Fleming County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the northeastern part of the state along the Licking River. It had a population of 15,082 at the 2020 census and covers 351 square miles (910 km2), of which 349 square miles (900 km2) is land, centred near 38°22′N 83°41′W.
Flemingsburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 41041. The county has two incorporated cities (Flemingsburg and Ewing), one census-designated place (Elizaville), and dozens of unincorporated communities and crossroads. Fleming County observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Fleming County
Fleming County lists roughly three dozen named places, almost all unincorporated. The table below marks incorporated cities, the one Census Bureau-designated place, and everything else as Unincorp.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flemingsburg | City · seat | — | 41041 |
| Ewing | City | — | 41039 |
| Elizaville | CDP | — | 41037 |
| Bald Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Battle Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beechburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bluebank | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Colfax | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Concord | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cowan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Craintown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dalesburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flemingsburg Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Foxport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goddard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grange City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hill Top | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hillsboro | Unincorp. | — | 41049 |
| Locust | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Carmel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Muses Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nepton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olive Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasureville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plummers Landing | Unincorp. | — | 41081 |
| Plummers Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poplar Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poplar Plains | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ryan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sherburne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stringtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunset | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tilton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wallingford | Unincorp. | — | 41093 |
Most unincorporated communities use Flemingsburg’s 41041 ZIP for mail even without a listed post office of their own; only places with a dedicated post office carry a distinct code above.
ZIP Codes
- 41041 — Flemingsburg (also serves most of the county’s rural roads)
- 41039 — Ewing
- 41093 — Wallingford
- 41049 — Hillsboro
- 41081 — Plummers Landing (PO Box delivery)
- 41037 — Elizaville (PO Box delivery)
Smaller crossroads such as Bald Hill, Colfax and Muses Mills have no post office of their own and are served by one of the six ZIPs above.
Geography
Fleming County sits in Kentucky’s Bluegrass–Knobs transition, drained by the Licking River and its tributary Fleming Creek. The terrain rolls from bluegrass pasture in the west to wooded knobs toward the Rowan County line in the southeast. Of the county’s 351 square miles, 2.8 square miles is water. The county borders Mason County to the north (Mason), Lewis County to the northeast (Lewis), Rowan County to the southeast, Bath County to the south, Nicholas County to the west, and Robertson County to the northwest.
Demographics
Fleming County had 15,082 residents at the 2020 census. Flemingsburg and Ewing are its two largest incorporated places. The county’s median household income runs below the Kentucky median of $61,118, consistent with its largely rural, agricultural economic base. Population density is roughly 43 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county’s economy — burley tobacco historically, now diversified into cattle, corn and hay — alongside light manufacturing and services centered in Flemingsburg. Fleming is a wet county, meaning alcohol sales are legal countywide, unlike several dry neighbors in the region. The Kentucky General Assembly designated Fleming County the state’s “Covered Bridge Capital” in 1998, and its surviving 19th-century covered bridges are a local landmark and modest tourist draw.
History
Fleming County was formed in 1798 from part of Mason County. It takes its name from Colonel John Fleming, a frontier soldier and early settler in the area. Flemingsburg, the county seat, was laid out around the same period and grew as a market town for the surrounding farm country. The county’s covered bridges, several dating to the 1800s, survive as reminders of that 19th-century agricultural economy.
Getting There
- Maysville — 18 miles north
- Morehead — 25 miles southeast
- Mount Sterling — 25 miles south
- Lexington — 65 miles southwest
US 11 and KY 32 cross the county through Flemingsburg. The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fleming County, Kentucky?
It lies in the northeastern Bluegrass region, bordering Mason and Lewis counties along the Ohio-River side of the state.
What is the population of Fleming County?
15,082 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Fleming County?
351 square miles (910 km2), including 2.8 square miles of water.
What is the Fleming County seat?
Flemingsburg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Fleming County?
Two incorporated cities (Flemingsburg, Ewing), one census-designated place (Elizaville), and about thirty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Fleming County?
41041, 41039, 41093, 41049, 41081 and 41037.
Why is Fleming County called the Covered Bridge Capital?
The Kentucky General Assembly gave it that designation in 1998 for its surviving 19th-century covered bridges.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.