Kentucky

Jefferson

782,969
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Jefferson

Jefferson, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 4,765. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 782,969.

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

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Long Run (KY), Battle of Long Run Massacre (1781), Skirmish at Long Run Massacre, and 525 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020782,969
2010741,096
2000693,604
1990664,937
1980685,004
1970695,055
1960610,947
1950484,615
1940385,392
1930355,350
1920286,369
1910262,920
1900232,549
1890188,598
1880146,010
1870118,953
186089,404
185059,831
184036,346
183023,979
182020,768
181013,399
18008,754
17904,765
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Jefferson

Military engagements that took place in Jefferson, Kentucky.

Battle of Long Run (KY)
1781
Battle of Long Run Massacre (1781)
1781
Skirmish at Long Run Massacre
1781
Battle of Long Run
1781
Siege of Fort Nelson (Louisville)
1781

Historic places in Jefferson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson, Kentucky.

Taylor, Zachary, House
Louisville
Louisville Water Company Pumping Station
Louisville
Crescent Hill Branch Library
Louisville
Doerhoefer-Hampton House
Louisville
Smoketown Historic District
Louisville
Whiskey Row Historic District
Louisville
Hook and Ladder Company No. 3
Louisville
KYANG Site (15JF267)
Louisville
United States Marine Hospital of Louisville
Louisville
Montgomery Street School
Louisville
Louisville Municipal Bridge, Pylons and Administration Building
Louisville
Highlands Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Louisville
St. James-Belgravia Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Louisville
Louisville Free Public Library
Louisville
Landward House
Louisville
Butchertown Historic District
Louisville
Beechland
Jeffersontown
Ridgeway
Louisville
West Main Street Historic District
Louisville
Tyler Settlement Rural Historic District
Jeffersontown
Hook and Ladder Company No. 5
Louisville
Louisville Male High School
Louisville
Bowman Field Historic District
Louisville
Peterson-Dumesnil House
Louisville
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 Jefferson County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Jefferson 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 Jefferson

When does Jefferson first appear in the US census?
Jefferson, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 4,765.
What is the population of Jefferson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Jefferson had a recorded population of 782,969.
Were any battles fought in Jefferson?
5 documented military engagements took place in Jefferson, including Battle of Long Run (KY), Battle of Long Run Massacre (1781), Skirmish at Long Run Massacre.
How many historic places are in Jefferson?
525 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Jefferson, Kentucky.
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