Bath County, Kentucky

Bath County
Bath County
County
	Bath County Courthouse in Owingsville
	Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
	Kentucky's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°08′N 83°44′W / 38.14°N 83.74°W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1811
Named for	Medicinal springs located within the county
Seat	Owingsville
Largest city	Owingsville
Area
• Total	284 sq mi (740 km2)
• Land	279 sq mi (720 km2)
• Water	5.2 sq mi (13 km2) 1.8%
Population (2020)
• Total	12,750
• Estimate (2023)	12,975
• Density	45/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	bathcounty.ky.gov

Bath County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,750.^[1] The county seat is Owingsville.^[2] The county was formed in 1811.^[3] Bath County is included in the Mount Sterling, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area.

History

Bath County was established in 1811 from land given by Montgomery County, Kentucky. Its name is derived from natural springs said to have medicinal qualities. The courthouse in Owingsville was destroyed by an accidental fire caused by Union troops during the American Civil War in 1864.^[4]

It is the site of the Kentucky Meat Shower. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., on March 3, 1876, a mysterious substance believed to be meat of some sort fell from the sky.

In 1932, an archaeological field survey observed fourteen archaeological sites in Bath County, including the Ramey Mound near Sharpsburg and multiple ancient burials near the Springfield Presbyterian Church.^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 284 square miles (740 km²), of which 279 square miles (720 km²) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km²) (1.8%) is water.^[6]

Adjacent counties

Fleming County (north)
Rowan County (east)
Menifee County (southeast)
Montgomery County (southwest)
Bourbon County (west)
Nicholas County (northwest)

National protected area

Daniel Boone National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	7,961		—
1830	8,799		10.5%
1840	9,763		11.0%
1850	12,115		24.1%
1860	12,113		0.0%
1870	10,145		−16.2%
1880	11,982		18.1%
1890	12,813		6.9%
1900	14,734		15.0%
1910	13,988		−5.1%
1920	11,996		−14.2%
1930	11,075		−7.7%
1940	11,451		3.4%
1950	10,410		−9.1%
1960	9,114		−12.4%
1970	9,235		1.3%
1980	10,025		8.6%
1990	9,692		−3.3%
2000	11,085		14.4%
2010	11,591		4.6%
2020	12,750		10.0%
2023 (est.)	12,975	^[7]	1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1790-1960^[9] 1900-1990^[10] 1990-2000^[11] 2010-2021^[12]

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 11,085 people, 4,445 households, and 3,195 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 per square mile (15/km²). There were 4,994 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.87% White, 1.85% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,445 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,018, and the median income for a family was $31,758. Males had a median income of $27,786 versus $20,986 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,326. About 16.40% of families and 21.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 21.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Politics

Throughout the 20th century, Bath County was overwhelmingly Democratic, only voting the other way in the Republican landslides of 1928, 1972, and 1984. However, in 2000, George W. Bush flipped the county into the Republican column. Bath County was one of the few counties in Kentucky to flip from Bush to Kerry in 2004. Despite Barack Obama's indomitable midwestern strength in 2008, Bath County was one of the small number of counties to flip from Kerry to McCain that year, although Obama lost it very narrowly. In 2016, Donald Trump won over two-thirds of the vote in Bath County.

Despite its Republican devotion in presidential elections, Bath County still retains loyalty to state and local Democrats, as they have not voted for a Republican gubernatorial candidate since 1919.

Voter Registration

Bath County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of February 17, 2020^[14]
Political Party		Total Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	6,940	72.53%
	Republican	2,160	22.57%
	Others	354	3.70%
	Independent	103	1.08%
	Libertarian	8	0.08%
	Green	1	0.01%
	Constitution	1	0.01%
	Reform	1	0.01%
	Socialist Workers	1	0.01%
Total		9,569	100%

Statewide Elections

United States presidential election results for Bath County, Kentucky^[15]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,986	70.84%	1,573	27.95%	68	1.21%
2016	3,082	67.19%	1,361	29.67%	144	3.14%
2012	2,275	55.19%	1,770	42.94%	77	1.87%
2008	2,234	49.17%	2,210	48.65%	99	2.18%
2004	2,269	46.13%	2,608	53.02%	42	0.85%
2000	2,303	51.49%	2,087	46.66%	83	1.86%
1996	1,229	34.43%	1,886	52.83%	455	12.75%
1992	1,259	29.95%	2,229	53.02%	716	17.03%
1988	1,614	43.34%	2,099	56.36%	11	0.30%
1984	2,020	52.88%	1,781	46.62%	19	0.50%
1980	1,463	39.56%	2,174	58.79%	61	1.65%
1976	938	30.54%	2,113	68.80%	20	0.65%
1972	1,919	58.47%	1,347	41.04%	16	0.49%
1968	1,277	38.34%	1,394	41.85%	660	19.81%
1964	1,009	28.13%	2,571	71.68%	7	0.20%
1960	1,888	47.75%	2,066	52.25%	0	0.00%
1956	1,889	45.79%	2,221	53.84%	15	0.36%
1952	1,737	41.94%	2,400	57.94%	5	0.12%
1948	1,276	35.26%	2,287	63.19%	56	1.55%
1944	1,581	41.90%	2,184	57.88%	8	0.21%
1940	1,636	39.18%	2,528	60.54%	12	0.29%
1936	1,725	38.08%	2,795	61.70%	10	0.22%
1932	1,576	34.98%	2,909	64.57%	20	0.44%
1928	2,223	54.74%	1,830	45.06%	8	0.20%
1924	1,723	44.90%	2,093	54.55%	21	0.55%
1920	1,997	44.79%	2,440	54.72%	22	0.49%
1916	1,360	42.77%	1,796	56.48%	24	0.75%
1912	1,002	36.34%	1,477	53.57%	278	10.08%

**Previous gubernatorial elections results**
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2023	44.19% 1,515	55.81% 1,913	0.00% 0
2019	46.09% 1,672	51.98% 1,886	1.93% 70
2015	46.65% 1,045	49.87% 1,117	3.48% 78
2011	22.61% 417	58.62% 1,081	18.76% 346
2007	33.09% 1,136	66.91% 2,297	0.00% 0
2003	42.56% 1,398	57.44% 1,887	0.00% 0
1999	15.89% 197	55.00% 682	29.11% 202
1995	41.41% 1,309	58.34% 1,844

References

^ "Census - Geography Profile: Bath County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "Bath County". Kyenc.org. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 192. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
^ Funkhouser, W.D., and W.S. Webb. "Archaeological Survey of Kentucky: Butler County". University of Kentucky Reports in Anthropology 2 (1932): 56–58.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 29, 2018.