Kentucky

Owen

11,278
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Owen

Owen, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 2,031. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 11,278.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,676 in 1890, and has since declined by roughly 36 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Sue Mundy Raids in Owen County, and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202011,278
201010,841
200010,547
19909,035
19808,924
19707,470
19608,237
19509,755
194010,942
193010,710
192012,554
191014,248
190017,553
189017,676
188017,401
187014,309
186012,719
185010,444
18408,232
18305,786
18202,031
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Owen

Military engagements that took place in Owen, Kentucky.

Sue Mundy Raids in Owen County
1864

Historic places in Owen

National Register of Historic Places listings in Owen, Kentucky.

Ford House
Owenton
Owen County Courthouse and Jail
Owenton
New Liberty Historic District
New Liberty
Cox, L. 0., House
Owenton
Hunter, Jacob, House
New Liberty
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Everything a full report reveals about Owen County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Owen 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 Owen

When does Owen first appear in the US census?
Owen, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 2,031.
What is the population of Owen?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Owen had a recorded population of 11,278.
When did Owen's population peak?
Owen's recorded population peaked at 17,676 in 1890.
Were any battles fought in Owen?
1 documented military engagement took place in Owen, including Sue Mundy Raids in Owen County.
How many historic places are in Owen?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Owen, Kentucky.
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