#1Newport
Campbell County · 13,998 peopleHistory grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #134 of 138 in KY
Newport, #1 on this list · Photo: Paul Sableman from St. Louis, MO · CC BY 2.0Kentucky rankings · History
Most historic towns in Kentucky
Newport ranks first on history among Kentucky’s 142 towns of 2,500+; 42 of the 142 grade A− or better on history nationally.
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work
#1A+
#2Ludlow
Kenton County · 4,391 peopleHistory grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall B · #48 of 138 in KY
#3Covington
Kenton County · 41,847 peopleHistory grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C+ · #72 of 138 in KY
All 142 towns
History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
142 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
5Mount SterlingMontgomery County · 7,586 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #78 of 138
36CampbellsvilleTaylor County · 11,783 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #106 of 138
47HopkinsvilleChristian County · 30,411 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 138
54MadisonvilleHopkins County · 19,428 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 138
61NicholasvilleJessamine County · 33,857 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #63 of 138
79Burlingtonunincorporated, Boone County · 18,008 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 138
81JeffersontownJefferson County · 29,193 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 138
83Central CityMuhlenberg County · 5,793 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 138
92St. MatthewsJefferson County · 17,868 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 138
96ShepherdsvilleBullitt County · 14,931 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 138
98HardinsburgBreckinridge County · 2,513 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #64 of 138
99Mount WashingtonBullitt County · 18,989 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #32 of 138
100Francisvilleunincorporated, Boone County · 10,565 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #17 of 138
103Masonvilleunincorporated, Daviess County · 2,887 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 138
104Hebronunincorporated, Boone County · 6,407 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 138
111Highland HeightsCampbell County · 6,341 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 138
114Thrustonunincorporated, Daviess County · 2,581 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 138
116Indian HillsJefferson County · 2,939 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #80 of 138
117Fort Knoxunincorporated, Hardin County · 8,836 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
118Bucknerunincorporated, Oldham County · 4,119 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 138
120Westwoodunincorporated, Boyd County · 4,473 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 138
122Hendronunincorporated, McCracken County · 4,495 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 138
123Crescent SpringsKenton County · 4,708 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 138
124Crestview HillsKenton County · 3,301 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #7 of 138
125Claryvilleunincorporated, Campbell County · 3,251 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #18 of 138
127Russell SpringsRussell County · 2,828 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 138
129Farleyunincorporated, McCracken County · 4,458 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #65 of 138
130Massacunincorporated, McCracken County · 4,698 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 138
132Sorghounincorporated, Daviess County · 2,960 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 138
133Fort Campbell Northunincorporated, Christian County · 11,356 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
135Oakbrookunincorporated, Boone County · 10,211 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #20 of 138
138Graymoor-DevondaleJefferson County · 2,832 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 138
140Reidlandunincorporated, McCracken County · 5,277 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #37 of 138
141Douglass HillsJefferson County · 5,575 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #84 of 138
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most historic town in Kentucky?
Newport (Campbell County) ranks first on history among 142 towns, with an A+; Ludlow and Covington follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (142 in Kentucky). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Kentucky page.
Go deeper
All Kentucky rankings →More Kentucky lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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