Simpson County, Kentucky

Founding: 1819
Parent counties: Allen, Logan, and Warren

Namesake: John Simpson, Kentucky politician
Seat: Franklin (1820–)

Land area: 234 square miles

Population (2020): 19,594

Population (historic): 4,852 (1820); 7,733 (1850); 9,573 (1870); 11,624 (1900); 11,336 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1820–1900; 1920–1940; 1960–2020

Subdivisions: One city

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 627 (8.2%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 34.3%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 15.5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 17.1%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 11.6%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $790
Average outbuilding value (1930): $559
Average farmhouse size (1940): 4.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,698
Average farm size (1920): 74.5 acres
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Franklin

Namesake: Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father

Founding: 1820 (platting); 1820 (incorporation); 1822 (post office)

Population (2020): 10,176

Population (historic): 280 (1830); 828 (1860); 1,686 (1880); 2,166 (1900); 3,056 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1830–1870; 1880s; 1900–1920; 1930–1980; 1990–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 283 (7.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Lewis House (c. 1850). 2905 Bowling Green Road. Greek Revival.
2. Triple Pine Farm / Andrew Hampton House (c. 1840/1850). 5945 Bowling Green Road.
3. Octagon Hall / Andrew Caldwell Farm (c. 1862). 6040 Bowling Green Road. Greek Revival.
4. Hampton Hall / Benjamin Hampton Farm (1838). 6240 Bowling Green Road. Greek Revival.
5. The Cedars / Thomas Hampton Farm (c. 1836). 812 East Cedar Street. Greek Revival.

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