Kentucky

Rowan

24,662
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Rowan

Rowan, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 2,282. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 24,662.

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

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Triplett's Bridge (Rowan County), Action at Morehead (Rowan County), and 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202024,662
201023,333
200022,094
199020,353
198019,049
197017,010
196012,808
195012,708
194012,734
193010,893
19209,467
19109,438
19008,277
18906,129
18804,420
18702,991
18602,282
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Rowan

Military engagements that took place in Rowan, Kentucky.

Action at Triplett's Bridge (Rowan County)
1862
Action at Morehead (Rowan County)
1863

Historic places in Rowan

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rowan, Kentucky.

Rowan County Courthouse
Morehead
Cranston Voting House No. 12
Morehead
Downtown Morehead Historic District
Morehead
Rowan County Courthouse (Boundary Increase)
Morehead
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Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Rowan County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Rowan 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 Rowan

When does Rowan first appear in the US census?
Rowan, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 2,282.
What is the population of Rowan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rowan had a recorded population of 24,662.
Were any battles fought in Rowan?
2 documented military engagements took place in Rowan, including Action at Triplett's Bridge (Rowan County), Action at Morehead (Rowan County).
How many historic places are in Rowan?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rowan, Kentucky.
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