Carlisle, Kentucky
Carlisle is a city of 2,214 people in Nicholas County, Kentucky, founded in 1816.
Why visit Carlisle
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail and 2 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Forest Retreat and Thomas A. Dorsey Farmhouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Carlisle
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Carlisle
Carlisle is a home rule-class city in Nicholas County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 census, Carlisle had a population of 2,093. It is the county seat of Nicholas County. It is located at the junction of Kentucky Route 32 and Kentucky Route 36, about halfway between Lexington and Maysville.
From the Wikipedia article Carlisle, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks7
Forest Retreat
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Building in Kentucky, United States
Thomas A. Dorsey Farmhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
House in Carlisle, United States of America
William Mathers House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Carlisle, Kentucky, listed on the NRHP in Nicholas County, Kentucky
Stone Barn on Brushy Creek
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes2
EZ Riders Pizza
Fast food · Pizza · 0.5 mi
104 West Main Street, Carlisle
Churches and places of worship1
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.8 mi
617 East Main Street, Carlisle
History
Carlisle was founded in 1816 when John Kincart donated land to facilitate the relocation of the county seat from Ellisville, 5 miles (8.0 km) to the north. The Daniel Boone Cabin, ca. 1790s, is located in the town where Boone lived from 1795 to 1799.
From the History section of Carlisle, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Map of Carlisle
14 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 23°F | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 25°F | 3.5 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 32°F | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 41°F | 4.6 in |
| May | 76°F | 52°F | 5.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 61°F | 4.5 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 65°F | 4.8 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 63°F | 3.1 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.5 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 43°F | 3.5 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 33°F | 3.2 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 27°F | 4.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cynthiana (15 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Nicholas County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
- 2024-11-26: Remnants Of Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Blue Grass Airport (LEX) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 37 miles away.
- Paris 15 mi southwest, about 24 min by car
- Winchester 23 mi south, about 37 min by car
- Georgetown 27 mi west, about 44 min by car
- Aberdeen 28 mi northeast, about 46 min by car
- Lexington-Fayette 30 mi southwest, about 48 min by car
- Ripley 31 mi north, about 49 min by car
- Augusta 32 mi north, about 51 min by car
- Manchester 35 mi northeast, about 56 min by car
- Nicholasville 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Richmond 43 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Downtown carlisle, ky, W.marsh, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carlisle L&N passenger depot, Nyttend, Public domain
- Carlisle Armory front, Nyttend, Public domain
- FOREST RETREAT FARM AND TAVERN, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stone Barn on Brushy Creek with surrounding barnyard, Nyttend, Public domain
- Daniel Boone Cabin in Carlisle KY exterior rear, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dinsmore House from the east, Nyttend, Public domain
- William Mathers House with stonework, Nyttend, Public domain
- Thomas Kennedy House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Thomas A. Dorsey Farmhouse, Nyttend, Public domain
- Lewis Hine, George Barbee, 13 years old topping, Nicholas County, Kentucky, 1916, Lewis Hine, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.