{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Fleming County | state = Kentucky | seal = | founded year = 1798 | founded date = | seat wl = Flemingsburg | largest city wl = Flemingsburg | area_total_sq_mi = 351 | area_land_sq_mi = 349 | area_water_sq_mi = 2.8 | area percentage = 0.8% | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 15082 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 15787 {{increase}} | pop_est_footnotes = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/flemingcountykentucky/PST045224|title=Fleming County, KY|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref> | density_sq_mi = 45.2 | time zone = Eastern | footnotes = | leader_title = Judge/Executive | leader_name = John Sims Jr. (R) | web = www.flemingkychamber.com | named for = John Fleming (1735–1791), early settler of Kentucky | ex image = Fleming County, Kentucky courthouse 2.jpg | ex image cap = Fleming County courthouse in Flemingsburg | district = 6th }}
'''Fleming County''' is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,082.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/flemingcountykentucky/PST045221 |access-date=February 26, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its county seat is Flemingsburg.<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was formed in 1798 and named for Colonel John Fleming, an Indian fighter and early settler.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rennick, Robert M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&q=cannon+ky&pg=PA103 |title=Kentucky Place Names |date=1987 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=0813126312 |pages=103 |access-date=April 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gannett, Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |year=1905 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n126 127]}}</ref> It is a moist county. In 1998, the Kentucky General Assembly designated Fleming County as the Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky.<ref>[http://kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYSymbols.htm Kentucky State Symbols] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128223448/http://kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYSymbols.htm |date=January 28, 2011}}</ref>
==History== Fleming County was established in 1798 from land given by Mason County.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Collins, Lewis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZFQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA26 |title=Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2 |publisher=Collins & Company |year=1882 |pages=26}}</ref> The first courthouse, possibly built of logs, was replaced in 1830 and again in 1952.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAVlVS29NKIC&q=%22bell+county%22+1914+1918+1976&pg=PA230 |title=Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research |date=1992 |publisher=Ancestry Publishing |isbn=9780916489496 |pages=230 |access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref>
==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|351|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|349|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.8|sqmi}} (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
===Adjacent counties=== * Mason County (north) * Lewis County (northeast) * Rowan County (southeast) * Bath County (south) * Nicholas County (west) * Robertson County (northwest)
==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1800 = 5016 | 1810 = 8947 | 1820 = 12186 | 1830 = 13499 | 1840 = 13268 | 1850 = 13914 | 1860 = 12489 | 1870 = 13398 | 1880 = 15221 | 1890 = 16078 | 1900 = 17074 | 1910 = 16066 | 1920 = 15614 | 1930 = 12931 | 1940 = 13327 | 1950 = 11962 | 1960 = 10890 | 1970 = 11366 | 1980 = 12323 | 1990 = 12292 | 2000 = 13792 | 2010 = 14348 | 2020 = 15082 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 15787 | estref = {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = Sources:<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=August 14, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt |access-date=August 14, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |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 |access-date=August 14, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref name="qf" /><ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{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}}</ref><ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 26, 2026 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> | align = right }}
===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 15,082. The median age was 41.5 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.2 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A069&in=state%3A21|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 22, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A069&in=state%3A21|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 22, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A069&in=state%3A21|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 22, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
There were 5,936 households in the county, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 6,732 housing units, of which 11.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.7% were owner-occupied and 24.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
===2000 census===
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,792 people, 5,367 households, and 3,966 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|39|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 6,120 housing units at an average density of {{convert|17|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 1.41% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,367 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,990, and the median income for a family was $33,300. Males had a median income of $26,463 versus $19,895 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,214. About 14.80% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.90% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over. ==Politics== {{PresHead|place=Fleming County, Kentucky|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,400|1,915|492|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,836|2,240|41|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,960|3,488|26|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,572|2,590|47|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,798|2,086|4|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,638|3,442|44|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,749|2,879|21|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,855|2,999|14|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,666|2,612|14|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,088|2,722|84|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,592|2,446|12|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,744|2,519|17|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,777|2,216|0|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,668|2,678|6|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,220|1,406|541|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,484|1,455|43|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,647|2,317|19|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,189|2,051|75|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,824|1,616|19|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,409|2,086|27|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,045|2,257|833|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,313|1,913|538|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,282|1,813|84|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,749|2,406|48|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,432|2,279|121|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,780|1,911|91|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,722|1,348|190|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,534|1,474|60|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,578|1,334|88|Kentucky}} {{PresFoot}} ===Elected officials=== {| class=wikitable |- | colspan="3" |'''Elected officials as of January 3, 2025'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=Kentucky General Assembly |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=Kentucky General Assembly |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> |- ! scope=row|U.S. House | {{party shading/Republican}}|Andy Barr (R) | {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|6|B}} |- ! scope=row|Ky. Senate | {{party shading/Republican}}|Stephen West (R) | {{party shading/Republican}}|27 |- ! scope=row|Ky. House | {{party shading/Republican}}|Matthew Koch (R) | {{party shading/Republican}}|72 |}
==Communities== ===Cities=== * Ewing * Flemingsburg
===Census-designated place=== * Elizaville
===Unincorporated communities=== {{div col|colwidth=12em}} * Bald Hill * Beechburg * Blue Bank * Colfax * Concord * Cowan * Craintown * Dalesburg * Fairview * Foxport * Fox Valley * Goddard * Grange City * Hillsboro * Hilltop * Johnson Junction * Mount Carmel * Muses Mills * Nepton * Pleasureville * Plummers Landing * Poplar Grove * Poplar Plains * Ringos Mills * Sherburne * Tilton * Wallingford {{div col end}}
==Notable residents== * Herman Chittison, jazz pianist * Edward Alvin Clary, US Navy Medal Of Honor Recipient, March 23, 1910 * Willis A. Gorman, Union Army general during the American Civil War, member of U.S. House of Representatives for Indiana, and territorial governor of Minnesota * Claiborne Fox Jackson, Pro-Confederate Missouri governor during the early part of the Civil War * Alvin Saunders, United States senator from Nebraska * Franklin Sousley, Iwo Jima flagraiser * Andrew T. Wood, lawyer and politician
==See also== {{Portal|United States}} * Moist county * National Register of Historic Places listings in Fleming County, Kentucky
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070210131150/http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/fleming_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project] * [http://www.flemingcountyky.org/ Welcome to Fleming County]
{{Fleming County, Kentucky}} {{Kentucky}}
{{Coord|38.37|-83.69|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Fleming County, Kentucky Category:Kentucky counties Category:1798 establishments in Kentucky Category:Populated places established in 1798