2010 Census numbers out for counties (Louisville, Owensboro: buying, school, subdivision)

[censusdata]

It is a huge surprise that Jefferson County was by far the fastest growing county in sheer numbers - that hasn't happened since the 1960s! Several counties in the Eastern Coalfield, by contrast, had huge population losses, although on a positive note for E KY London and Somerset are still growing pretty fast.

Counties that had a net gain of 5,000 or more

1. Jefferson +47,492 (that is a SHOCKER!!!)
2. Fayette +35,291
3. Boone +32,820
4. Warren +21,270
5. Oldham +14,138
6. Scott +14,112
7. Bullitt +13,083
8. Madison +12,044
9. Hardin +11,369
10. Jessamine +9,545
11. Shelby +8,737
12. Kenton +8,256
13. Pulaski +6,846
14. Laurel +6,134
15.Nelson +5,960
16. Spencer +5,295
17. Daviess +5,111



Counties that had a net loss of 1,000 or more
Harlan -3,929
Pike -3,712
Floyd -2,990
Clay -2,826
Breathitt -2,222
Bell -1,369
Knott -1,303
Leslie -1,091

Kentucky population database: A look at the counties | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

[MissingIndiana]

Make Jefferson County 47,494 as of tomorrow!

[kygman]

I was an enumerator for the Census this time. It was funny how many people were mad at Obama for starting "this census bullsh*t". I told them I don't think you can blame him because he wasn't around for the first census in 1790.

[kentuckydad95]

Let me chime in about the Jackson Purchase:

Calloway +3,014
Marshall +1,323
Graves +93
McCracken +51 (Yes, you are reading that right)


Ballard -37
Carlisle -247
Hickman -360
Fulton -939

There is a reason why McCracken County is pretty much failing. Corrupt local officials and high taxes. The bottom four counties, there is absolutely nothing there and I don't see them ever gaining population anytime soon.

[censusdata]

Trigg County - just outside the purchase - also did really well (+12%) although Christian Co's population jump from the estimates proved to be false (in 09 it was estimated they added 9,000 since y2k, ended up only adding 1,500)

As some one eat loves this type of stuff, here are the stats that surprised me most:

1. Jefferson Co's incredible population jump. JC lost population from 1970 to 1990 and only added 28,000 in the booming 1990s. To add 48,000 in a decade with poor job growth is incredible, perhaps Louisville is turning the corner.

2. Whitley County losses population. It's right in the growing Somerset/ London area and it had nice population gains in the 1990s and in the 00s estimates.

3. Fayette Co doesn't break 300,000. 2010 number was 295k, actually a decline from the 09 estimate of 06!

4. McCracken Co (Paducah) and Campbell Co (Newport, Alexandria) both gain despite estimates showing population loss.

5. Spencer Co continues rapid growth despite soaring gas prices. It is a RURAL county that has NO jobs of its own and is 15+ miles from the edge of Louisville.

[johnsonkk]

I don't think sheer numbers mean as much or have as much impact to the counties as their gain percentages. In 2005, Spencer county was in the top-10 NATIONWIDE for largest population percentage increase in it's numbers. I somehow have to think of Jefferson county getting some bump due to the merger, but can't prove it. It'll be interesting to see the medium income for each county when those get released. It's not a matter if Oldham will still be #1 but who is now number #2 in Kentucky.

[The Dissenter]

9. Hardin +11,369

BRAC is in full effect here. I live in a brand new subdivision near Ft. Knox and they are still building. While the armor school left Knox, HRC brought in higher-earning people with more buying power. It's a guess on how many will stay after long who came from DC but adding govt jobs to Hardin County will help it to grow.

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

9. Hardin +11,369

BRAC is in full effect here. I live in a brand new subdivision near Ft. Knox and they are still building. While the armor school left Knox, HRC brought in higher-earning people with more buying power. It's a guess on how many will stay after long who came from DC but adding govt jobs to Hardin County will help it to grow.

I imagine some of Jefferson County's surprising gains may have been related to BRAC, maybe people who are used to city life and decided to commute to Ft Knox.

Also, merger has nothing to do with gains at the COUNTY level because county lines haven't changed in Kentucky for over 100 years. Municipality boundaries change but not county lines. JC's growth is legit and a huge surprise to everyone. Cincinnati's county (Hamilton) lost over 40,000 people in the same time frame!!!

[InLondon]

I'm not sure how Whitley County had a decrease in population after having a decent increase for years and years.

[Rural Kentuckian]

Over 21,000 for Warren County huh? As a full time student at the ever growing WKU, I can see that. Bowling Green is definitely getting bigger. It may give E-town and Owensboro a run for their money.