Kentucky

Knox

30,193
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Knox

Knox, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 1,109. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 30,193.

Its recorded population peaked at 31,883 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 5 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Martin's Station, Skirmish at Barbourville, Second Action at Barboursville (Knox County), and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202030,193
201031,883
200031,795
199029,676
198030,239
197023,689
196025,258
195030,409
194031,029
193026,266
192024,172
191022,116
190017,372
189013,762
188010,587
18708,294
18607,707
18507,050
18405,722
18304,315
18203,661
18105,875
18001,109
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Knox

Military engagements that took place in Knox, Kentucky.

Battle of Martin's Station
1780
Skirmish at Barbourville
1861
Second Action at Barboursville (Knox County)
1862
Skirmish at Barboursville (Knox County)
1863
Barbourville Skirmish (1864)
1864

Historic places in Knox

National Register of Historic Places listings in Knox, Kentucky.

East Main Street Bridge
Corbin
Old Classroom Building, Union College
Barbourville
Saint Camillus Academy
Corbin
Speed Hall
Barbourville
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Gymnasium
Barbourville
Mitchell Building-First State Bank Building
Barbourville
Browse all Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

BreckinridgeBullittButlerCaldwellCallowayCampbellCarlisleCarrollCarterCaseyChristianClarkClayClintonCrittendenCumberlandDaviessEdmonsonElliottEstill
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Everything a full report reveals about Knox County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Knox 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 Knox

When does Knox first appear in the US census?
Knox, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 1,109.
What is the population of Knox?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Knox had a recorded population of 30,193.
When did Knox's population peak?
Knox's recorded population peaked at 31,883 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Knox?
5 documented military engagements took place in Knox, including Battle of Martin's Station, Skirmish at Barbourville, Second Action at Barboursville (Knox County).
How many historic places are in Knox?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Knox, Kentucky.
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