Kentucky

Boyd

48,261
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Boyd

Boyd, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 6,044. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 48,261.

Its recorded population peaked at 55,513 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 13 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Engagement near Louisa and Catlettsburg (Boyd County), Engagement near Louisa / Catlettsburg (Boyd County), and 26 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202048,261
201049,542
200049,752
199051,150
198055,513
197052,376
196052,163
195049,949
194045,938
193043,849
192029,281
191023,444
190018,834
189014,033
188012,165
18708,573
18606,044
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Boyd

Military engagements that took place in Boyd, Kentucky.

Engagement near Louisa and Catlettsburg (Boyd County)
1862
Engagement near Louisa / Catlettsburg (Boyd County)
1862

Historic places in Boyd

National Register of Historic Places listings in Boyd, Kentucky.

Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Depot
Catlettsburg
Paramount Theatre
Ashland
Catlett House
Catlettsburg
Felty, Nando, Saloon
Ashland
Ashland Commercial Historic District
Ashland
First Presbyterian Church
Ashland
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 Boyd County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Boyd 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 Boyd

When does Boyd first appear in the US census?
Boyd, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 6,044.
What is the population of Boyd?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Boyd had a recorded population of 48,261.
When did Boyd's population peak?
Boyd's recorded population peaked at 55,513 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Boyd?
2 documented military engagements took place in Boyd, including Engagement near Louisa and Catlettsburg (Boyd County), Engagement near Louisa / Catlettsburg (Boyd County).
How many historic places are in Boyd?
26 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Boyd, Kentucky.
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