Kentucky

Mason

17,120
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Mason

Mason, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 2,729. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,120.

Its recorded population peaked at 20,773 in 1890, and has since declined by roughly 18 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Washington (Mason County), Action at Concord (Lewis County), Guerrilla Action at Maysville (Mason County), and 43 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,120
201017,490
200016,800
199016,666
198017,765
197017,273
196018,454
195018,486
194019,066
193018,862
192017,760
191018,611
190020,446
189020,773
188020,469
187018,126
186018,222
185018,344
184015,719
183016,199
182013,588
181012,459
180012,182
17902,729
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Mason

Military engagements that took place in Mason, Kentucky.

Action at Washington (Mason County)
1862
Action at Concord (Lewis County)
1862
Guerrilla Action at Maysville (Mason County)
1863
Action at Maysville (Mason County)
1864

Historic places in Mason

National Register of Historic Places listings in Mason, Kentucky.

Point Au View
Maysville
Peers, Henry Perviance, House
Maysville
West Fourth Street District
Maysville
Pogue House
Maysville
Courthouse Square and Mechanics' Row Historic District
Maysville
Washington Historic District
Washington
Lee's Creek Covered Bridge
Dover
Newdigate-Reed House
Maysville
Valley Pike Covered Bridge
Maysville
Old Library Building
Maysville
Lee House
Maysville
Cox-Hord House
Maysville
Phillips' Folly
Maysville
Armstrong Row
Maysville
Russell Theatre
Maysville
Cox Building, The
Maysville
Mays Lick Consolidated School
Mays Lick
Bracken Baptist Church
Minerva
Maysville-Aberdeen Bridge
Maysville
Moran, Ben, House
Moranburg
Poague House
Mays Lick
Richeson, John Brett, House
Maysville
May's Lick Negro School
May's Lick
Maysville Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Maysville
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Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Mason County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Mason 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 Mason

When does Mason first appear in the US census?
Mason, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 2,729.
What is the population of Mason?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Mason had a recorded population of 17,120.
When did Mason's population peak?
Mason's recorded population peaked at 20,773 in 1890.
Were any battles fought in Mason?
4 documented military engagements took place in Mason, including Action at Washington (Mason County), Action at Concord (Lewis County), Guerrilla Action at Maysville (Mason County).
How many historic places are in Mason?
43 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Mason, Kentucky.
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