LaRue County is a county in the central region of the U.S. state of Kentucky, outside the Bluegrass Region and larger population centers. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,867. Its county seat is Hodgenville, which is best known as the birthplace of United States President Abraham Lincoln. The county was established on March 4, 1843, from the southeast portion of Hardin County. It was named for John P. LaRue, an early settler. LaRue County is included in the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Louisville/Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Bardstown, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area. It is a dry county.

The low rolling hills of LaRue County have been largely cleared and devoted to agriculture or urban development, with only the drainages of the eastern portions still wooded. The highest point (1,100 feet (340 meters) ASL) is a small hill near its border with Taylor County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 264 square miles (680 km), of which 262 square miles (680 km) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km) (0.8%) is water.

• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	5,859		—
1860	6,891		17.6%
1870	8,235		19.5%
1880	9,793		18.9%
1890	9,433		−3.7%
1900	10,764		14.1%
1910	10,701		−0.6%
1920	10,004		−6.5%
1930	9,093		−9.1%
1940	9,622		5.8%
1950	9,956		3.5%
1960	10,346		3.9%
1970	10,672		3.2%
1980	11,922		11.7%
1990	11,679		−2.0%
2000	13,373		14.5%
2010	14,193		6.1%
2020	14,867		4.7%
2023 (est.)	15,303		2.9%
US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,373 people, 5,275 households, and 3,866 families in the county. The population density was 51 inhabitants per square mile (20/km). There were 5,860 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km). The racial makeup of the county was 94.65% White, 3.54% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,275 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.94.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,056, and the median income for a family was $37,786. Males had a median income of $30,907 versus $20,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,865. 15.40% of the population and 12.60% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 18.90% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.

• Hodgenville (county seat)
• Upton (mostly in Hardin County)

• Buffalo
• Magnolia

The county sponsors the annual Lincoln Days celebration on the first full weekend of October, Friday through Sunday. Highlights include the Lincoln Look-A-Like contests, rail-splitting competitions, a parade, shopping booths and concerts by local talent (mostly country, bluegrass and Southern gospel).

LaRue County has leaned heavily Republican in presidential elections since the turn of the century. Three-quarters of the county's overall vote went to Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

United States presidential election results for LaRue County, Kentucky

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,685	77.87%	1,504	20.60%	112	1.53%
2016	4,799	75.37%	1,278	20.07%	290	4.55%
2012	3,911	67.85%	1,733	30.07%	120	2.08%
2008	4,153	67.22%	1,913	30.96%	112	1.81%
2004	4,111	68.88%	1,823	30.55%	34	0.57%
2000	3,384	65.34%	1,727	33.35%	68	1.31%
1996	2,140	45.94%	2,040	43.80%	478	10.26%
1992	2,154	43.69%	2,190	44.42%	586	11.89%
1988	2,590	58.56%	1,822	41.19%	11	0.25%
1984	2,873	65.30%	1,514	34.41%	13	0.30%
1980	2,000	47.07%	2,183	51.38%	66	1.55%
1976	1,409	38.55%	2,207	60.38%	39	1.07%
1972	2,449	61.53%	1,483	37.26%	48	1.21%
1968	1,862	47.78%	1,251	32.10%	784	20.12%
1964	1,195	30.20%	2,742	69.29%	20	0.51%
1960	2,668	60.90%	1,713	39.10%	0	0.00%
1956	2,387	56.05%	1,859	43.65%	13	0.31%
1952	2,161	55.96%	1,701	44.04%	0	0.00%
1948	1,277	39.04%	1,864	56.99%	130	3.97%
1944	1,550	42.57%	2,065	56.72%	26	0.71%
1940	1,309	34.62%	2,463	65.14%	9	0.24%
1936	1,151	33.20%	2,305	66.48%	11	0.32%
1932	1,235	31.67%	2,650	67.97%	14	0.36%
1928	1,892	52.19%	1,727	47.64%	6	0.17%
1924	1,372	40.42%	1,993	58.72%	29	0.85%
1920	1,838	43.65%	2,361	56.07%	12	0.28%
1916	936	40.71%	1,350	58.72%	13	0.57%
1912	390	17.37%	1,265	56.35%	590	26.28%

• Dry county
• Louisville/Jefferson County–Elizabethtown–Bardstown, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in LaRue County, Kentucky

• Howell, Carl; Waters, Don (March 2006). Hardin and LaRue Counties: 1880-1930. Arcadia. ISBN 978-0-7385-4282-9.
• Nichols, Rhonda Hornback (2007). LaRue County. Arcadia. ISBN 978-0-7385-4408-3. 2007 ebook edition. ISBN 978-1-4396-1765-6.

37°34′36″N 85°41′12″W / 37.57667°N 85.68667°W / 37.57667; -85.68667