Adair County, Kentucky

Adair County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N 85°17′W / 37.11°N 85.28°W / 37.11; -85.28
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1801
Named afterJohn Adair
SeatColumbia
Largest cityColumbia
Area
  Total
412 sq mi (1,070 km2)
  Land405 sq mi (1,050 km2)
  Water7.1 sq mi (18 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
18,903
  Estimate 
(2024)
19,239
  Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.columbia-adaircounty.com

Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,903. Its county seat and only municipality is Columbia. The county was founded in 1801 and named for John Adair, then Speaker of the House in Kentucky and later Governor of Kentucky (1820 – 1824). Adair County has some of the few surviving American Chestnut trees in the United States.