[3][4] The county was named for Thomas Nelson Jr., the Virginia Governor who signed the Declaration of Independence.

[5] In 1807, after Kentucky had become a state, a newly created Virginia county was named in his honor.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.48% White (90.93% non-Hispanic), 5.03% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races.

Of all households, 24.41% were made up of individuals, and 8.09% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $39,010, and for a family was $44,600.

The county voted "No" on 2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 51% to 49% despite backing Donald Trump with 68% of the vote to Joe Biden's 31% in the 2020 presidential election.