Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Population Declines in 35 Kentucky Counties

Recent county estimates from the Census Bureau show that 35 of Kentucky's 120 counties lost population between 2000 and 2008. This is despite the state total having increased by 5.2% over this period. Population loss can have tremendous consequences on labor force and other social and economic factors, such as the ability to attract businesses or provide an adequate tax base to fund services.

In Kentucky, as in most other states, population growth is occurring in counties around larger metropolitan areas and declining in rural counties distant from the metro economic engines. Below is a table showing the 35 counties and their population loss totals and percent. Kentucky's westernmost county, Fulton, has by far suffered the greatest percentage loss since 2000 at -12.3%. The next three highest declines occurred in eastern Kentucky counties Martin (-8.3%), Harlan (-7.2%) and Lee (-6.8%).

As the table shows, many of Kentucky's rural counties face great challenges dealing with their declining populations.


County
Census 2000
July 2000
July 2008
Change
Fulton
7,752
7,697
6,855
-12.3%
Martin
12,578
12,560
11,602
-8.3%
Harlan
33,202
33,000
30,783
-7.2%
Lee
7,916
7,919
7,414
-6.8%
Hickman
5,262
5,248
4,936
-6.3%
Leslie
12,401
12,370
11,639
-6.3%
Letcher
25,277
25,217
23,890
-5.6%
Cumberland
7,147
7,163
6,817
-5.1%
Owsley
4,858
4,863
4,634
-4.9%
Pike
68,736
68,489
65,331
-4.8%
Union
15,637
15,601
15,024
-3.8%
Carlisle
5,351
5,342
5,162
-3.5%
Bell
30,060
30,043
29,055
-3.4%
Webster
14,120
14,112
13,669
-3.2%
McLean
9,938
9,977
9,681
-3.1%
Robertson
2,266
2,264
2,202
-2.8%
Estill
15,307
15,309
14,948
-2.4%
Clay
24,556
24,503
23,930
-2.4%
Livingston
9,804
9,814
9,591
-2.3%
Lewis
14,092
14,124
13,807
-2.3%
Boyd
49,752
49,663
48,560
-2.3%
Muhlenberg
31,839
31,796
31,187
-2.0%
Campbell
88,616
88,656
87,038
-1.9%
Crittenden
9,384
9,404
9,244
-1.7%
Monroe
11,756
11,738
11,547
-1.7%
Breathitt
16,100
16,061
15,813
-1.6%
Wolfe
7,065
7,095
6,989
-1.5%
Caldwell
13,060
13,039
12,866
-1.3%
Knott
17,649
17,613
17,385
-1.3%
Magoffin
13,332
13,317
13,151
-1.3%
Floyd
42,441
42,379
42,094
-0.7%
Clinton
9,634
9,631
9,568
-0.7%
McCracken
65,514
65,440
65,109
-0.5%
Hopkins
46,519
46,458
46,338
-0.3%
Perry
29,390
29,289
29,241
-0.2%

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