COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Nelson County: higher-rate fatality band
Nelson County (KY) is in the higher per-capita third: 29.3/100k (#414 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 87
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 14
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 29.3
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Stable
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Nelson County ranks #414 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (29.3/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Nelson County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Nelson County sits in the higher-rate third at 29.3 per 100k (#414 of 2,328), #24 of 98 in KY.
- #414 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #834 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #24 of 98
- in KY by rate
- Stable
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost NELSON-179 · Nelson 29.3/100k · #414 of 2,328
Nelson County · 29.3/100k · stable
- VOL 29.3/100k
- AVG #414 of 2,328
- YOY 87 book
- RATE Stable
- RANK 77 crash
- BOOK +36.8% vs KY
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Kentucky state profile →
How does Nelson County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Nelson County is 37% deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Kentucky, Nelson County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 21.4 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Nelson County's rate and the state average is 7.9 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Pike County, at 37.5 per 100,000 (a difference of 8.2). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Breathitt County (54.0), Breckinridge County (52.1), Todd County (48.0), Caldwell County (47.8), Webster County (47.1), Floyd County (46.5), Carroll County (45.5), Butler County (40.4), Simpson County (39.6), Logan County (38.9), Powell County (38.5), Jackson County (38.2), Ohio County (38.1), Pike County (37.5).
Nelson County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
29 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 18% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Nelson County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Nelson County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Kentucky statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for KY
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with NLetter index including KY counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Nelson County, Kentucky?
Nelson County recorded 87 total traffic fatalities across 77 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 14 fatalities. The county averages approximately 9.7 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Nelson County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (77 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Nelson County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Kentucky may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Nelson County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Nelson County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Nelson County?
Nelson County has a fatality rate of 29.3 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Nelson County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Nelson County ranks #414 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #24 of 98 rated counties in KY, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Nelson County compare to the rest of Kentucky?
Nelson County's per-capita rate of 29.3 per 100,000 residents is above the Kentucky county average of 21.4. Visit the Kentucky state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Nelson County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.