Kentucky Cities Continue Population Growth

Kentucky cities continue to grow at a faster pace than unincorporated areas, according to new population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Since 2010, Kentucky cities have grown more than three times as fast as areas outside of cities.

For cities with a population of at least 10,000, Georgetown has grown the most (20.1%) since 2010. Bowling Green, Berea, Shelbyville, Richmond, and Independence have all grown by 15% or more over the past nine years.

Lexington has added the most residents (27,282) since 2010, with the balance of Louisville Metro adding 21,928. (Louisville consolidated with Jefferson County in 2003, but the suburban cities remain incorporated. To avoid double counting, Louisville’s city population includes the old city of Louisville and the previously unincorporated area of the county.) Bowling Green added over 11,000 residents since 2010, and the city now tops 70,000 in total population.

Cities in the Golden Triangle – the area around and between Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky – continue to grow in larger amounts than most cities in the rest of the state. Cities with the largest percentage declines are predominantly located in eastern Kentucky.

The population estimates released today are not connected to the 2020 Census effort. Kentucky currently has a response rate of 63.5%, compared to the national rate of 59.7%. Kentucky has the 13th highest rate of all states. Seven of the top 10 cities with the highest self-response rates in the nation are in Kentucky. Go here to view your community’s response rate.