Mercer County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the Bluegrass region of the central part of the state. It had a population of 22,641 at the 2020 census and covers 253 square miles (660 km2) centred near 37°48′N 84°53′W.
Harrodsburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 40330. The county contains two incorporated cities (Harrodsburg and Burgin), one census-designated place (Salvisa), and about two dozen unincorporated rural communities. Mercer County lies in the Eastern time zone and observes daylight saving time.
Towns & Villages in Mercer County
Mercer County has 26 named places on record: two incorporated cities, one census-designated place, and 23 unincorporated communities and hamlets scattered across its rural townships and creek valleys. Most of the unincorporated places share Harrodsburg’s 40330 mailing address; Burgin and Salvisa each have their own ZIP code.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrodsburg | City · seat | — | 40330 |
| Burgin | City | — | 40310 |
| Salvisa | CDP | — | 40372 |
| Bohon | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Bondville | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Braxton | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Bushtown | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Cornishville | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Deep Creek | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Dixville | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Dugansville | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Duncan | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Ebenezer | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Jackson | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Kirkwood | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Mayo | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| McAfee | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Nevada | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Oregon | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Riverview Estates | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Shakertown | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Stewart | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Stringtown | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Talmage | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Terrapin | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
| Vanarsdell | Unincorp. | — | 40330 |
Shakertown is the local name for the community around Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill; the historic Shaker settlement itself straddles the Mercer–Garrard county line along the Kentucky River palisades. Salvisa is the only place in the county recognized as a census-designated place rather than an unincorporated community.
ZIP Codes
- 40330 — Harrodsburg (also serves most of the county’s rural communities)
- 40310 — Burgin (post office box delivery)
- 40372 — Salvisa
Places without their own post office, such as Bohon, Cornishville, and McAfee, use the Harrodsburg 40330 ZIP code for mail.
Geography
Mercer County sits in the rolling Inner Bluegrass region of central Kentucky, drained by Salt River, Shawnee Run, and the Kentucky River, which forms part of the county’s eastern and southern boundary and backs up into Herrington Lake along the county line with Garrard and Boyle counties. The terrain is gently rolling farmland in the north giving way to the steep limestone palisades of the Kentucky River gorge in the south and east.
Mercer County is bordered by Anderson County to the north, Woodford County to the northeast, Jessamine County to the east, Garrard County to the southeast, Boyle County to the south, and Washington County to the west.
Demographics
Mercer County had 22,641 residents at the 2020 census, giving it a population density of about 91 people per square mile of land. Harrodsburg is by far the largest community, followed by Burgin. The county’s median household income runs below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting its largely agricultural and small-manufacturing economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture remains central to Mercer County’s economy, with cattle, grain, and horse farms across the Bluegrass countryside. James B. Haggin Memorial Hospital, based in Harrodsburg, is one of the county’s larger employers, alongside county government, the school district, and several small manufacturing and food-processing plants. Tourism centers on Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a restored 19th-century Shaker community that draws visitors for its historic buildings, farm-to-table restaurant, and riverboat rides on the Kentucky River, and on Old Fort Harrod State Park in downtown Harrodsburg.
History
Harrodsburg was founded in 1774, making it the oldest permanent settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains, predating Kentucky statehood by nearly two decades. Mercer County itself was organized in 1785 out of Lincoln County and named for General Hugh Mercer, a Revolutionary War officer who was killed at the Battle of Princeton in 1777. Harrodsburg had already served as county seat of Lincoln County before Mercer County was carved out, and it kept that role for the new county. Shakers settled at Pleasant Hill in Mercer County in 1805, building the community that survives today as Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.
Getting There
US 68 and US 127 cross through Mercer County, connecting Harrodsburg to the wider Bluegrass highway network; the Bluegrass Parkway runs along the county’s northern edge.
- Danville — 12 miles south
- Lawrenceburg — 15 miles north
- Frankfort — 25 miles northwest
- Lexington — 32 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mercer County, Kentucky?
It sits in the Bluegrass region of central Kentucky, between Lexington and Danville, centred near 37°48′N 84°53′W.
What is the population of Mercer County?
Mercer County had a population of 22,641 at the 2020 census.
How large is Mercer County?
The county covers 253 square miles (660 km2), of which 249 square miles is land and 4.5 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Mercer County?
Harrodsburg is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns and communities are in Mercer County?
The county has two incorporated cities, one census-designated place, and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Mercer County?
Mercer County uses ZIP codes 40330 (Harrodsburg), 40310 (Burgin), and 40372 (Salvisa).
What is Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill?
It is a restored 19th-century Shaker religious community on the Kentucky River palisades in Mercer County, now operated as a historic site, inn, and working farm.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.