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Demographics
The South Central Kentucky region boasts a population of nearly 300,000 people and a labor force of more than 135,000, and it has experienced a healthy growth rate of 9.1 percent from 2000 to 2009, a rate equal to the national growth rate and higher than the surrounding states of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, along with Kentucky.
Bowling Green, the metropolitan hub of the region, is the fourth largest city in Kentucky and is growing faster than any other city within the Commonwealth.
The following tables provide detailed information about the population, including future projections, for South Central Kentucky.
Total Population
| |
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
Labor Market Area
|
1,869,845 |
1,891,451 |
1,919,177 |
1,949,429 |
2,118,747 |
| South Central Kentucky Region |
264,960 |
269,215 |
271,915 |
275,803 |
279,026 |
| Bowling Green |
52,272 |
53,176 |
54,244 |
55,097 |
N/A |
Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Simi Valley, CA (Labor Market Area and County, 2005 and later);
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census (all other). |
Population by Selected Age Groups (2009)
| |
South Central Kentucky
Region
|
Labor Market Area
|
| |
Number
|
Percent
|
Number
|
Percent
|
Under 15
|
55,101 |
19.7 |
435,982 |
20.6 |
| 15-24 |
37,881 |
13.6 |
280,988 |
13.3 |
| 25-34 |
40,261 |
14.4 |
289,580 |
13.7 |
| 35-44 |
36,671 |
13.1 |
305,263 |
14.4 |
| 45-54 |
38,967 |
14.0 |
305,143 |
14.4 |
| 55-64 |
31,596 |
11.3 |
241,691 |
11.4 |
| 65-74 |
21,111 |
7.6 |
144,466 |
6.8 |
| 75 and older |
17,438 |
6.2 |
115,634 |
5.5 |
Median Age
|
36.7
|
|
36.7 |
|
| Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Simi Valley, CA |
Population by Race and Hispanic Origin (2009)
| |
South Central Kentucky
Region
|
Labor Market Area
|
| |
Number |
Percent
|
Number
|
Percent
|
| White |
256,300 |
91.9 |
1,690,761 |
79.8 |
| Black |
16,938 |
6.1 |
314,296 |
14.8 |
| Am. Indian & Alaska Native |
527 |
0.2
|
3,020
|
0.1
|
| Asian |
1,569 |
0.6
|
33,875
|
1.6
|
| Native Hawaiian & other Pacific Islander |
113 |
0.0 |
1,637 |
0.1 |
| Other/Multirace |
3,579 |
1.3 |
75,158 |
3.5 |
| Hispanic Origin |
6,819 |
2.4 |
102,706 |
4.8 |
Note: Hispanic is not a race category. A person can be white, black, etc. and be of hispanic origin.
Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Semi Valley, CA |
Population Projections
The population of the labor market area for South Central Kentucky is projected to be 2,463,021 in 2014. The region's population is projected to be 291,306 in 2015.
| |
2010
|
2015
|
2020
|
2025
|
South Central Kentucky Region
|
277,729
|
291,306
|
303,389
|
313,831
|
Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Simi Valley, CA (Labor Market Area);
Kentucky State Data Center, University of Louisville (Counties). |
|