Woodford County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woodford County
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Woodford County courthouse in Versailles
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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 |
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| State |  Kentucky |
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| Founded | November 12, 1788 | ||
| Named for | William Woodford | ||
| Seat | Versailles | ||
| Largest city | Versailles | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 192 sq mi (500 km2) | ||
| • Land | 189 sq mi (490 km2) | ||
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (9 km2) 0.6% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 26,871 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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27,268  |
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| • Density | 140.0/sq mi (54.04/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 6th | ||
Woodford County is a place in Kentucky, a state in the United States. It is located in the middle of Kentucky's beautiful Bluegrass region.
In 2020, about 26,871 people lived there. The main town, called the county seat, is Versailles. Woodford County is also part of the larger Lexington-Fayette area.
Contents
History of Woodford County
Woodford County was created in 1788 from a part of Fayette County. At that time, Kentucky was still part of Virginia.
The county was named after William Woodford. He was an important general during the American Revolutionary War. Sadly, he died in 1780 while he was a prisoner of war.
Woodford County was the last of the first nine counties that formed the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1792. Later, parts of Woodford County were used to create Scott County in 1792 and Franklin County in 1794.
In May 2007, Queen Elizabeth II of England visited Woodford County. She stayed at Lane's End Farm and also went to the famous Kentucky Derby horse race in Louisville.
What was Pisgah Academy?
Pisgah Academy was a school located in Woodford County. It was started by Colonel Alexander Dunlap. You can find old photographs of the school and its church at the Library of Congress. The Kentucky Historical Society also has a picture of the school building.
Geography of Woodford County
Woodford County covers about 192 square miles. Most of this area, about 189 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.3 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Woodford County shares borders with several other counties:
- Franklin County (to the northwest)
- Scott County (to the northeast)
- Fayette County (to the east)
- Jessamine County (to the southeast)
- Mercer County (to the southwest)
- Anderson County (to the west)
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 9,210 | — | |
| 1800 | 6,624 | −28.1% | |
| 1810 | 9,659 | 45.8% | |
| 1820 | 12,207 | 26.4% | |
| 1830 | 12,273 | 0.5% | |
| 1840 | 11,740 | −4.3% | |
| 1850 | 12,423 | 5.8% | |
| 1860 | 11,219 | −9.7% | |
| 1870 | 8,240 | −26.6% | |
| 1880 | 11,800 | 43.2% | |
| 1890 | 12,380 | 4.9% | |
| 1900 | 13,134 | 6.1% | |
| 1910 | 12,571 | −4.3% | |
| 1920 | 11,784 | −6.3% | |
| 1930 | 10,981 | −6.8% | |
| 1940 | 11,847 | 7.9% | |
| 1950 | 11,212 | −5.4% | |
| 1960 | 11,913 | 6.3% | |
| 1970 | 14,434 | 21.2% | |
| 1980 | 17,778 | 23.2% | |
| 1990 | 19,955 | 12.2% | |
| 2000 | 23,208 | 16.3% | |
| 2010 | 24,939 | 7.5% | |
| 2020 | 26,871 | 7.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 27,268 | 9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 23,208 people living in Woodford County. About 92% of the people were White, and about 5% were Black or African American. Around 3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the county was 37 years old. About 25% of the people were under 18 years old.
Fun Things to Do
Woodford County has some interesting places to visit:
- The Woodford Reserve Distillery is one of Kentucky's oldest places where bourbon whiskey is made.
- The Life Adventure Center offers outdoor activities and horse experiences. It helps young people, especially those who have faced tough times.
- The Kentucky Castle is a unique and historic building that looks like a real castle.
Schools in Woodford County
Woodford County has several schools for students of all ages:
- Huntertown Elementary
- Northside Elementary
- Southside Elementary
- Simmons Elementary
- St. Leo's (a private school for grades K-8)
- Woodford Christian School (a private school for grades K-5)
- Woodford County High School
- Woodford County Middle School
- Midway University (a college)
Famous People from Woodford County
Many notable people have connections to Woodford County, including:
- John Cabell Breckinridge, who was a Vice President of the United States.
- Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr., who served as Governor of Kentucky and was also a commissioner for Major League Baseball.
- John Conlee, a well-known country music singer.
- John J. Crittenden, another former Governor of Kentucky.
- Chad Pennington, a former professional football quarterback in the NFL.
- William Shatner, a famous actor, known for playing Captain Kirk in Star Trek.
Towns and Communities
Cities
- Midway
- Versailles (the county seat)
Smaller Communities
Woodford County also has several smaller, unincorporated communities:
- Millville
- Nonesuch
- Mortonsville
- Milner
- Pinckard
- Huntertown
- Mundy's Landing
- Pisgah
- Wallace
- Troy
- Keene
- Jackson Town
- Clover Bottom
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Woodford (Kentucky) para niños
