From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Campbell County (KY) Enslaved, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1850-1870

Campbell County, in northern Kentucky, is bordered by two Kentucky counties and the Ohio River. It was formed in 1794 from portions of Harrison, Mason, and Scott Counties.

The county was named for John Campbell, who was born in Ireland. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a Kentucky Senator. The county seat is Alexandria.

The county population in 1800 was 1,903, according to the Second Census of Kentucky: 1,612 whites, 279 enslaved, and 12 free coloreds. By 1860 the population was 20,673, excluding the enslaved. Below are the numbers for the slave holders, enslaved, and free Blacks and Mulattoes for 1850-1870.

1850 Slave Schedule
  • 59 slave owners
  • 115 Black slaves
  • 62 Mulatto slaves
  • 65 free Blacks
  • 13 free Mulattoes
1860 Slave Schedule
  • 50 slave owners
  • 81 Black slaves
  • 35 Mulatto slaves
  • 68 free Blacks
  • 20 free Mulattoes
1870 U.S. Federal Census
  • 253 Blacks
  • 228 Mulattoes
  • About 8 U.S. Colored Troops listed Campbell County, KY as their birth location.
For more see The Encyclopedia of Kentucky, edited by J. E. Kleber; Campbell County, Kentucky, 200 Years, 1794-1994, by the Campbell County Historical Society; History of Campbell County, Kentucky, by M. K. Jones [available at Google Books]; and Tid-bits of Northern Kentucky History: Wm. S. Bailey of Newport, and his anti-slavery newspapers, by M. S. Hartman, online at Northern Kentucky Views [.pdf]. See the "U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865" and other military service records in Ancestry for names and additonal information.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Campbell County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Alexandria, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Item Relations

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Source: "Second census" of Kentucky, 1800; a privately compiled and published enumeration of tax payers appearing in the 79 manuscript volumes extant of tax lists of the 42 counties of Kentucky in existence in 1800
NKAA Source: The Kentucky encyclopedia
NKAA Source: Campbell County, Kentucky, 200 years, 1794-1994
NKAA Source: Ancestry (online)

Related Entries Citing this Entry

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Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Campbell County (KY) Enslaved, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1850-1870,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed July 27, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/2298.

Last modified: 2024-06-20 23:26:39