Kentucky

Lee

7,395
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Lee

Lee, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 3,055. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 7,395.

Its recorded population peaked at 11,918 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 38 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Guerrilla Action at Beattyville (Lee County), Action at Beattyville (second, Lee County 1864), and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20207,395
20107,887
20007,916
19907,422
19807,754
19706,587
19607,420
19508,739
194010,860
19309,729
192011,918
19109,531
19007,988
18906,205
18804,254
18703,055
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Lee

Military engagements that took place in Lee, Kentucky.

Guerrilla Action at Beattyville (Lee County)
1863
Action at Beattyville (second, Lee County 1864)
1864

Historic places in Lee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee, Kentucky.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Beattyville
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 Lee County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Lee 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 Lee

When does Lee first appear in the US census?
Lee, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 3,055.
What is the population of Lee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lee had a recorded population of 7,395.
When did Lee's population peak?
Lee's recorded population peaked at 11,918 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Lee?
2 documented military engagements took place in Lee, including Guerrilla Action at Beattyville (Lee County), Action at Beattyville (second, Lee County 1864).
How many historic places are in Lee?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lee, Kentucky.
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