Kentucky

Ballard

7,728
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Ballard

Ballard, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 5,496. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 7,728.

Its recorded population peaked at 14,378 in 1880, and has since declined by roughly 46 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Mound City Naval Station — Confederate Raid Threat, and 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20207,728
20108,249
20008,286
19907,902
19808,798
19708,276
19608,291
19508,545
19409,480
19309,910
192012,045
191012,690
190010,761
18908,390
188014,378
187012,576
18608,692
18505,496
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Ballard

Military engagements that took place in Ballard, Kentucky.

Mound City Naval Station — Confederate Raid Threat
1861

Historic places in Ballard

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ballard, Kentucky.

Trimble House
Wickliffe
Ballard County Courthouse
Wickliffe
Wickliffe Site 15 BA 4
Wickliffe
Barlow House
Barlow
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Everything a full report reveals about Ballard County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Ballard 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 Ballard

When does Ballard first appear in the US census?
Ballard, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 5,496.
What is the population of Ballard?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ballard had a recorded population of 7,728.
When did Ballard's population peak?
Ballard's recorded population peaked at 14,378 in 1880.
Were any battles fought in Ballard?
1 documented military engagement took place in Ballard, including Mound City Naval Station — Confederate Raid Threat.
How many historic places are in Ballard?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ballard, Kentucky.
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