Mercer County, Kentucky

Mercer County
Mercer County Courthouse in Harrodsburg
Mercer County Courthouse in Harrodsburg
Map of Kentucky highlighting Mercer County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°48′N 84°53′W / 37.8°N 84.88°W / 37.8; -84.88
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1785
Named forHugh Mercer
SeatHarrodsburg
Largest cityHarrodsburg
Area
 • Total253 sq mi (660 km2)
 • Land249 sq mi (640 km2)
 • Water4.5 sq mi (12 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total22,641
 • Estimate 
(2023)
23,097 Increase
 • Density89/sq mi (35/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.mercercounty.ky.gov

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.

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
  4. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.