Mercer County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 37°48′N 84°53′W / 37.8°N 84.88°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kentucky |
Founded | 1785 |
Named for | Hugh Mercer |
Seat | Harrodsburg |
Largest city | Harrodsburg |
Area | |
• Total | 253 sq mi (660 km2) |
• Land | 249 sq mi (640 km2) |
• Water | 4.5 sq mi (12 km2) 1.8% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,641 |
• Estimate (2023) | 23,097 |
• Density | 89/sq mi (35/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Website | www |
Mercer County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,772.[1] Its county seat is Harrodsburg.[2] The county was formed from Lincoln County, Virginia in 1785[3] and is named for Revolutionary War General Hugh Mercer, who was killed at the Battle of Princeton in 1777.[4] It was formerly a prohibition or dry county.