Simpson County, Kentucky
County in Kentucky, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simpson County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,594.[1] Its county seat is Franklin.[2]
Simpson County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
Old Simpson County Courthouse in Franklin | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
| Coordinates: 36°44′N 86°35′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Named after | John Simpson |
| Seat | Franklin |
| Largest city | Franklin |
| Government | |
| • Judge/Executive | Mason Barnes (R) |
| Area | |
• Total | 236 sq mi (610 km2) |
| • Land | 234 sq mi (610 km2) |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,594 |
• Estimate (2025) | 20,788  |
| • Density | 83.7/sq mi (32.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | simpsoncountyky |
History
Simpson County was established in 1819 from Allen, Logan, and Warren Counties.[3] The county is named for Captain John Simpson, a Kentucky militia officer who fought in Battle of Fallen Timbers in the Northwest Indian War, and was killed during the War of 1812 in the Battle of River Raisin.[4]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 236 square miles (610 km2), of which 234 square miles (610 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (1.0%) is water.[5] The county is located in the Pennyroyal Plateau region of the state.
Adjacent counties
- Warren County (north)
- Allen County (east)
- Sumner County, Tennessee (southeast)
- Robertson County, Tennessee (southwest)
- Logan County (west)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4,852 | — | |
| 1830 | 5,815 | 19.8% | |
| 1840 | 6,537 | 12.4% | |
| 1850 | 7,733 | 18.3% | |
| 1860 | 8,146 | 5.3% | |
| 1870 | 9,573 | 17.5% | |
| 1880 | 10,641 | 11.2% | |
| 1890 | 10,878 | 2.2% | |
| 1900 | 11,624 | 6.9% | |
| 1910 | 11,460 | −1.4% | |
| 1920 | 11,150 | −2.7% | |
| 1930 | 11,336 | 1.7% | |
| 1940 | 11,752 | 3.7% | |
| 1950 | 11,678 | −0.6% | |
| 1960 | 11,548 | −1.1% | |
| 1970 | 13,054 | 13.0% | |
| 1980 | 14,673 | 12.4% | |
| 1990 | 15,145 | 3.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,405 | 8.3% | |
| 2010 | 17,327 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 19,594 | 13.1% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 20,788 | [6] | 6.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,594. The median age was 39.7 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.[11][12]
The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% White, 8.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.[12]
59.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 40.6% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 7,600 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 8,263 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.5% were owner-occupied and 35.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.[11]
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,405 people, 6,415 households, and 4,638 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 per square mile (27/km2). There were 7,016 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.84% White, 10.22% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 6,415 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,432, and the median income for a family was $42,525. Males had a median income of $32,160 versus $22,667 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,150. About 8.50% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Communities
City
- Franklin (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 547 | 20.96% | 1,639 | 62.80% | 424 | 16.25% |
| 1916 | 955 | 33.41% | 1,887 | 66.03% | 16 | 0.56% |
| 1920 | 1,680 | 34.24% | 3,206 | 65.34% | 21 | 0.43% |
| 1924 | 1,294 | 32.08% | 2,688 | 66.63% | 52 | 1.29% |
| 1928 | 1,635 | 39.64% | 2,490 | 60.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,203 | 24.92% | 3,603 | 74.64% | 21 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 1,240 | 28.97% | 3,027 | 70.72% | 13 | 0.30% |
| 1940 | 987 | 25.02% | 2,950 | 74.78% | 8 | 0.20% |
| 1944 | 1,012 | 26.29% | 2,821 | 73.27% | 17 | 0.44% |
| 1948 | 762 | 20.46% | 2,752 | 73.90% | 210 | 5.64% |
| 1952 | 1,310 | 32.43% | 2,724 | 67.43% | 6 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 1,454 | 33.43% | 2,879 | 66.18% | 17 | 0.39% |
| 1960 | 1,927 | 42.18% | 2,642 | 57.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 967 | 23.33% | 3,168 | 76.45% | 9 | 0.22% |
| 1968 | 1,435 | 33.07% | 1,505 | 34.69% | 1,399 | 32.24% |
| 1972 | 2,285 | 62.57% | 1,325 | 36.28% | 42 | 1.15% |
| 1976 | 1,481 | 34.45% | 2,782 | 64.71% | 36 | 0.84% |
| 1980 | 2,020 | 41.92% | 2,713 | 56.30% | 86 | 1.78% |
| 1984 | 3,073 | 58.69% | 2,140 | 40.87% | 23 | 0.44% |
| 1988 | 2,699 | 55.55% | 2,138 | 44.00% | 22 | 0.45% |
| 1992 | 2,280 | 39.04% | 2,834 | 48.53% | 726 | 12.43% |
| 1996 | 2,186 | 40.80% | 2,749 | 51.31% | 423 | 7.89% |
| 2000 | 3,169 | 54.41% | 2,583 | 44.35% | 72 | 1.24% |
| 2004 | 4,273 | 60.67% | 2,730 | 38.76% | 40 | 0.57% |
| 2008 | 4,437 | 60.71% | 2,775 | 37.97% | 97 | 1.33% |
| 2012 | 4,355 | 61.40% | 2,650 | 37.36% | 88 | 1.24% |
| 2016 | 5,077 | 67.41% | 2,144 | 28.47% | 310 | 4.12% |
| 2020 | 5,888 | 67.43% | 2,681 | 30.70% | 163 | 1.87% |
| 2024 | 6,253 | 71.25% | 2,403 | 27.38% | 120 | 1.37% |
In contrast to the Western Coalfield and the eastern part of the Pennyroyal Plateau, Simpson County was not highly pro-Union during the Civil War.[16] Consequently, Simpson was as reliably Democratic as the Jackson Purchase and Bluegrass during the following century: no Republican carried Simpson County until Richard Nixon’s 1972 landslide.
Elected officials
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[17][18] | ||
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Mike Wilson (R) | 32 |
| Ky. House | Shawn McPherson (R) | 22 |