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Oldham County, Kentucky

Oldham County, Kentucky was formed in 1824. It is located in the Outer Bluegrass region of the state. The elevation in the county ranges from 420 to 920 feet above sea level. 

The county covers a total land area of 189 square miles--a total of approximately 121,664 land acres. The Ohio River forms the northwest boundary of the county. Louisville lies about 20 miles to its west.  Interstate 71 runs the length of the county.  Oldham County's 2000 population was 46,178 according to the 2000 Census and exceeds 53,000 as of July 2005.

Oldham County experienced a 38.8% population increase from 1990-2000 and was Kentucky's fifth fastest growing county the past decade.  The 1998 Per Capita Income was $29,802--the highest in the State.

(Note:  The following information was extracted primarily from the Kentucky Atlas and Gazetteer)

The Bluegrass region of Kentucky is located near the center of the state and is bordered by the Ohio River in the north and west and a ring of hills known as the Knobs in the west, south, and east. It is a rolling plateau that becomes more rugged near the edges. The underlying limestone is often visible at the surface in road cuts and where eroded by streams, most dramatically in the Kentucky River Palisades.                               

The region is named for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), which has been extensively used in pastures here. The details of the introduction of bluegrass to the area are obscure, but it is probably of Eurasian origin and arrived in central Kentucky before the first European settlers.

The Bluegrass region was the most quickly settled part of the state and now is home to about half the state's population. The largest cities, including Louisville, Lexington, and the urban area of northern Kentucky are located here.

La Grange, the seat of Oldham County, is located in the eastern part of the county near the junction of I-71 and KY 53. It was founded in 1827 at the crossing of the Shelbyville-Westport road and the Louisville-New Castle road and named for the home of General Lafayette. La Grange was established to be the county seat, which had been located at Westport. It was moved to La Grange in 1827, back to Westport in 1828, and back to La Grange again in 1838. The La Grange post office opened in 1828. The population in 1990 was 3,853.

The County is characterized by its diverse and distinctive landscapes. Along with its people, the countryside is probably its greatest asset, one which should be nurtured for its inestimable value to its residents and the economy, and its potential to sustain and inspire future generations.

The variety of vegetative cover is determined by the bedrock of the area which is mainly limestone and calcareous shales. Much of the landscape is dominated by karst geomorphology. These resources have been exploited by man beginning with the native Indians and during the past 200 years have provided a colorful, cultural legacy. The Ohio River was the first focus for settlement. Westport, as mentioned above,  was the first county seat, but it was later moved to La Grange with the arrival of the railroad. While the river remained important for transportation, agriculture and the railroad remained the main focus of people's lives.

Alongside wooded hills, valleys and streams there are spectacular outcrops of limestone and grassy plains on a variety of soils now cleared of their native woodland. The steep slopes have survived as wooded valleys and creeks. The settlement by humans here has necessarily altered the natural form to create distinctive and valuable features. The farmed areas have produced a variety of crops including grapes and tobacco. Some valuable habitats have survived the intensification of agriculture, but much has been lost. Of the 760 animal species in Kentucky, 36 are considered as federally endangered, threatened or proposed as such. Another 153 are of at least special concern. Of the 278 animal species present in Oldham County, 7 are federally endangered or threatened, state endangered or threatened or of special concern. 

2008 Oldham County Population Estimates Released March 19, 2009:
Population as of July 1, 2008 Estimated at 56,874

The Census Bureau released the 2008 County Population Estimates on March 19, 2009.  The estimated county population as of July 1, 2008 was 56,874.  Since the 2000 census, Oldham County has realized a gain of 10,696 persons for an overall 23.2 percent increase. 

The Census Bureau uses July 1 of each year to compute estimated populations.  The Oldham County increase since July 1, 2000  is an estimated 9,895.  The data indicate that Oldham County is the 6th fastest growing county in Kentucky since the 2000 census in the percentage increase of population (21.1 percent) and is 8^th in net numeric increase.

The county gained an estimated 1,105 persons from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008.  Oldham County ranked 9th in the Commonwealth in numeric growth for this period and 8th since July 1, 2000.  For counties with a population of 100,000 or less, Oldham County ranked fifth.

While the 1,105 population gain is significantly lower than the 1,621 person increase from July 2005 to July 2006, it is generally in line with the average gain of 1,236 the county has realized since July 2000.

The chart to the left reflects the yearly numeric population increases of Oldham County since 2000. 

In terms of percentage growth, the county ranks sixth in overall percentage growth since the July 2000 estimate (21.1 percent).  The county's 1.98 percent growth realized from 2007 to 2008 ranks 8th of the Commonwealth's 120 counties for that period. 

               The yearly county percentage increases since 2000 are also reflected on the chart to the left.

While the 2007-2008 rate has decreased 35.5 percent from the decade high 3.07 yearly growth rate experienced from July 2005 to July 2006, the annual percentage gains continue to consistently range from two to three percent.

Table 1 below reflects the Top Ten Kentucky Counties in terms of numeric growth from 2007 to 2008.  Table 2 reflects the Top Ten Counties with respect to percentage growth in that period.  Table 3 reflects the Top Ten Counties ranked in population  percentage increase from July 2000 to July 2008.

Table 3:  Top Ten Counties Percentage Increase, July 2000 to July 2008

Download our 2008 Population Estimate  Factsheet