In 1784, 30-odd Dutch Huguenot families colonizing present-day Mercer County purchased from Squire Boone. They erected a fort for their protection about east of present-day north Pleasureville. Their land was held and cultivated in common, but managed by Abraham Banta. It was variously known as "The Dutch Tract", the "Low Dutch Settlement" or "Station", and "Bantatown", but the post office was established as "Pleasureville", and the city was incorporated under that name in 1842. Rennick relates the local story that it derived from a visitor expressing what a pleasure it was to stay among such pleasant people, but others say the area of the post office housed a bordello. In 1858, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad arrived, but its course ran about a mile south of the former community. The post office relocated to the new settlement around the depot in 1874, which received the name "Pleasureville", and the former city became known as "North Pleasureville". It received a separate post office under that name in 1879. The town and city merged in 1962, although the two halves are still sometimes called "North Town" and "South Town" by locals.
As of the census of 2000, there were 869 people, 340 households, and 236 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,642.9 people per square mile. There were 367 housing units at an average density of 693.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 92.98% White, 1.73% African American, 0.12% Native American, 4.26% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.48% of the population. There were 340 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couplesliving together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.98. In the city, the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $33,839, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $21,912 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,279. About 5.9% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
