Kentucky

Mercer

22,641
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Mercer

Mercer, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 7,091. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 22,641.

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

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Harrodsburg (Mercer County), Battle of Perryville Approach — Mackville, Skirmish at Salvisa (Mercer County), and 72 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202022,641
201021,331
200020,817
199019,148
198019,011
197015,960
196014,596
195014,643
194014,629
193014,471
192014,795
191014,063
190014,426
189015,034
188014,142
187013,144
186013,701
185014,067
184018,720
183017,694
182015,587
181012,630
18009,646
17907,091
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Mercer

Military engagements that took place in Mercer, Kentucky.

Action at Harrodsburg (Mercer County)
1862
Battle of Perryville Approach — Mackville
1862
Skirmish at Salvisa (Mercer County)
1862
Action at McKinney's Ford (Kentucky River)
1862
Battle of Perryville Aftermath — Harrodsburg Skirmish
1862
Morgan at Harrodsburg (First Raid)
1862
Battle of Perryville (cavalry prelude at Mackville)
1862
Sue Mundy – Kentucky Guerrilla Skirmishes (1864)
1864

Historic places in Mercer

National Register of Historic Places listings in Mercer, Kentucky.

McGee, John, House
Cornishville
Confederate Monument in Harrodsburg
Harrodsburg
Shakertown at Pleasant Hill Historic District
Shakertown and vicinity
College Street Historic District
Harrodsburg
Magoffin, Beriah, Monument
Harrodsburg
New Providence Presbyterian Church
Salvisa
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 Mercer County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Mercer 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 Mercer

When does Mercer first appear in the US census?
Mercer, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 7,091.
What is the population of Mercer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Mercer had a recorded population of 22,641.
Were any battles fought in Mercer?
8 documented military engagements took place in Mercer, including Action at Harrodsburg (Mercer County), Battle of Perryville Approach — Mackville, Skirmish at Salvisa (Mercer County).
How many historic places are in Mercer?
72 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Mercer, Kentucky.
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