Fleming County, Kentucky
CountyFleming County
StateKentucky
Founded year1798
Seat wlFlemingsburg
Largest city wlFlemingsburg
Area total351 sq mi
Area land349 sq mi
Area water2.8 sq mi
Area percentage0.8%
Population as of2020
Population total15082
Pop est as of2025
Population est15787
Density45.2 sq mi
Time zoneEastern
Judge/ExecutiveJohn Sims Jr. (R)
Webwww.flemingkychamber.com
Named forJohn Fleming (1735–1791), early settler of Kentucky
Ex imageFleming County, Kentucky courthouse 2.jpg
Ex image capFleming County courthouse in Flemingsburg
District6th

Fleming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,082.[1] Its county seat is Flemingsburg.[2] The county was formed in 1798 and named for Colonel John Fleming, an Indian fighter and early settler.[3][4] It is a moist county. In 1998, the Kentucky General Assembly designated Fleming County as the Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky.[5]

History

Fleming County was established in 1798 from land given by Mason County.[6] The first courthouse, possibly built of logs, was replaced in 1830 and again in 1952.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 351 square miles (910 km2), of which 349 square miles (900 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.8%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 15,082. The median age was 41.5 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.2 males age 18 and over.[9][10]

The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.[10]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]

There were 5,936 households in the county, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]

There were 6,732 housing units, of which 11.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.7% were owner-occupied and 24.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%.[9]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,792 people, 5,367 households, and 3,966 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 /mi2. There were 6,120 housing units at an average density of 17 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 1.41% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,367 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,990, and the median income for a family was $33,300. Males had a median income of $26,463 versus $19,895 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,214. About 14.80% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.90% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Elected officials

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[12][13]
U.S. HouseAndy Barr (R)
Ky. SenateStephen West (R)27
Ky. HouseMatthew Koch (R)72

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 103. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 127
  5. ^ Kentucky State Symbols Archived January 28, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
  7. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 230. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  9. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  10. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  12. ^ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  13. ^ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.