Kentucky

Russell

17,991
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Russell

Russell, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 3,879. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,991.

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

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Siege of Fort Jefferson – Kentucky (1780), Skirmish at Jamestown, Kentucky, Action at Russell County (Jamestown area), and 2 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,991
201017,565
200016,315
199014,716
198013,708
197010,542
196011,076
195013,717
194013,615
193011,930
192011,854
191010,861
19009,695
18908,136
18807,591
18705,809
18606,024
18505,349
18404,238
18303,879
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Russell

Military engagements that took place in Russell, Kentucky.

Siege of Fort Jefferson – Kentucky (1780)
1780
Skirmish at Jamestown, Kentucky
1863
Action at Russell County (Jamestown area)
1863
Action at Jamestown KY (1864)
1864

Historic places in Russell

National Register of Historic Places listings in Russell, Kentucky.

Russell Lodge No. 284
Jamestown
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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 Russell County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Russell 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 Russell

When does Russell first appear in the US census?
Russell, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 3,879.
What is the population of Russell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Russell had a recorded population of 17,991.
Were any battles fought in Russell?
4 documented military engagements took place in Russell, including Siege of Fort Jefferson – Kentucky (1780), Skirmish at Jamestown, Kentucky, Action at Russell County (Jamestown area).
How many historic places are in Russell?
2 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Russell, Kentucky.
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