Washington County | |
|---|---|
 Washington County courthouse in Springfield | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°45′N 85°10′W / 37.75°N 85.17°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1792 |
| Named for | George Washington |
| Seat | Springfield |
| Largest city | Springfield |
| Area | |
• Total | 301 sq mi (780 km2) |
| • Land | 297 sq mi (770 km2) |
| • Water | 3.9 sq mi (10 km2) 1.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,027 |
• Estimate (2023) | 12,267  |
| • Density | 40/sq mi (15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,027.[1] Its county seat is Springfield.[2] The county is named for George Washington.[3] Washington County was the first county formed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it reached statehood, and the sixteenth county formed.[4] The center of population of Kentucky is located in Washington County, in the city of Willisburg.[5] The county is dry, meaning that the sale of alcohol is prohibited, but it contains the "wet" city of Springfield, where retail alcohol sales are allowed. This classifies the jurisdiction as a moist county. Three wineries operate in the county and are licensed separately to sell to the public.[6] Jacob Beam, founder of Jim Beam whiskey, sold his first barrel of whiskey in Washington County.[7]
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Washington County, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 37.
- ^ "Springfield, Kentucky and Washington County". KyHomeTown.com. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
- ^ "Population and Population Centers by State: 2000". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
- ^ "Wet & Dry Counties in Kentucky" (PDF). Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ "Review: Jim Beam", Alternative Whisky Academy