Anderson County, located in the Outer Bluegrass physiographic region, is Kentucky's 48th most populated and ninth fastest-growing county.
On January 16, 1827, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky approved "an ACT to erect and establish the county of Anderson out of parts of the county of Franklin, Washington, and Mercer," which went into effect on February 1, 1827, and established Anderson County as the 82nd county. Additional information in this act regards Anderson County's namesake, Richard Clough Anderson Jr., legislator and U.S. minister plenipotentiary to Colombia, and its county seat, the City of Lawrenceburg. Anderson County's borders were later modified by the General Assembly's January 28, 1854, approval of "an ACT to change the line between the counties of Franklin and Anderson."
Anderson County's 202.17 square miles comprises 25 GNIS-designated populated places, with Lawrenceburg as its largest city in population and size. In addition to its inclusion in the Outer Bluegrass region, Anderson County is part of the Bluegrass Area Development District and the Frankfort Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
GNIS numeric designators:
- "Kentucky" = 21
- "Anderson County" = 5
Populated places
{| class="wikitable sortable; mw-collapsible" style="text-align:right; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#FFF;"
|+ style="text-align:left;" |
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#BDBDBD;"
! feature_id !! feature_name !! map_name !! date_created !! date_edited
|-
| 485900
| style="text-align:left;" | Alton
| style="text-align:left;" | Alton Station
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 485902
| style="text-align:left;" | Alton Station
| style="text-align:left;" | Alton Station
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 486076
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 486157
| style="text-align:left;" | Avenstoke
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 487337
| style="text-align:left;" | Birdie
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 491894
| style="text-align:left;" | Fairview
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 492406
| style="text-align:left;" | Fox Creek
| style="text-align:left;" | McBrayer
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 492908
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 496081
| style="text-align:left;" | Lawrenceburg
| style="text-align:left;" | Alton Station
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 497764
| style="text-align:left;" | McBrayer
| style="text-align:left;" | McBrayer
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 499488
| style="text-align:left;" | Ninevah
| style="text-align:left;" | Alton Station
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 503551
| style="text-align:left;" | Sinai
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 504588
| style="text-align:left;" | Stringtown
| style="text-align:left;" | Alton Station
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 505753
| style="text-align:left;" | Tyrone
| style="text-align:left;" | Tyrone
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 505955
| style="text-align:left;" | Van Buren
| style="text-align:left;" | Chaplin
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 507398
| style="text-align:left;" | Anderson City
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 507444
| style="text-align:left;" | Ballard
| style="text-align:left;" | McBrayer
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 507878
| style="text-align:left;" | Drydock
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 508078
| style="text-align:left;" | Gee
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 508230
| style="text-align:left;" | Hickory Grove
| style="text-align:left;" | McBrayer
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 508351
| style="text-align:left;" | Johnsonville
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 508401
| style="text-align:left;" | Klondyke
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 508691
| style="text-align:left;" | Nevin
| style="text-align:left;" | McBrayer
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 509103
| style="text-align:left;" | Sparrow
| style="text-align:left;" | Chaplin
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|-
| 509327
| style="text-align:left;" | Wayside
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| 1979-09-20
| 2022-06-07
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 2566547
| style="text-align:left;" | Houchin (historical)
| style="text-align:left;" | Salvisa
| November 8, 2009
| July 6, 2022
|- style="background-color:#FFF;"
| 2566549
| style="text-align:left;" | Jefferies (historical)
| style="text-align:left;" | Ashbrook
| November 8, 2009
| July 6, 2022
|- style="background-color:#F3F3F3;"
| 2566561
| style="text-align:left;" | Pleasant Grove (historical)
| style="text-align:left;" | Glensboro
| November 8, 2009
| July 6, 2022
|- style="background-color:#FFF;"
| 2566571
| style="text-align:left;" | Sidney (historical)
| style="text-align:left;" | McBrayer
| November 8, 2009
| July 6, 2022
|}
Adjacent counties
- Franklin County (north)
- Woodford County (east)
- Mercer County (southeast)
- Washington County (south)
- Nelson County (southwest)
- Spencer County (west)
- Shelby County (northwest)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,852. The median age was 42.0 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 91.4% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.
There were 9,369 households in the county, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
|-
! Population
|-
| Population Estimates, July 1, 2022, (V2022)
| 24,224
|-
| Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2022)
| 23,851
|-
| Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2022, (V2022)
| 1.6%
|-
| Population, Census, April 1, 2020
| 23,852
|-
| Population, Census, April 1, 2010
| 21,421
|-
!Age & Sex
|-
| Persons under 5 years, percent
| 5.5%
|-
| Persons under 18 years, percent
| 22.9%
|-
| Persons 65 years and over, percent
| 16.8%
|-
| Female persons, percent
| 50.3%
|-
! Race & Hispanic Origin
|-
| White alone, percent
| 94.6%
|-
| Black or African American alone, percent
| 2.4%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent
| 0.3%
|-
| Asian alone, percent
| 0.7%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent
| 0.1%
|-
| Two or More Races, percent
| 1.9%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino, percent
| 2.5%
|-
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent
| 92.6%
|-
! Population Characteristics
|-
| Veterans, 2017–2021
| 1,066
|-
| Foreign born persons, percent, 2017–2021
| 1.4%
|-
! Housing
|-
| Housing units, July 1, 2022, (V2022)
| 10,309
|-
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2017–2021
| 79.0%
|-
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2017–2021
| $169,400
|-
| Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2017–2021
| $1,225
|-
| Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2017–2021
| $375
|-
| Median gross rent, 2017–2021
| $776
|-
| Building permits, 2022
| 192
|-
! Families & Living Arrangements
|-
| Households, 2017–2021
| 9,063
|-
| Persons per household, 2017–2021
| 2.60
|-
| Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2017–2021
| 88.2%
|-
| Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2017–2021
| 1.9%
|-
! Computer & Internet Use
|-
| Households with a computer, percent, 2017–2021
| 92.2%
|-
| Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2017–2021
| 85.6%
|-
! Education
|-
| High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017–2021
| 91.1%
|-
| Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017–2021
| 25.3%
|-
! Health
|-
| With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2017–2021
| 15.4%
|-
| Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent
| 7.2%
|-
! Economy
|-
| In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017–2021
| 61.0%
|-
| In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017–2021
| 58.7%
|-
| Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000)
| 24,462
|-
| Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)
| 24,331
|-
| Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)
| 334
|-
| Total retail sales, 2017 ($1,000)
| 237,836
|-
| Total retail sales per capita, 2017
| $10,546
|-
! Transportation
|-
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2017–2021
| 27.4
|-
! Income & Poverty
|-
| Median household income (in 2021 dollars), 2017–2021
| $59,887
|-
| Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2021 dollars), 2017–2021
| $30,294
|-
| Persons in poverty, percent
| 9.0%
|}
Politics
<!-- PresRow should be -->
Elected officials
{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan="3" |Elected officials as of January 3, 2025
|-
!rowspan=2 | U.S. House
| |James Comer (R)
| |
|-
| |Andy Barr (R)
| |
|-
! scope=row|Ky. Senate
| |Aaron Reed (R)
| |7
|-
! scope=row|Ky. House
| |James Tipton (R)
| |53
|}
Voter registration
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Anderson County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 15, 2021
|-
! colspan = 2 | Political Party
! Total Voters
! Percentage
|-
|
| Republican
| align="center" | 9,096
| align="center" | 48.11%
|-
|
| Democratic
| align = center | 8,401
| align = center | 44.33%
|-
|
| Others
| align = center | 743
| align = center | 3.93%
|-
|
| Independent
| align = center | 595
| align = center | 3.15%
|-
|
| Libertarian
| align = center | 66
| align = center | 0.35%
|-
|
| Green
| align = center | 2
| align = center | 0.01%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 15,760
! align = center | 100%
|}
Statewide elections
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ Previous gubernatorial elections results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! Republican
! Democratic
! Third parties
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2023
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|54.66% 5,078
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|45.34% 4,212
|align="center" |0.00% 0
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2019
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|56.12% 5,380
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.50% 3,978
|align="center" |2.37% 227
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2015
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|55.34% 3,724
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.16% 2,635
|align="center" |5.50% 370
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2011
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|25.99% 1,577
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|50.23% 3,048
|align="center" |23.78% 1,443
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2007
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|39.46% 2,844
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|60.54% 4,363
|align="center" |0.00% 0
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2003
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|58.80% 4,052
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.20% 2,839
|align="center" |0.00% 0
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|1999
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|14.99% 496
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|59.28% 1,961
|align="center" |25.73% 851
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|1995
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|51.38% 2,783
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.83% 2,591
|align="center" |0.79% 43
|}
Communities
City
- Lawrenceburg (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
- Alton
- Ballard
- Glensboro
- McBrayer
- Stringtown
Ghost towns
- Ripyville
- Tyrone
See also
- Anderson County Schools
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Anderson County, Kentucky