Bath County, Kentucky

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.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAVlVS29NKIC&q=%22bell+county%22+1914+1918+1976&pg=PA192 | title=Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research | publisher=Ancestry Publishing | date=1992 | access-date=July 26, 2013 | author=Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth | pages=192| isbn=9780916489496 }}

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.Funkhouser, W.D., and W.S. Webb. "Archaeological Survey of Kentucky: Butler County". University of Kentucky Reports in Anthropology 2 (1932): 56–58.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|284|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|279|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.2|sqmi}} (1.8%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 12, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}

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

• Daniel Boone National Forest (part)

{{US Census population

| 1820 = 7961

| 1830 = 8799

| 1840 = 9763

| 1850 = 12115

| 1860 = 12113

| 1870 = 10145

| 1880 = 11982

| 1890 = 12813

| 1900 = 14734

| 1910 = 13988

| 1920 = 11996

| 1930 = 11075

| 1940 = 11451

| 1950 = 10410

| 1960 = 9114

| 1970 = 9235

| 1980 = 10025

| 1990 = 9692

| 2000 = 11085

| 2010 = 11591

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 12, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 12, 2014}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 12, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 12, 2014}} 2010-2021{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/21/21011.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607100152/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/21/21011.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=dead}} 2024{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

| 2020 = 12750

| estimate = 12951

| estyear = 2024

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 11,085 people, 4,445 households, and 3,195 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|40|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 4,994 housing units at an average density of {{convert|18|/sqmi|/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.

• Owingsville (county seat)
• Salt Lick
• Sharpsburg

• Bald Eagle
• Olympia
• Ore Mines
• Peasticks
• Polksville
• Preston
• Red Bush
• Shrout
• Stepstone
• Upper Prickly Ash

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• Dry counties
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bath County, Kentucky
• Preston, Kentucky
• List of counties in Kentucky

{{PresHead|place=Bath County, Kentucky|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 29, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,041|1,278|70|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,986|1,573|68|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,082|1,361|144|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,275|1,770|77|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,234|2,210|99|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,269|2,608|42|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,303|2,087|83|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,229|1,886|455|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,259|2,229|716|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,614|2,099|11|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,020|1,781|19|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,463|2,174|61|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|938|2,113|20|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,919|1,347|16|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,277|1,394|660|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,009|2,571|7|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,888|2,066|0|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,889|2,221|15|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,737|2,400|5|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,276|2,287|56|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,581|2,184|8|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,636|2,528|12|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,725|2,795|10|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,576|2,909|20|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,223|1,830|8|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,723|2,093|21|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,997|2,440|22|Kentucky}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,360|1,796|24|Kentucky}}

{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|1,002|1,477|278|Kentucky}}

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.

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{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051018061044/http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/bath_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080804052039/http://www.bathcounty.ky.gov/about.htm About Bath County]

{{Bath County, Kentucky}}

{{Kentucky}}

{{Coord|38.14|-83.74|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}

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Category:1811 establishments in Kentucky

Category:Populated places established in 1811

Category:Kentucky counties

Category:Mount Sterling, Kentucky micropolitan area