Jessamine County, Kentucky

Jessamine County
Jessamine County
County
	Jessamine County courthouse in Nicholasville
	Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
	Kentucky's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 37°52′N 84°35′W / 37.87°N 84.58°W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	December 19, 1798
Named for	Jessamine Creek/Jessamine Douglass
Seat	Nicholasville
Largest city	Nicholasville
Area
• Total	175 sq mi (450 km2)
• Land	172 sq mi (450 km2)
• Water	2.4 sq mi (6 km2) 1.4%
Population (2020)
• Total	52,991
• Estimate (2023)	55,017
• Density	300/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.jessamineco.com

Jessamine County (/ˈdʒɛsəmɪn/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,991.^[1] Its county seat is Nicholasville.^[2] The county was founded in December 1798.^[3] Jessamine County is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is within the Inner Blue Grass region, long a center of farming and blooded stock raising, including thoroughbred horses. The legislature established a commercial wine industry here in the late 18th century.

History

Jessamine County was established in 1798 from land given by Fayette County.^[4] Jessamine was the 36th Kentucky county in order of formation.^[5] The county is claimed to be named for a Jessamine Douglass, the daughter of a pioneer settler, who was either killed by Native Americans or committed suicide after being unlucky in love, but that story is dismissed by modern scholars, who say the name is from Jessamine Creek and the jasmine flowers that grow next to it.^[6]^[7]^[8] Most of the early pioneers were from Virginia, who came through the mountains after the American Revolutionary War.

In the late 18th century, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a bill to establish a commercial vineyard and winery, based in Nicholasville and the first in the United States, known as First Vineyard.^[9] Wine making based on European grapes became widespread in the United States. After the Prohibition era, which lasted from 1920 to 1933, the county voted to prohibit alcohol sales. Voters in the city of Nicholasville allowed package alcohol sales. In 2020, voters voted to allow alcohol sales, reversing the county's dry policy.^[10] The Chrisman Mill Vineyards is authorized to operate and sell its product in the "dry" portion of the county.^[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 175 square miles (450 km²), of which 172 square miles (450 km²) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) (1.4%) is water.^[12] In 2000, nearly 129 square miles (330 km²) of the county's total area was dedicated to agriculture.^[13]

The county's entire southern border is formed by the Kentucky River. Jessamine County's river bank extends roughly 42 miles (68 km) long^[14] due to meandering, and the river's scenic Palisades feature heavily along this border.

Adjacent counties

Fayette County (northeast)
Madison County (southeast)
Garrard County (south)
Mercer County (southwest)
Woodford County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	5,461		—
1810	8,377		53.4%
1820	9,297		11.0%
1830	9,960		7.1%
1840	9,396		−5.7%
1850	10,249		9.1%
1860	9,465		−7.6%
1870	8,638		−8.7%
1880	10,864		25.8%
1890	11,248		3.5%
1900	11,925		6.0%
1910	12,613		5.8%
1920	12,205		−3.2%
1930	12,431		1.9%
1940	12,174		−2.1%
1950	12,458		2.3%
1960	13,625		9.4%
1970	17,430		27.9%
1980	26,146		50.0%
1990	30,508		16.7%
2000	39,041		28.0%
2010	48,586		24.4%
2020	52,991		9.1%
2023 (est.)	55,017	^[15]	3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[16] 1790-1960^[17] 1900-1990^[18] 1990-2000^[19] 2010-2020^[1]

As of the census^[20] of 2000, there were 39,041 people, 13,867 households, and 10,663 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 per square mile (87/km²). There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 85 per square mile (33/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.44% White, 3.13% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,867 households, out of which 38.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.10% were non-families. 18.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 26.40% under the age of 18, 11.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,096, and the median income for a family was $46,152. Males had a median income of $32,340 versus $23,771 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,842. About 8.40% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

The Lexington Area MPO is responsible for transportation planning for Fayette and Jessamine counties. This includes activities such as carpool matching, administering a commuter vanpool program, air quality forecasting, bicycle and pedestrian planning, congestion management, and developing transportation plans and documents.

Communities

Cities

Nicholasville (county seat)
Wilmore

Education

Jessamine County Schools provides public education.^[21]^[22]

Elementary schools

Middle schools

Middle/High School

The Providence School

High schools

Adult Education

Jessamine County Adult Education

Post-secondary institutions

Unincorporated Communities

Census-designated place

High Bridge

Other unincorporated places

Sulphur well

Politics

United States presidential election results for Jessamine County, Kentucky^[23]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	17,096	65.05%	8,567	32.60%	617	2.35%
2016	15,474	66.34%	6,144	26.34%	1,708	7.32%
2012	14,233	68.98%	6,001	29.08%	399	1.93%
2008	13,711	67.83%	6,236	30.85%	267	1.32%
2004	12,972	69.82%	5,476	29.47%	132	0.71%
2000	10,074	66.89%	4,633	30.76%	354	2.35%
1996	6,686	54.76%	4,428	36.27%	1,096	8.98%
1992	6,474	52.47%	3,764	30.50%	2,101	17.03%
1988	7,057	69.76%	2,955	29.21%	104	1.03%
1984	7,081	74.10%	2,379	24.90%	96	1.00%
1980	4,809	56.38%	3,310	38.80%	411	4.82%
1976	3,081	51.32%	2,795	46.55%	128	2.13%
1972	3,819	72.91%	1,269	24.23%	150	2.86%
1968	2,338	45.46%	1,334	25.94%	1,471	28.60%
1964	1,968	43.44%	2,485	54.86%	77	1.70%
1960	2,787	57.95%	2,022	42.05%	0	0.00%
1956	2,340	51.39%	2,072	45.51%	141	3.10%
1952	2,193	45.76%	2,578	53.80%	21	0.44%
1948	1,414	34.99%	2,301	56.94%	326	8.07%
1944	1,790	42.14%	2,426	57.11%	32	0.75%
1940	1,837	39.15%	2,815	60.00%	40	0.85%
1936	2,066	42.15%	2,813	57.38%	23	0.47%
1932	1,710	37.21%	2,873	62.52%	12	0.26%
1928	2,857	55.45%	2,295	44.55%	0	0.00%
1924	2,144	45.00%	2,470	51.85%	150	3.15%
1920	2,349	41.29%	3,206	56.35%	134	2.36%
1916	1,326	42.53%	1,727	55.39%	65	2.08%
1912	895	31.72%	1,506	53.37%	421	14.92%

References

^ ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "Jessamine County". Kyenc.org. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. Library Reprints, Incorporated. p. 396. ISBN 9780722249208.
^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
^ Counties USA: A Directory of United States Counties. Omnigraphics, Incorporated. July 6, 2006. ISBN 9780780808218 – via Google Books.
^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 35.
^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 169.
^ "History". www.firstvineyard.net. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
^ Musgrave, Beth; Estep, Bill (November 5, 2020). "Booze won big. Jessamine County among several KY places to vote 'wet' by wide margins". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
^ "Wet & Dry Counties in Kentucky" (PDF). Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
^ "Jessamine County Agriculture Board Comprehensive Plan" (PDF). University of Kentucky: College of Agriculture Food and Environment. March 10, 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
^ "Kentucky River Blueway Project". Kentucky River Blueway. Retrieved October 16, 2014. Jessamine County has designated 42 miles of the Kentucky River, which is the county's southern boundary, as a Blueway Trail.
^ "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 16, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 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 16, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "Home - Jessamine County Schools". www.jessamine.kyschools.us. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
^ "Home - Jessamine County Schools". www.jessamine.kyschools.us. Retrieved July 31, 2019. ^{[verification needed]}
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.