Rockcastle County, Kentucky

Rockcastle County
Rockcastle County courthouse in Mount Vernon
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°22′N 84°19′W / 37.36°N 84.32°W / 37.36; -84.32
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1810
Named afterRockcastle River
SeatMount Vernon
Largest cityMount Vernon
Area
  Total
318 sq mi (820 km2)
  Land317 sq mi (820 km2)
  Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
16,037
  Estimate 
(2024)
16,226
  Density50/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websiterockcastlecountyky.com

Rockcastle County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,037. Its county seat is Mt. Vernon.

The county was founded in 1810 and named for the Rockcastle River, which runs through it; the river, in turn, is named for its rock cliffs. Rockcastle County is part of the Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area.