Kentucky

Graves

36,649
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Graves

Graves, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,504. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,649.

Its recorded population peaked at 37,121 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Action at Mayfield, and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,649
201037,121
200037,028
199033,550
198034,049
197030,939
196030,021
195031,364
194031,763
193030,778
192032,483
191033,539
190033,204
189028,534
188024,138
187019,398
186016,233
185011,397
18407,465
18302,504
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Graves

Military engagements that took place in Graves, Kentucky.

Action at Mayfield
1864

Historic places in Graves

National Register of Historic Places listings in Graves, Kentucky.

Wooldridge Monuments
Mayfield
Camp Beauregard Memorial in Water Valley
Water Valley
Confederate Memorial in Mayfield
Mayfield
Mayfield Downtown Commercial District (Boundary Increase)
Mayfield
Mayfield Downtown Commercial District
Mayfield
Confederate Memorial Gates in Mayfield
Mayfield
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Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

MagoffinMarionMarshallMartinMasonMcCrackenMcCrearyMcLeanMeadeMenifeeMercerMetcalfeMonroeMontgomeryMorganMuhlenbergNelsonNicholasOhioOldham
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Everything a full report reveals about Graves County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Graves 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 Graves

When does Graves first appear in the US census?
Graves, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,504.
What is the population of Graves?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Graves had a recorded population of 36,649.
When did Graves's population peak?
Graves's recorded population peaked at 37,121 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Graves?
1 documented military engagement took place in Graves, including Action at Mayfield.
How many historic places are in Graves?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Graves, Kentucky.
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