Kentucky

Owsley

4,051
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Owsley

Owsley, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 3,774. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 4,051.

Its recorded population peaked at 8,957 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 55 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Booneville (Owsley County), Skirmish at Booneville (Owsley) — Second Action, and 1 place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20204,051
20104,755
20004,858
19905,036
19805,709
19705,023
19605,369
19507,324
19408,957
19307,223
19207,820
19107,979
19006,874
18905,975
18804,942
18703,889
18605,335
18503,774
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Owsley

Military engagements that took place in Owsley, Kentucky.

Action at Booneville (Owsley County)
1863
Skirmish at Booneville (Owsley) — Second Action
1864

Historic places in Owsley

National Register of Historic Places listings in Owsley, Kentucky.

Moyers Buildings
Booneville

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Owsley County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Owsley 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 Owsley

When does Owsley first appear in the US census?
Owsley, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 3,774.
What is the population of Owsley?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Owsley had a recorded population of 4,051.
When did Owsley's population peak?
Owsley's recorded population peaked at 8,957 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Owsley?
2 documented military engagements took place in Owsley, including Action at Booneville (Owsley County), Skirmish at Booneville (Owsley) — Second Action.
How many historic places are in Owsley?
1 site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Owsley, Kentucky.
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