Kentucky statistical areas

The United States Commonwealth of Kentucky currently has 32 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated 8 combined statistical areas, 9 metropolitan statistical areas, and 15 micropolitan statistical areas in Kentucky.^[1] As of 2023, the largest of these is the Louisville-Jefferson County--Elizabethtown, KY-IN CSA, comprising greater Louisville, Kentucky's largest city.

Background

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated more than 1,000 statistical areas for the United States and Puerto Rico.^[2] These statistical areas are important geographic delineations of population clusters used by the OMB, the United States Census Bureau, planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government entities.

The OMB defines a core-based statistical area (commonly referred to as a CBSA) as the county or counties (or county-equivalents) surrounding at least one densely-settled core of at least 10,000 population,^[2] "plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core".^[2] The OMB further divides core-based statistical areas based on population into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for those with at least 50,000 and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs) for those with 10,000 to 49,999 people.^[2]

The OMB defines a combined statistical area (CSA) as two or more adjacent core-based statistical areas where the employment interchange rate (% commuting from A to B plus % commuting from B to A) is at least 15%.^[2] The primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area.

Table

The 32 United States statistical areas and 120 counties of the Commonwealth of Kentucky^[a]
Combined statistical area^[1]	2023 population (est.)^[3]	Core-based statistical area^[1]	2023 population (est.)^[3]	County	2023 population (est.)^[3]
Louisville/Jefferson County–-Elizabethtown, KY-IN CSA	1,493,133 1,218,646 (KY)	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN MSA	1,365,557 1,091,070 (KY)	Jefferson County, Kentucky	772,144
				Clark County, Indiana	125,467
				Bullitt County, Kentucky	84,863
				Floyd County, Indiana	80,809
				Oldham County, Kentucky	70,183
				Shelby County, Kentucky	49,515
				Nelson County, Kentucky	47,730
				Harrison County, Indiana	40,006
				Meade County, Kentucky	30,131
				Washington County, Indiana	28,205
				Spencer County, Kentucky	20,531
				Henry County, Kentucky	15,973
		Elizabethtown, KY MSA	127,576	Hardin County, Kentucky	112,273
		Elizabethtown, KY MSA	127,576	LaRue County, Kentucky	15,303
Lexington-Fayette--Richmond--Frankfort, KY CSA	770,951	Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA	520,045	Fayette County, Kentucky	320,154
				Scott County, Kentucky	60,168
				Jessamine County, Kentucky	55,017
				Clark County, Kentucky	37,304
				Woodford County, Kentucky	27,268
				Bourbon County, Kentucky	20,134
		Richmond-Berea, KY μSA	126,861	Madison County, Kentucky	96,735
				Rockcastle County, Kentucky	16,190
				Estill County, Kentucky	13,936
		Frankfort, KY μSA	76,257	Franklin County, Kentucky	51,644
		Frankfort, KY μSA	76,257	Anderson County, Kentucky	24,613
		Mount Sterling, KY μSA	47,788	Montgomery County, Kentucky	28,527
				Bath County, Kentucky	12,975
				Menifee County, Kentucky	6,286
Cincinnati-Wilmington, OH-KY-IN CSA	2,313,417 463,166 (KY)	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA	2,271,479 463,166 (KY)	Hamilton County, Ohio	827,058
				Butler County, Ohio	393,043
				Warren County, Ohio	252,148
				Clermont County, Ohio	211,972
				Kenton County, Kentucky	171,321
				Boone County, Kentucky	140,496
				Campbell County, Kentucky	93,702
				Dearborn County, Indiana	51,215
				Brown County, Ohio	43,777
				Grant County, Kentucky	25,619
				Franklin County, Indiana	23,096
				Pendleton County, Kentucky	14,810
				Gallatin County, Kentucky	8,792
				Bracken County, Kentucky	8,426
				Ohio County, Indiana	6,004
		Wilmington, OH μSA	41,938	Clinton County, Ohio	41,938
Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY CSA	264,525	Bowling Green, KY MSA	188,840	Warren County, Kentucky	142,229
				Allen County, Kentucky	21,788
				Edmonson County, Kentucky	12,448
				Butler County, Kentucky	12,375
		Glasgow, KY μSA	55,490	Barren County, Kentucky	45,008
		Glasgow, KY μSA	55,490	Metcalfe County, Kentucky	10,482
		Franklin, KY μSA	20,195	Simpson County, Kentucky	20,195
Middlesborough-Corbin, KY CSA	172,880	Corbin, KY μSA	149,563	Laurel County, Kentucky	63,296
				Whitley County, Kentucky	36,825
				Knox County, Kentucky	29,794
				Clay County, Kentucky	19,648
		Middlesborough, KY μSA	23,317	Bell County, Kentucky	23,317
Charleston-Huntington-Ashland, WV-OH-KY CSA	643,394 125,413 (KY)	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA	368,261 125,413 (KY)	Cabell County, West Virginia	92,082
				Putnam County, West Virginia	56,962
				Lawrence County, Ohio	56,118
				Boyd County, Kentucky	47,826
				Wayne County, West Virginia	37,686
				Greenup County, Kentucky	35,221
				Carter County, Kentucky	26,366
				Lawrence County, Kentucky	16,000
		Charleston, WV MSA	203,164	Kanawha County, West Virginia	174,805
				Boone County, West Virginia	20,576
				Clay County, West Virginia	7,783
		Portsmouth, OH μSA	71,969	Scioto County, Ohio	71,969
Paducah-Mayfield, KY-IL CSA	138,728 125,067 (KY)	Paducah, KY-IL MSA	102,226 88,606 (KY)	McCracken County, Kentucky	67,428
				Massac County, Illinois	13,661
				Livingston County, Kentucky	8,892
				Ballard County, Kentucky	7,582
				Carlisle County, Kentucky	4,704
		Mayfield, KY μSA	36,461	Graves County, Kentucky	36,461
none		Owensboro, KY MSA	112,512	Daviess County, Kentucky	103,458
		Owensboro, KY MSA	112,512	McLean County, Kentucky	9,054
		Pikeville, KY μSA	90,396	Pike County, Kentucky	55,973
		Pikeville, KY μSA	90,396	Floyd County, Kentucky	34,423
		Clarksville, TN-KY MSA	340,495 86,401 (KY)	Montgomery County, Tennessee	239,872
				Christian County, Kentucky	72,032
				Trigg County, Kentucky	14,369
				Stewart County, Tennessee	14,222
		Somerset, KY μSA	66,191	Pulaski County, Kentucky	66,191
Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY CSA	327,562 56,845 (KY)	Evansville, IN MSA	270,717	Vanderburgh County, Indiana	179,810
				Warrick County, Indiana	65,867
				Posey County, Indiana	25,040
		Henderson, KY μSA	56,845	Henderson County, Kentucky	44,119
		Henderson, KY μSA	56,845	Webster County, Kentucky	12,726
none		Danville, KY μSA	55,764	Boyle County, Kentucky	30,988
		Danville, KY μSA	55,764	Lincoln County, Kentucky	24,776
		Madisonville, KY μSA	44,929	Hopkins County, Kentucky	44,929
		Murray, KY μSA	38,280	Calloway County, Kentucky	38,280
		Campbellsville, KY μSA	37,911	Taylor County, Kentucky	26,443
		Campbellsville, KY μSA	37,911	Green County, Kentucky	11,468
		none		Marshall County, Kentucky	31,744
				Muhlenberg County, Kentucky	30,568
				Logan County, Kentucky	28,283
				Perry County, Kentucky	27,133
				Grayson County, Kentucky	26,427
				Harlan County, Kentucky	26,825
				Rowan County, Kentucky	24,409
				Ohio County, Kentucky	23,626
				Mercer County, Kentucky	23,097
				Johnson County, Kentucky	22,116
				Breckinridge County, Kentucky	21,124
				Letcher County, Kentucky	20,423
				Marion County, Kentucky	19,834
				Hart County, Kentucky	19,724
				Wayne County, Kentucky	19,580
				Harrison County, Kentucky	19,415
				Adair County, Kentucky	19,264
				Russell County, Kentucky	18,279
				Garrard County, Kentucky	17,829
				McCreary County, Kentucky	17,050
				Mason County, Kentucky	16,841
				Casey County, Kentucky	15,918
				Fleming County, Kentucky	15,442
				Morgan County, Kentucky	14,283
				Knott County, Kentucky	13,659
				Union County, Kentucky	13,106
				Jackson County, Kentucky	13,104
				Lewis County, Kentucky	12,973
				Powell County, Kentucky	12,972
				Breathitt County, Kentucky	12,953
				Caldwell County, Kentucky	12,551
				Todd County, Kentucky	12,494
				Washington County, Kentucky	12,267
				Owen County, Kentucky	11,313
				Monroe County, Kentucky	11,306
				Magoffin County, Kentucky	11,228
				Carroll County, Kentucky	10,987
				Martin County, Kentucky	10,928
				Leslie County, Kentucky	9,864
				Lyon County, Kentucky	9,187
				Clinton County, Kentucky	9,148
				Crittenden County, Kentucky	8,974
				Hancock County, Kentucky	8,920
				Trimble County, Kentucky	8,607
				Nicholas County, Kentucky	7,686
				Lee County, Kentucky	7,293
				Elliott County, Kentucky	7,245
				Fulton County, Kentucky	6,338
				Wolfe County, Kentucky	6,282
				Cumberland County, Kentucky	6,000
				Hickman County, Kentucky	4,447
				Owsley County, Kentucky	4,001
				Robertson County, Kentucky	2,313
Commonwealth of Kentucky					4,526,154

Primary statistical areas

Primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area. Of the 32 statistical areas of Kentucky, 16 are PSAs comprising eight combined statistical areas, two metropolitan statistical areas and six micropolitan statistical areas.

The 16 primary statistical areas of the Commonwealth of Kentucky^[b]
2020 rank	Primary statistical area^[1]	Population
2020 rank	Primary statistical area^[1]	2023 estimate^[3]	Change	2020 Census^[4]	Change	2010 Census^[5]
1	Louisville/Jefferson County--Elizabethtown, KY-IN CSA (KY)	1,218,646	+0.03%	1,218,336	+6.68%	1,142,057
2	Lexington-Fayette--Richmond--Frankfort, KY CSA	770,951	+1.16%	762,082	+10.77%	687,962
3	Cincinnati-Wilmington, OH-KY-IN CSA (KY)	463,166	+1.84%	454,783	+6.89%	425,483
4	Bowling Green-Glasgow-Franklin, KY CSA	264,525	+4.14%	254,004	+11.31%	228,198
5	Middlesborough-Corbin, KY CSA	172,880	−0.62%	173,960	−1.60%	176,790
6	Charleston-Huntington-Ashland, WV-OH-KY CSA (KY)	125,413	−1.36%	127,143	−2.22%	130,032
7	Paducah-Mayfield, KY-IL CSA (KY)	125,067	−0.71%	125,966	+0.32%	125,558
8	Owensboro, KY MSA	112,512	+0.04%	112,464	+5.91%	106,187
9	Pikeville, KY μSA	90,396	−4.46%	94,611	−9.44%	104,475
10	Clarksville, TN-KY MSA (KY)	86,401	−0.58%	86,909	−1.57%	88,294
11	Somerset, KY μSA	66,191	+1.78%	65,034	+3.08%	63,093
12	Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY CSA (KY)	56,845	−1.67%	57,810	−3.44%	59,871
13	Danville, KY μSA	55,764	+1.59%	54,889	+3.23%	53,174
14	Madisonville, KY μSA	44,929	−1.09%	45,423	−3.19%	46,920
15	Campbellsville, KY μSA	37,911	+2.10%	37,130	+3.80%	35,770
16	Murray, KY μSA	38,280	+3.17%	37,103	−0.24%	37,191
	Louisville/Jefferson County--Elizabethtown, KY-IN CSA	1,493,133	+0.36%	1,487,749	+6.69%	1,394,493
	Cincinnati-Wilmington, OH-KY-IN CSA	2,313,417	+0.94%	2,291,815	+5.51%	2,172,191
	Charleston-Huntington-Ashland, WV-OH-KY CSA	643,394	−2.63%	660,768	−4.70%	693,345
	Paducah-Mayfield, KY-IL CSA	138,728	−1.00%	140,135	−0.60%	140,987
	Clarksville, TN-KY CSA	340,495	+6.23%	320,535	+17.01%	273,949
	Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY CSA	327,562	+0.15%	327,066	+0.58%	325,173

Notes

^ An out-of-state area and its population are displayed in green. An area that extends into more than one state is displayed in purple. A purple population number over a black population number show the total population versus the in-state population. The state's abbreviation is also shown next to the in-state total.
^ For PSAs comprising populations from multiple states, they are listed twice to show both their intrastate population within that PSA as well as the PSA's total population. Only the intrastate population is ranked.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas (July 21, 2023). "0MB BULLETIN NO. 23-01" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. Retrieved October 23, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "2020 Standards for Delineating Core Based Statistical Areas". Office of Management and Budget. July 16, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
^ "PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". U.S. Census Bureau. 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019". U.S. Census Bureau. 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

External links

37°32′05″N 85°18′08″W / 37.5347°N 85.3021°W / 37.5347; -85.3021 (Commonwealth of Kentucky)

[3] An out-of-state area and its population are displayed in green. An area that extends into more than one state is displayed in purple. A purple population number over a black population number show the total population versus the in-state population. The state's abbreviation is also shown next to the in-state total.

[5] For PSAs comprising populations from multiple states, they are listed twice to show both their intrastate population within that PSA as well as the PSA's total population. Only the intrastate population is ranked.

[OMB_20230721-1] Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas (July 21, 2023). "0MB BULLETIN NO. 23-01" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. Retrieved October 23, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[CBSA-2] "2020 Standards for Delineating Core Based Statistical Areas". Office of Management and Budget. July 16, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.

[PopCBSA-4] "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

[USC2020-6] "PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". U.S. Census Bureau. 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

[USC2010-7] "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019". U.S. Census Bureau. 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

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