 | 14.4% | |
| 2010 | 11,591 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,750 | 10.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 12,975 | 11.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2021 |
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In 2000, there were 11,085 people living in the county. There were 4,445 homes. Most people in the county were White. A smaller number were Black or African American. Some people were of other races.
About 32% of homes had children under 18 living there. Most homes were married couples living together. The average age of people in the county was 37 years old.
Communities
Bath County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities
- Owingsville (This is the main town, or county seat)
- Salt Lick
- Sharpsburg
Other Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially cities:
