Kentucky

Whitley

36,712
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Whitley

Whitley, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 2,340. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,712.

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 Action at Williamsburg (Whitley County — 1862 Confederate advance), Engagement near Williamsburg (Whitley County) - 1862, Williamsburg Skirmish (1864), and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,712
201035,637
200035,865
199033,326
198033,396
197024,145
196025,815
195031,940
194033,186
193029,730
192027,749
191031,982
190025,015
189017,590
188012,000
18708,278
18607,762
18507,447
18404,673
18303,806
18202,340
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Whitley

Military engagements that took place in Whitley, Kentucky.

Action at Williamsburg (Whitley County — 1862 Confederate advance)
1862
Engagement near Williamsburg (Whitley County) - 1862
1862
Williamsburg Skirmish (1864)
1864
Engagement at Williamsburg (second, 1864)
1864

Historic places in Whitley

National Register of Historic Places listings in Whitley, Kentucky.

Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot
Corbin
Browse all Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

MartinMasonMcCrackenMcCrearyMcLeanMeadeMenifeeMercerMetcalfeMonroeMontgomeryMorganMuhlenbergNelsonNicholasOhioOldhamOwenOwsleyPendleton
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Everything a full report reveals about Whitley County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Whitley 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 Whitley

When does Whitley first appear in the US census?
Whitley, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 2,340.
What is the population of Whitley?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Whitley had a recorded population of 36,712.
Were any battles fought in Whitley?
4 documented military engagements took place in Whitley, including Action at Williamsburg (Whitley County — 1862 Confederate advance), Engagement near Williamsburg (Whitley County) - 1862, Williamsburg Skirmish (1864).
How many historic places are in Whitley?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Whitley, Kentucky.
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