Jessamine County, Kentucky

History

Jessamine County was established in 1798 from land given by Fayette County. Jessamine was the 36th Kentucky county in order of formation. 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. 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. 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. The Chrisman Mill Vineyards is authorized to operate and sell its product in the "dry" portion of the county.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 175 sqmi, of which 172 sqmi is land and 2.4 sqmi (1.4%) is water. In 2000, nearly 129 sqmi of the county's total area was dedicated to agriculture.

The county's entire southern border is formed by the Kentucky River. Jessamine County's river bank extends roughly 42 mi long 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

| align-fn = center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 52,991. The median age was 37.9 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.1 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.9% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.

75.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 24.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 19,438 households in the county, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 20,626 housing units, of which 5.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.2% were owner-occupied and 33.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 39,041 people, 13,867 households, and 10,663 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 /sqmi. There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 85 /sqmi. 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

Census-designated place

• High Bridge

Other communities

• Brannon Woods
• Keene

Education

Jessamine County Schools provides public education.

Elementary schools

• Brookside Elementary
• Jessamine Early Learning Village
• Nicholasville Elementary
• Red Oak Elementary
• Rosenwald-Dunbar Elementary
• Warner Elementary
• Wilmore Elementary

Middle schools

• East Jessamine Middle
• West Jessamine Middle

Middle/High School

• The Providence School

High schools

• East Jessamine High
• West Jessamine High
• Jessamine Career and Technology Center (JCTC)

Adult Education

• Jessamine County Adult Education

Post-secondary institutions

• Asbury University
• Asbury Theological Seminary

Politics

Elected officials

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "Jessamine County". Kyenc.org.
4. Collins, Lewis. (1877). "History of Kentucky". Library Reprints, Incorporated.
5. Collins, Lewis. (1882). "Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2". Collins & Company.
6. (July 6, 2006). "Counties USA: A Directory of United States Counties". Omnigraphics, Incorporated.
7. (1903). "The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1". Kentucky State Historical Society.
8. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
9. "History".
10. (November 5, 2020). "Booze won big. Jessamine County among several KY places to vote 'wet' by wide margins". Lexington Herald Leader.
11. "Wet & Dry Counties in Kentucky". Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
12. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
13. (March 10, 2008). "Jessamine County Agriculture Board Comprehensive Plan". University of Kentucky: College of Agriculture Food and Environment.
14. "Kentucky River Blueway Project". Kentucky River Blueway.
15. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau.
16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
18. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
21. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
22. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
23. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. "Home - Jessamine County Schools".
25. (September 2019). "Home - Jessamine County Schools".
26. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
27. . ["Senate Members - County"](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html). *[[Kentucky General Assembly]]*.
28. . ["House Members - County"](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html). *[[Kentucky General Assembly]]*.