Kentucky

Spencer

19,490
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Spencer

Spencer, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 6,812. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 19,490.

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

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Sue Mundy Raids in Spencer County, Quantrill Ambush at Wakefield Farm (Spencer County), Quantrill Killed – Wakefield Farm, Kentucky, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202019,490
201017,061
200011,766
19906,801
19805,929
19705,488
19605,680
19506,157
19406,757
19306,606
19207,785
19107,567
19007,406
18906,760
18807,040
18705,956
18606,188
18506,842
18406,581
18306,812
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Spencer

Military engagements that took place in Spencer, Kentucky.

Sue Mundy Raids in Spencer County
1864
Quantrill Ambush at Wakefield Farm (Spencer County)
1865
Quantrill Killed – Wakefield Farm, Kentucky
1865

Historic places in Spencer

National Register of Historic Places listings in Spencer, Kentucky.

Stidger, Felix Grundy, House
Taylorsville
Van Dyke House
Rivals
Browse all Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Spencer County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Spencer 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 Spencer

When does Spencer first appear in the US census?
Spencer, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 6,812.
What is the population of Spencer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Spencer had a recorded population of 19,490.
Were any battles fought in Spencer?
3 documented military engagements took place in Spencer, including Sue Mundy Raids in Spencer County, Quantrill Ambush at Wakefield Farm (Spencer County), Quantrill Killed – Wakefield Farm, Kentucky.
How many historic places are in Spencer?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spencer, Kentucky.
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