Kentucky

Barren

44,485
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Barren

Barren, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 4,784. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 44,485.

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

On the ground today, 10 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Rowlett's Station, Action at Woodsonville, Morgan's Christmas Raid into Kentucky 1862, and 38 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202044,485
201042,173
200038,033
199034,001
198034,009
197028,677
196028,303
195028,461
194027,559
193025,844
192025,356
191025,293
190023,197
189021,490
188022,321
187017,780
186016,665
185020,240
184017,288
183015,079
182010,328
181011,286
18004,784
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Barren

Military engagements that took place in Barren, Kentucky.

Battle of Rowlett's Station
1861
Action at Woodsonville
1861
Morgan's Christmas Raid into Kentucky 1862
1862
Engagement at Glasgow (Barren County)
1862
Capture of Glasgow (Christmas Raid)
1862
Skirmish at Cave City
1862
Engagement at Cave City (Barren/Hart Counties)
1862
Morgan's Christmas Raid – Mumfordsville (Woodsonville) Action
1862
Action at Glasgow KY (Barren County)
1862
Barren River Bridge Fight (1864)
1864

Historic places in Barren

National Register of Historic Places listings in Barren, Kentucky.

Confederate Monument in Glasgow
Glascow
Cave City Commercial District
Cave City
Page, William House
Glasgow
First Presbyterian Church
Glasgow
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Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Barren County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Barren 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 Barren

When does Barren first appear in the US census?
Barren, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 4,784.
What is the population of Barren?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Barren had a recorded population of 44,485.
Were any battles fought in Barren?
10 documented military engagements took place in Barren, including Battle of Rowlett's Station, Action at Woodsonville, Morgan's Christmas Raid into Kentucky 1862.
How many historic places are in Barren?
38 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Barren, Kentucky.
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