Kentucky

Johnson

22,680
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Johnson

Johnson, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 3,873. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 22,680.

Its recorded population peaked at 25,771 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 12 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Ivy Mountain Kentucky, Action at Paintsville (January 1862), Battle of Paintsville, and 39 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202022,680
201023,356
200023,445
199023,248
198024,432
197017,539
196019,748
195023,846
194025,771
193022,968
192019,622
191017,482
190013,730
189011,027
18809,155
18707,494
18605,306
18503,873
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Johnson

Military engagements that took place in Johnson, Kentucky.

Skirmish at Ivy Mountain Kentucky
1861
Action at Paintsville (January 1862)
1862
Battle of Paintsville
1862

Historic places in Johnson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson, Kentucky.

Mayo, John C. C., Mansion and Office
Paintsville
Stafford, Francis M., House
Paintsville
Paintsville City Hall
Paintsville
Mine No. 5 Store
Van Lear
Mayo Methodist Church
Paintsville
McKenzie, David, Log Cabin
Volga
First Methodist Church
Paintsville
Paintsville Country Club
Paintsville
First Baptist Church
Paintsville
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 Johnson County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Johnson 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 Johnson

When does Johnson first appear in the US census?
Johnson, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 3,873.
What is the population of Johnson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Johnson had a recorded population of 22,680.
When did Johnson's population peak?
Johnson's recorded population peaked at 25,771 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Johnson?
3 documented military engagements took place in Johnson, including Skirmish at Ivy Mountain Kentucky, Action at Paintsville (January 1862), Battle of Paintsville.
How many historic places are in Johnson?
39 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Johnson, Kentucky.
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