Boyle County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the Bluegrass region south of Lexington. It had a population of 30,614 at the 2020 census and covers 180 square miles (470 km2) of land plus 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of water, centred near 37°37′N 84°52′W.
Danville is the county seat and its postal code is 40422. The county has 3 incorporated cities and 6 unincorporated communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone and is part of the Danville, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Boyle County
Boyle County has 9 named places on record: 3 incorporated cities and towns and 6 unincorporated communities. Junction City straddles the Boyle–Lincoln county line, with its historic core on the Boyle side.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danville | City · seat | 17,459 | 40422 |
| Junction City | City | 2,271 | 40440 |
| Perryville | City | 763 | 40468 |
| Parksville | Unincorp. | — | 40464 |
| Mitchellsburg | Unincorp. | — | 40452 |
| Aliceton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Alum Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forkland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilsonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 40422 — Danville (also serves most of the county; a separate 40423 covers Danville PO boxes)
- 40440 — Junction City
- 40468 — Perryville
- 40464 — Parksville
- 40452 — Mitchellsburg (PO boxes only)
Smaller communities such as Aliceton, Alum Springs, Forkland and Wilsonville share a ZIP code with a neighboring post office town rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Boyle County lies in the Outer Bluegrass region, where rolling farmland gives way to steeper, wooded terrain toward the Chaplin and Salt River drainages along its western edge. Chaplin River and Salt River and their tributaries drain most of the county. Land makes up about 99% of the county’s area, with the remainder in streams and small impoundments.
Boyle County borders Mercer County to the north, Garrard County to the east, Lincoln County to the southeast, Casey County to the south, Marion County to the southwest, and Washington County to the northwest.
Demographics
Boyle County had 30,614 residents at the 2020 census, a density of roughly 170 people per square mile. Danville, the county seat, is by far the largest community, with Junction City a distant second. Median household income in the county runs below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting a mix of manufacturing and service-sector wages typical of the Danville micropolitan area.
Economy & Local Life
Danville anchors the county’s economy as a regional retail, medical and education hub. Centre College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1819, is one of the county’s largest employers and hosted the 2012 U.S. vice-presidential debate. Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center serves as the area’s main hospital. Manufacturing, including auto-parts and industrial suppliers in the Danville area, supplements the college-and-healthcare economy. Boyle County holds the Great American Brass Band Festival each June, drawing bands and visitors from across the country.
History
Boyle County was formed in 1842 from parts of Mercer and Lincoln counties and named for John Boyle, a U.S. Representative who later served as chief justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and as a federal judge. The Battle of Perryville, the largest Civil War battle fought in Kentucky, was fought in the county on October 8, 1862, and its battlefield is preserved as a state historic site. A courthouse fire in 1860 destroyed many of the county’s early records.
Getting There
U.S. Route 150 and U.S. Route 127 cross Danville, with the Bluegrass Parkway passing through the northern part of the county.
- Lexington — 35 miles northeast
- Louisville — 85 miles northwest
- Richmond — 30 miles east
- Somerset — 40 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Boyle County, Kentucky?
Boyle County sits in the Bluegrass region of central Kentucky, about 35 miles southwest of Lexington.
What is the population of Boyle County?
Boyle County had a population of 30,614 at the 2020 census.
How big is Boyle County?
The county covers 180 square miles (470 km2) of land plus 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Boyle County?
Danville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Boyle County?
The county has 3 incorporated cities — Danville, Junction City and Perryville — plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Boyle County?
Boyle County’s ZIP codes include 40422 (Danville), 40440 (Junction City), 40468 (Perryville), 40464 (Parksville) and 40452 (Mitchellsburg).
What is Boyle County known for?
Boyle County is known for Centre College in Danville and the Perryville Battlefield, site of Kentucky’s largest Civil War battle.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.