Letcher County, Kentucky
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 20,139
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 19,952
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 20,139
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 21,549
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 21,550
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -7.4%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) -6.5%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 21,548
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 24,519
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 5.0%
Persons under 18 years, percent 21.5%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 21.8%
Female persons, percent 50.6%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 97.6%
Black alone, percent(a) 0.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.2%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.0%
Two or More Races, percent 1.0%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 0.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 96.9%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 1,012
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 0.7%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 10,716
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 74.1%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $67,400
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,079
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $371
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $669
Building Permits, 2025 1
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 8,463
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.42
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 88.9%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 1.0%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 87.8%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 86.6%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 82.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 12.5%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 21.5%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 7.4%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 43.1%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 42.5%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) D
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 141,272
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) D
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 190,899
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $9,166
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 28.3
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $41,793
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $22,681
Persons in poverty, percent 25.3%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 277
Total employment, 2023 3,171
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 147,826
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 5.0%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 1,003
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 213
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 85
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 20
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 63.8
Population per square mile, 2010 72.6
Land area in square miles, 2020 337.93
Land area in square miles, 2010 337.91
FIPS Code 21133