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%