Kentucky

Fayette

322,570
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Fayette

Fayette, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 18,410. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 322,570.

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

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Bryan Station, Battle of Bryan's Station 1782, Battle of Bryan's Station August 16 1782, and 179 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020322,570
2010295,803
2000260,512
1990225,366
1980204,165
1970174,323
1960131,906
1950100,746
194078,899
193068,543
192054,664
191047,715
190042,071
189035,698
188029,023
187026,656
186022,599
185022,735
184022,194
183025,098
182023,250
181021,370
180014,028
179018,410
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Fayette

Military engagements that took place in Fayette, Kentucky.

Battle of Bryan Station
1782
Battle of Bryan's Station 1782
1782
Battle of Bryan's Station August 16 1782
1782
Siege of Bryan's Station (1782)
1782
Battle of Bryan's Station
1782
Siege of Bryan's Station
1782
Attack on Bryan Station 1782
1782
Kirby Smith's Occupation of Lexington
1862
Skirmish at Lexington (Morgan Raid 1862)
1862
Morgan's Raid on Lexington, Kentucky (Sep 1862)
1862
First Occupation of Lexington (August 1862)
1862
Morgan at Lexington (First Raid)
1862
Skirmish at Lexington (Morgan 1864 approach)
1864

Historic places in Fayette

National Register of Historic Places listings in Fayette, Kentucky.

Fayette National Bank Building
Lexington
Lexington Cemetery and Henry Clay Monument
Lexington
Breckinridge, John C., Memorial
Lexington
Boone Creek Rural Historic District
Lexington
Old Morrison, Transylvania College
Lexington
Confederate Soldier Monument in Lexington
Lexington
Liggett and Meyers Harpring Tobacco Storage Warehouse
Lexington
Hurricane Hall
Lexington
African Cemetery No. 2
Lexington
Gratz Park Historic District
Lexington
McAdams and Morford Building
Lexington
Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church
Lexington
Monsieur Giron's Confectionary
Lexington
Cleveland-Rogers House
Lexington
Grimes House and Mill Complex
Lexington
Morgan, John Hunt, Memorial
Lexington
Lincoln, Mary Todd, House
Lexington
Botherum
Lexington
Cadentown School
Lexington
Second Presbyterian Church
Lexington
Episcopal Burying Ground and Chapel
Lexington
Opera House and Yates Bookshop Building
Lexington
Mentelle Park
Lexington
Ashland
Lexington
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 Fayette County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Fayette 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 Fayette

When does Fayette first appear in the US census?
Fayette, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 18,410.
What is the population of Fayette?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Fayette had a recorded population of 322,570.
Were any battles fought in Fayette?
13 documented military engagements took place in Fayette, including Battle of Bryan Station, Battle of Bryan's Station 1782, Battle of Bryan's Station August 16 1782.
How many historic places are in Fayette?
179 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Fayette, Kentucky.
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