Graves County, Kentucky

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Graves County is in the southwest corner of Kentucky. The county seat is Mayfield. It was founded in 1824 and named for Major Benjamin Franklin Graves, a War of 1812 soldier who died after being captured in battle.

Geography and population
- Area: about 557 square miles (mostly land; a little water).
- Population: about 36,649 people in 2020; an estimate around 36,800 in 2024.
- Density: roughly 66 people per square mile.
- Part of the Mayfield Micropolitan Area and the larger Paducah-Mayfield combined metro area.

Government and alcohol
- Graves County is a “limited” dry county, meaning alcohol sales are restricted except for wine and beer in restaurants.
- In 2016, a vote to become fully wet failed, but later that year Mayfield voters approved alcohol sales in stores and gas stations within the city.

History and notable points
- Early settlers relied on tobacco farming and built a local cloth and wool industry.
- The area was involved in tobacco farming disputes in the Black Patch era; the county also saw white-minority violence in the late 1800s.
- In 2011, several Old Order Amish in the county drew national attention for their refusal to use orange safety triangles on buggies, choosing reflective tape instead. They served short jail sentences for fines.

2021 tornado
- On December 10, 2021, a powerful tornado moved through Graves County, causing major damage, especially in Mayfield.

Demographics (2020)
- Racial makeup: about 85% White, 4% Black or African American, and 7.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
- Households: about 14,700; around 32% had children under 18; most households were owner-occupied (about 72%).
- Age: median age around 40.6 years.

Notable facts
- Graves County includes the Mayfield area and is part of the broader region’s economic and cultural life, with several historic sites and a legacy in tobacco farming and manufacturing.