Kentucky

Pike

58,669
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Pike

Pike, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,677. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 58,669.

Its recorded population peaked at 81,154 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 28 percent.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Pikeville, Skirmish at Pikeville, Kentucky, Skirmish at Levisa Fork (Pike County), and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202058,669
201065,024
200068,736
199072,583
198081,123
197061,059
196068,264
195081,154
194071,122
193063,267
192049,477
191031,679
190022,686
189017,378
188013,001
18709,562
18607,384
18505,365
18403,567
18302,677
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Pike

Military engagements that took place in Pike, Kentucky.

Skirmish at Pikeville
1861
Skirmish at Pikeville, Kentucky
1862
Skirmish at Levisa Fork (Pike County)
1862
Battle of Pound Gap Kentucky
1862
Battle of Pound Gap
1862
Second Raid on Pikeville
1862
Action at Pound Gap (April 1862)
1862
Action at Pikeville (1862 — Confederate Reoccupation Attempt)
1862
Action at Virgie (Pike County)
1863
Action at Shelby Creek
1863
Action at Pikeville (1864 Confederate Raid)
1864
Action at Pound Gap (second)
1864
Engagement near Shelby Creek (second, Pike County)
1864
Action at Pound Gap (Confederate Reoccupation Attempt 1864)
1864
Engagement at Pikeville (1865)
1865
Skirmish near Pound Gap (third engagement)
1865

Historic places in Pike

National Register of Historic Places listings in Pike, Kentucky.

Odd Fellows Building
Pikeville
College Street Historic District
Pikeville
Chesapeake and Ohio Passenger Depot
Pikeville
Browse all Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

EdmonsonElliottEstillFayetteFlemingFloydFranklinFultonGallatinGarrardGrantGravesGraysonGreenGreenupHancockHardinHarlanHarrisonHart
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Pike County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Pike 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Pike County, Kentucky report
Or see a real report first

Explore Kentucky records

Kentuckyhistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Kentucky›

Frequently asked about Pike

When does Pike first appear in the US census?
Pike, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,677.
What is the population of Pike?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Pike had a recorded population of 58,669.
When did Pike's population peak?
Pike's recorded population peaked at 81,154 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Pike?
16 documented military engagements took place in Pike, including Skirmish at Pikeville, Skirmish at Pikeville, Kentucky, Skirmish at Levisa Fork (Pike County).
How many historic places are in Pike?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Pike, Kentucky.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report