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

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

Scott County was formed from Woodford County in 1792, the 11th county in Kentucky. It is located in the north-central part of the state and named for Kentucky Governor Charles Scott, a veteran of the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War.

Scott County is surrounded by seven counties. The county seat is Georgetown, which was previously named Lebanon. In 1790 the town was renamed George Town in honor of George Washington. After Scott County was established in 1792, George Town became the county seat; the spelling was changed to Georgetown in 1846.

The 1800 population was 8,007 and included 6,085 whites, 12 free coloreds, and 1,910 enslaved, according to the Second Census of Kentucky. By 1860 the population was 8,675, excluding the enslaved, according to the U.S. Federal Census. Below are the numbers for slave owners, enslaved, free Blacks, and free Mulattoes for 1850-1870.

1850 Slave Schedule
  • 909 slave owners
  • 5,378 Black slaves
  • 456 Mulatto slaves
  • 174 free Blacks
  • 47 free Mulattoes
1860 Slave Schedule
  • 1,070 slave owners
  • 4,854 Black slaves
  • 678 Mulatto slaves
  • 162 free Blacks
  • 66 free Mulattoes
1870 U.S. Federal Census
  • 3,355 Blacks
  • 561 Mulattoes
  • About 285 U.S. Colored Troops listed Scott County, KY as their birth location.
For more see the Scott County entry in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, by J. E. Kleber; Scott County, Kentucky (map), by M. A. Cabot; History of the Development of Education for Negroes in Scott County, Kentucky, by A. B. C. Sowards; A History of Scott County, Kentucky, in the World War, 1917-1919, by Mrs. W. H. Coffman; Spencer Family Papers, 1878-1986, Spencer Family; and A History of Scott County, by A. B. Bevins. 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 Scott County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Georgetown, 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: Scott County, Kentucky (map)
NKAA Source: History of the development of education for Negroes in Scott County, Kentucky
NKAA Source: A History of Scott County, Kentucky, in the World War, 1917-1919 : service records of soldiers and sailors; war work of civilians
NKAA Source: Spencer family papers (archival material)
NKAA Source: A History of Scott County

Related Entries Citing this Entry

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Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Scott 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/2557.

Last modified: 2024-06-21 19:20:04