The new Allen County Almshouse, a WPA project built in 1937. Photo ca. 1937 from the Goodman-Paxton Photographic Collection at University of Kentucky.

Special Note: We will be updating as much information that we can find on each individual infirmary and poorhouse. Check back frequently for updates.

In 1910 there were more than 84 thousand paupers that were enumerated in poorhouses in the United States; this was a marked increase of 3 percent compared to 1904. In Kentucky, the number of enumerated people in poorhouses in 1910 were 1,522; 871 being male and 651 being female. Of that population, 1,044 were native born, 167 were foreign born, 27 have unknown nativity, and 284 were “colored.” Irish and Swiss immigrants had a much high ratio of pauperism in 1910 than any other nationality. According to the occupations of individuals admitted into poorhouses, unskilled laborers made up the highest number. Skilled trades also held a relatively considerable number as well. Women frequently were domestic servants prior to admission. A relatively large number of about two filths reported being unable to do any work of any kind. A statistically significant number of paupers during the year 1910 were consider physically or mentally defective though the number of insane and feeble-minded almshouses was on the decline in 1910. Three fourths of discharges were done so as self-supporting. Approximately 17,000 paupers died in poorhouses during 1910 a rate of 207.7 paupers per 1,000. The most common cause of death at that time was tuberculosis of the lungs.

In earlier days, poorhouses were sometimes used as temporary shelters for vagrants as well as a place of detention for petty criminals. This was often due to poorhouses being the only public agency available to offer relief, even to those who were insane, feeble-minded, or epilpetic. Some communities combined poorhouses with free hospitals or infirmaries that catered to the poor.

List of Kentucky Infirmaries and Poorhouses

Adair County Poorhouse – Columbia, Kentucky
Allen County Poorhouse – Scottsville, Kentucky
Anderson County Poorhouse – Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Ballard County Poor Farm – Wickliffe, Kentucky
Barren County Almshouse – Glasgow, Kentucky
Bath County Poorhouse – Owingsville, Kentucky
Boone County Infirmary – Burlington, Kentucky
Bourbon County Almshouse – Paris, Kentucky
Boyd County Infirmary – Ashland, Kentucky
Boyle County Almshouse – Perryville, Kentucky
Bracken County Infirmary – Augusta, Kentucky
Breckinridge County Poor Farm – Hardinsburg, Kentucky
Bullitt county Farm for the Poor – Bardstown Junction, Kentucky
Butler County Poorhouse – Morgantown, Kentucky
Caldwell County Poorhouse – Princeton, Kentucky
Calloway County Poorhouse – Murray, Kentucky
Campbell County Infirmary – Cold Spring, Kentucky
Carlisle County Almshouse – Bardwell, Kentucky
Carroll County Poorhouse – Carrollton, Kentucky
Carter County Infirmary – Grayson, Kentucky
Casey County Poorhouse – Liberty, Kentucky
Christian County Poorhouse, Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Clark County Farm – Winchester, Kentucky
Clay County Poorhouse – Big Creek, Kentucky
Clinton County Poorhouse – Albany, Kentucky
Crittenden County Almshouse – Marion, Kentucky
Cumberland County Poorhouse and Farm – Burkesville, Kentucky
Daviess County Almshouse – Marion, Kentucky
Edmonson County Poorhouse – Brownsville, Kentucky
Estill County Poorhouse – Irvine, Kentucky
Fayette County Infirmary – East Hickman, Kentucky
Fleming County Poorhouse – Plummers Landing, Kentucky
Floyd County Poorhouse – Prestonburg, Kentucky
Franklin County Almshouse – Frankfort, Kentucky
Fulton County Poor Farm – Hickman, Kentucky
Gallatin County Farm – Sparta, Kentucky
Grant County Infirmary – Williamstown, Kentucky
Graves County Almshouse – Mayfield, Kentucky
Grayson County Almshouse – Litchfield, Kentucky
Green County Almshouse – Rollingburg, Kentucky
Greenup County Almshouse – Wurtland, Kentucky
Hancock County Poorhouse Farm – Hawesville, Kentucky
Hardin County Farm – Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Harrison County Infirmary – Cynthiana, Kentucky
Hart County Poor Farm – Munfordville, Kentucky
Henderson County Sanitarium – Corydon, Kentucky
Henry County Almshouse – Drennon Springs, Kentucky
Hickman County Poorhouse – Clinton, Kentucky
Hopkins County Poorhouse – Madisonville, Kentucky
Jefferson County Poorhouse – Jeffersontown, Kentucky
Jessamine County Infirmary – Nicholasville, Kentucky
Kenton County Infirmary – Covington, Kentucky
Knox County Poorhouse – Barbourville, Kentucky
Larue County Poorhouse – Hodgenville, Kentucky
Lawrence County Infirmary – Louisa, Kentucky
Lee County Almshouse – Filmore, Kentucky
Lewis County Infirmary – Vanceburg, Kentucky
Lincoln County Almshouse – Crab Orchard, Kentucky
Livingston County Poorhouse – Smithland, Kentucky
Logan County Farm – Russellville, Kentucky
Louisville Home for Aged and Infirm – Shively, Kentucky
Lyon County Almshouse – Eddyville, Kentucky
McCracken County Poorhouse – Paducah, Kentucky
McLean County Poorhouse – Faith, Kentucky
Madison County Infirmary – Union City, Kentucky
Magoffin County Poorhouse – Salyersville, Kentucky
Marion County Poorhouse – Raywick, Kentucky
Marshall County Poorhouse – Benton, Kentucky
Mason County Infirmary – Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville City Infirmary – Maysville, Kentucky
Meade County Poorhouse – Ekron, Kentucky
Menifee County Poorhouse – Frenchburg
Mercer County Almshouse – Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Metcalfe County Poorhouse – Goodluck, Kentucky
Morgan County Poorhouse – Index, Kentucky
Nelson County Poorhouse – New Haven, Kentucky
Nicholas County Almshouse – Carlisle, Kentucky
Ohio County Almshouse – Hartford, Kentucky
Oldham County Poor Farm – La Grange, Kentucky
Owen County Infirmary – Hallam, Kentucky
Pendleton County Infirmary – Falmouth, Kentucky
Pike County Poorhouse – Pikeville, Kentucky
Powell County Almshouse – Clay City, Kentucky
Pulaski County Infirmary – Somerset, Kentucky
Robertson County Infirmary – Mount Olive, Kentucky
Russell County Poorhouse – Jamestown, Kentucky
Scott County Infirmary – Delaplain, Kentucky
Shelby County Poorhouse – Shelbyville, Kentucky
Simpson County Poorhouse – Franklin, Kentucky
Spencer County Poorhouse – Taylorsville, Kentucky
Taylor County Poorhouse – Saloma, Kentucky
Todd County Poorhouse – Elkton, Kentucky
Trigg County Pauper House – Cadiz, Kentucky
Trimble County Poorhouse – Bedford, Kentucky
Union County Almshouse – Morganfield, Kentucky
Warren County Almshouse – Woodburn, Kentucky
Washington County Poorhouse – McIntyre, Kentucky
Wayne County Poorhouse – Betsey, Kentucky
Webster County Poorhouse – Dixon, Kentucky
Woodford County Poorhouse – Versailles, Kentucky

Kentucky Poor Laws

Contributed by Phil Tkacz & Shawn Logan | contact@kyhi.org

⁘ Works Cited ⁘

Hill, Joseph Adna, Meriam, Lewis, and Goldenweiser, Emanuel Alexandrovich. Paupers in Almshouses. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1910
Bliss, Edwin Munsell and Hill, Joseph Adna. Summary of State Laws Relating to the Dependent Classes. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1913.

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