Henry County, Kentucky

Henry County
County
Henry County courthouse in New Castle
Henry County courthouse in New Castle
Map of Kentucky highlighting Henry County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°28′N 85°07′W / 38.46°N 85.12°W / 38.46; -85.12
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1798
Named forPatrick Henry
SeatNew Castle
Largest cityEminence
Area
 • Total291 sq mi (750 km2)
 • Land286 sq mi (740 km2)
 • Water4.8 sq mi (12 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total15,678
 • Estimate 
(2023)
15,973 Increase
 • Density54/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.henrycountygov.com

Henry County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky bordering the Kentucky River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,678.[1] Its county seat is New Castle, but its largest city is Eminence.[2] The county was founded in 1798 from portions of Shelby County.[3] It was named for the statesman and governor of Virginia Patrick Henry.[4][5] Henry County is included in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Since the 1990s, it has become an increasingly important exurb, especially as land prices have become higher in neighboring Oldham County. With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is classified as a wet county.[6]

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 138. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. ^ "Henry County". Kyenc.org. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 155.
  6. ^ "Henry County Voters Approve Full Sale Of Alcohol". WLKY News. December 16, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2016.