Kentucky

Adair

18,903
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Adair

Adair, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 6,011. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 18,903.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Columbia (1862 campaign), Morgan's Christmas Raid 1862, Skirmish at Columbia (Adair County), and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202018,903
201018,656
200017,244
199015,360
198015,233
197013,037
196014,699
195017,603
194018,566
193016,401
192017,289
191016,503
190014,888
189013,721
188013,078
187011,065
18609,509
18509,898
18408,466
18308,217
18208,765
18106,011
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Adair

Military engagements that took place in Adair, Kentucky.

Skirmish at Columbia (1862 campaign)
1862
Morgan's Christmas Raid 1862
1862
Skirmish at Columbia (Adair County)
1863
Skirmish at Columbia, Kentucky
1863
Action at Tebb's Bend (Green River)
1863
Battle of Columbia (Morgan's Great Raid)
1863
Columbia Skirmish (1864)
1864
Skirmish at Columbia (Adair County — 1864)
1864

Historic places in Adair

National Register of Historic Places listings in Adair, Kentucky.

Gaither, Dr. Nathan, House
Columbia
Zion Meetinghouse and School
Columbia
Adair County Courthouse
Columbia
Browse all Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Adair County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Adair County, Kentucky. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Adair

When does Adair first appear in the US census?
Adair, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 6,011.
What is the population of Adair?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Adair had a recorded population of 18,903.
Were any battles fought in Adair?
8 documented military engagements took place in Adair, including Skirmish at Columbia (1862 campaign), Morgan's Christmas Raid 1862, Skirmish at Columbia (Adair County).
How many historic places are in Adair?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Adair, Kentucky.
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