Kentucky

McCracken

67,875
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About McCracken

McCracken, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 1,297. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 67,875.

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

On the ground today, 10 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Siege of Fort Jefferson (Kentucky), Fort Massac Confrontation (Burr Conspiracy), Fort Massac — Ohio River Garrison, and 36 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202067,875
201065,565
200065,514
199062,879
198061,310
197058,281
196057,306
195049,137
194048,534
193046,271
192037,246
191035,064
190028,733
189021,051
188016,262
187013,988
186010,360
18506,067
18404,745
18301,297
Source

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

Battles & engagements in McCracken

Military engagements that took place in McCracken, Kentucky.

Siege of Fort Jefferson (Kentucky)
1781
Fort Massac Confrontation (Burr Conspiracy)
1806
Fort Massac — Ohio River Garrison
1861
First Battle of Paducah
1861
Forrest's Second Raid on Paducah
1864
Paducah KY Raid
1864
Battle of Paducah (Kentucky 1864)
1864
Forrest's Raid on Paducah, Kentucky
1864
Forrest's First Raid on Paducah
1864
Paducah Kentucky Forrest
1864

Historic places in McCracken

National Register of Historic Places listings in McCracken, Kentucky.

Confederate Monument in Paducah
Paducah
Union Station School
Paducah
Yeiser, Mayor David A., House
Paducah
Tilghman-Woolfolk House
Paducah
Masonic Temple
Paducah
Anderson-Smith House
Paducah
Tilghman, Lloyd, Memorial
Paducah
Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway Office and Freight House
Paducah
Kenmil Place
Paducah
Lincoln School
Paducah
Hotel Metropolitan
Paducah
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 McCracken County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of McCracken 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 McCracken

When does McCracken first appear in the US census?
McCracken, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 1,297.
What is the population of McCracken?
At the most recent federal census (2020), McCracken had a recorded population of 67,875.
Were any battles fought in McCracken?
10 documented military engagements took place in McCracken, including Siege of Fort Jefferson (Kentucky), Fort Massac Confrontation (Burr Conspiracy), Fort Massac — Ohio River Garrison.
How many historic places are in McCracken?
36 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in McCracken, Kentucky.
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