Chris Watson // Wikicommons

Fastest-growing counties in Kentucky

From 2018 to 2019, the U.S. population grew by .48%, its slowest rate in 100 years. Declining births, increasing deaths largely due to the graying Baby Boomer population, and a crackdown on immigration have contributed to many states seeing net population losses in recent years.

But in other pockets of the country, populations are growing. These shifts can be due to job opportunities, high quality of life, easy commutability to job centers, low rents, or any combination of these or other factors. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Kentucky using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2019, based on 5-year estimates.

A county typically sees population growth as a “bedroom community” (a municipality with an atypically large commuting population) to a large city. These communities are typically quieter than their feeder cities, offer lower rents and a higher quality of living, and are remote enough to be immune to the feeder city’s crime, traffic, and crowds. Keep reading to see if your home county made the list.

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Bath County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +790
— #1,040 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +6.8%
— #15 among counties in Kentucky, #623 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 12,355
— #88 largest county in Kentucky, #2,266 largest county nationwide

Bfreas // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Simpson County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +969
— #986 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.6%
— #21 among counties in Kentucky, #735 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 18,183
— #64 largest county in Kentucky, #1,912 largest county nationwide

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Allen County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,256
— #918 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +6.4%
— #16 among counties in Kentucky, #659 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 20,944
— #54 largest county in Kentucky, #1,776 largest county nationwide

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Taylor County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,324
— #901 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.5%
— #22 among counties in Kentucky, #745 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 25,571
— #45 largest county in Kentucky, #1,580 largest county nationwide

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Anderson County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,329
— #899 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +6.3%
— #17 among counties in Kentucky, #664 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 22,409
— #51 largest county in Kentucky, #1,707 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Rowan County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,432
— #880 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +6.2%
— #18 among counties in Kentucky, #676 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 24,507
— #47 largest county in Kentucky, #1,623 largest county nationwide

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Franklin County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,462
— #869 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +3.0%
— #34 among counties in Kentucky, #1,054 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 50,529
— #19 largest county in Kentucky, #980 largest county nationwide

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Boyle County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,727
— #814 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +6.1%
— #19 among counties in Kentucky, #686 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 29,972
— #35 largest county in Kentucky, #1,434 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Woodford County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,795
— #803 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +7.3%
— #14 among counties in Kentucky, #580 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 26,318
— #43 largest county in Kentucky, #1,553 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Montgomery County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +1,976
— #779 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +7.6%
— #11 among counties in Kentucky, #561 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 27,884
— #37 largest county in Kentucky, #1,499 largest county nationwide

Murray State // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Calloway County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,074
— #759 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.6%
— #20 among counties in Kentucky, #733 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 38,837
— #26 largest county in Kentucky, #1,207 largest county nationwide

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Spencer County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,098
— #754 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +12.7%
— #6 among counties in Kentucky, #265 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 18,680
— #63 largest county in Kentucky, #1,886 largest county nationwide

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Barren County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,199
— #748 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.3%
— #24 among counties in Kentucky, #770 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 43,884
— #25 largest county in Kentucky, #1,094 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Laurel County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,202
— #747 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +3.8%
— #28 among counties in Kentucky, #943 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 60,357
— #15 largest county in Kentucky, #868 largest county nationwide

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Pulaski County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +2,288
— #736 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +3.7%
— #30 among counties in Kentucky, #956 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 64,350
— #14 largest county in Kentucky, #821 largest county nationwide

Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Nelson County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +3,127
— #651 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +7.4%
— #13 among counties in Kentucky, #578 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 45,650
— #23 largest county in Kentucky, #1,059 largest county nationwide

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Campbell County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +3,845
— #600 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +4.3%
— #27 among counties in Kentucky, #874 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 92,861
— #8 largest county in Kentucky, #632 largest county nationwide

Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Daviess County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +5,076
— #539 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.3%
— #23 among counties in Kentucky, #766 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 100,474
— #7 largest county in Kentucky, #596 largest county nationwide

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Jessamine County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +5,959
— #503 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +12.7%
— #5 among counties in Kentucky, #264 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 53,032
— #18 largest county in Kentucky, #949 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Shelby County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +6,426
— #483 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +15.7%
— #3 among counties in Kentucky, #181 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 47,325
— #21 largest county in Kentucky, #1,027 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Oldham County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +7,183
— #464 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +12.2%
— #7 among counties in Kentucky, #284 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 65,967
— #12 largest county in Kentucky, #810 largest county nationwide

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Kenton County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +7,634
— #452 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +4.8%
— #26 among counties in Kentucky, #817 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 165,668
— #3 largest county in Kentucky, #393 largest county nationwide

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Hardin County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +7,651
— #450 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +7.6%
— #12 among counties in Kentucky, #565 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 108,527
— #6 largest county in Kentucky, #556 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Bullitt County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +7,656
— #449 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +10.6%
— #10 among counties in Kentucky, #369 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 80,171
— #10 largest county in Kentucky, #702 largest county nationwide

FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Madison County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +9,222
— #414 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +11.3%
— #8 among counties in Kentucky, #328 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 90,802
— #9 largest county in Kentucky, #646 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Scott County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +9,799
— #399 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +21.8%
— #1 among counties in Kentucky, #79 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 54,667
— #17 largest county in Kentucky, #929 largest county nationwide

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Boone County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +16,097
— #301 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +14.0%
— #4 among counties in Kentucky, #221 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 130,820
— #4 largest county in Kentucky, #488 largest county nationwide

OPMaster // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Warren County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +18,877
— #277 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +17.2%
— #2 among counties in Kentucky, #145 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 128,652
— #5 largest county in Kentucky, #493 largest county nationwide

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Fayette County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +32,556
— #164 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +11.3%
— #9 among counties in Kentucky, #329 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 320,601
— #2 largest county in Kentucky, #215 largest county nationwide

Chris Watson // Wikicommons

#1. Jefferson County

– 2010 to 2019 population change: +37,967
— #137 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2019 percent population change: +5.2%
— #25 among counties in Kentucky, #781 among all counties nationwide
– 2019 population: 767,419
— #1 largest county in Kentucky, #83 largest county nationwide