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State Facts for Students

Kentucky Flag Kentucky

Population
  2000 2009
Population 4,041,769 4,314,113
State Rank 25 26
Median Age 35.9
Total 8 year-olds 56,891 56,618
Boys 29,205 29,159
Girls 27,686 27,459
Total 9 year-olds 57,589 55,293
Boys 29,555 28,303
Girls 28,034 26,990
Total 10 year-olds 57,616 55,008
Boys 29,834 28,122
Girls 27,782 26,886
Total 11 year-olds 55,762 54,423
Boys 28,637 27,664
Girls 27,125 26,759
Total 12 year-olds 55,017 54,117
Boys 28,207 27,723
Girls 26,810 26,394
 
How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone 80% 82%
Car Pool 13% 11%
Public Transportation 1% 1%

Geography
Capital Frankfort
Largest City Louisville
Second Largest City Lexington
Persons per square mile 102

Business
  2000 2008
Dentist Offices 1,536 1,582
Amusement Parks 13 8
FastFood Restaurants 2,986 3,365
Toy Stores 112 87
Video/Disc Rental Stores 314 266
Zoos & Botanical Gardens 4 10
Candy & Nut Stores 38 21
Pet & Pet Supply Stores 91 67
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers 2 1

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

  • Date of Statehood: June 1, 1792
  • Population 1800: 220,955
  • Population 1850: 982,405
  • Population 1900: 2,147,174
  • Population 1950: 2,944,806

I never knew that! *

  • Nickname: Bluegrass State
  • Flower: Goldenrod
  • Tree: Tulip Poplar
  • Bird: Cardinal
  • Horse: Thoroughbred
  • Fruit: Blackberry
  • Fossil: Brachiopod
  • Gem: Freshwater Pearl

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.

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