Louisville is a township located in Jefferson County Kentucky. Louisville has a 2024 population of 620,004. Louisville is currently declining at a rate of -0.48% annually and its population has decreased by -1.88% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 631,912 in 2020.
The average household income in Louisville is $88,552 with a poverty rate of 15.65%. The median age in Louisville is 37.9 years: 36.6 years for males, and 39.3 years for females.
Since 2003, the borders of Louisville are the same as Jefferson County, making Louisville a consolidated city-county.
There are around 136,000 Roman Catholics in the city, most of whom are of German descent from large-scale immigration in the 19th century. 30% of Louisvillians are Southern Baptist, many of whom are descendants of people who moved to the city from Tennessee and rural Kentucky to work in the factories. German immigrants also brought Evangelical and Lutheran faiths to the city, which are still present today.
There are about 8,500 Jewish people in Louisville, as many Jewish families moved to the area from Eastern Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as 4,000 to 10,000 practicing Muslims. In 2005, Louisville was ranked as the 7th safest large city in the country.
About 30% of the population growth in all of Kentucky is in Louisville's CSA counties. The consolidation of Louisville and Jefferson County also caused Louisville to grow 189% from 2000 to 2010. The region has been increasing slowly thanks to steady job growth, a low cost of living and affordable home prices. Louisville's growth can also be attributed to Kentucky residents moving from rural areas to the city, as the state as a whole grew just 6% from 2000 to 2010.
The Louisville area was chosen as a settlement because it is located at the Falls of the Ohio State Park, which created a barrier to river travel. The first European settlement was Corn Island in 1779. Two years later, the town charter for Louisville was approved, and the city was named in honor of King Louis XVI of France, whose soldiers were then helping Americans in the Revolutionary War. Early residents eventually moved out by the 1780s due to Indian raids.
The city's growth in the 1800s was influenced by the fact that river boats had to unload and move downriver before reaching the falls. By 1828, the population reached 7,000, and the city was incorporated. It became a shipping port, and it was known as a point of escape for slaves moving north. It was also a stronghold for Union troops during the Civil War.
During World War II, Louisville became a center for factory war production, which later transitioned into manufacturing tractors and agricultural equipment. Like many other older cities in the country, the population began to shift in the 1960s as more people fled to the suburbs.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Louisville was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 411,703 | 65.44% |
Black or African American | 150,640 | 23.94% |
Two or more races | 38,532 | 6.12% |
Asian | 16,842 | 2.68% |
Other race | 10,579 | 1.68% |
Native American | 540 | 0.09% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 340 | 0.05% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 261,105 | 2.36 | 60.4 | 39.6 |
Non Family | 108,860 | 1.24 | 47.3 | 52.7 |
Married | 99,531 | 3.11 | 82.6 | 17.4 |
Female | 39,350 | 3.28 | 42.6 | 57.4 |
Male | 13,364 | 3.17 | 54.6 | 45.4 |
3.06
Average Family Size
2.36
Average Household Size
60.4%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 28,944 | 6.7% |
Associates Degree | 36,488 | 8.45% |
Bachelors Degree | 84,583 | 19.59% |
Graduate Degree | 57,318 | 13.28% |
High School Graduate | 119,075 | 27.58% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 13,051 | 3.02% |
Some College | 92,272 | 21.37% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 293,831 | 271,774 | 109,006 |
Black | 92,814 | 81,620 | 17,944 |
Hispanic | 23,820 | 18,300 | 6,139 |
2+ Races | 19,914 | 16,473 | 5,393 |
Asian | 10,862 | 8,718 | 5,697 |
Other Race | 4,877 | 3,621 | 1,177 |
Native American | 339 | 264 | 75 |
Islander | 174 | 137 | 22 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 92.49%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 52.45%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $57,554 | $67,513 | $50,174 |
Graduate Degree | $73,727 | $83,947 | $66,919 |
High School Graduate | $34,953 | $39,997 | $28,555 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $26,520 | $30,322 | $21,381 |
Overall | $44,496 | $50,417 | $39,231 |
Some College | $40,948 | $47,852 | $35,660 |
$44,496
Average Earnings
$50,417
Average Male
$39,231
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
88.88% of Louisville residents speak only English, while 11.12% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.4% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 386,373 | 42,108 | 10.9% |
Black | 148,141 | 40,114 | 27.08% |
Hispanic | 42,481 | 8,764 | 20.63% |
Multiple | 37,810 | 7,273 | 19.24% |
Asian | 16,698 | 2,008 | 12.03% |
Other | 10,268 | 1,696 | 16.52% |
Islander | 340 | 155 | 45.59% |
Native | 495 | 153 | 30.91% |
15.65%
Overall Poverty Rate
14.18%
Male Poverty Rate
17.05%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Louisville is Islander, with 45.59% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Louisville is White, with 10.9% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.89%. Among those working part-time, it was 18.52%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 25.39%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 30.49% |
High School | 16.52% |
Some College | 11.05% |
Bachelors or Greater | 4.33% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 40.2% |
Male Unemployed | 31.22% |
Female Employed | 8.58% |
Male Employed | 5.5% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $81,196 | $108,609 |
Households | $63,114 | $88,552 |
Married Families | $105,672 | $134,663 |
Non Families | $41,504 | $57,122 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
41.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
43.7%
Male Marriage Rate
39.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
32,433
Number of Veterans
29,322
Male Veterans
3,111
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 10,785 |
First Gulf War | 8,224 |
Second Gulf War | 6,231 |
Korea | 1,617 |
World War II | 793 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
65 to 74 | 8,383 |
35 to 54 | 7,690 |
55 to 64 | 7,385 |
75+ | 6,995 |
18 to 34 | 1,980 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 22,960 | 6.79% |
Black | 7,824 | 7.24% |
2+ Races | 1,343 | 5.57% |
Hispanic | 751 | 2.67% |
Asian | 207 | 1.68% |
Other Race | 64 | 1.03% |
Native American | 26 | 6.02% |
Islander | 9 | 4.81% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.02%
Veteran Poverty Rate
30.62%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
65.8%
Labor Force Participation
62.1%
Employment Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
66.85%
Born in Louisville
91.24%
Native Born
8.76%
Foreign Born
4.81%
Non Citizen
3.96%
Naturalized
91.24% of Louisville residents were born in the United States, with 66.85% having been born in Kentucky. 4.81% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 605,119 | -2,977 | -0.49% |
2028 | 608,096 | -2,977 | -0.49% |
2027 | 611,073 | -2,977 | -0.48% |
2026 | 614,050 | -2,977 | -0.48% |
2025 | 617,027 | -2,977 | -0.48% |
2024 | 620,004 | -2,977 | -0.48% |
2023 | 622,981 | -649 | -0.1% |
2022 | 623,630 | -3,401 | -0.54% |
2021 | 627,031 | -4,881 | -0.77% |
2020 | 631,912 | 13,422 | 2.17% |
2019 | 618,490 | -507 | -0.08% |
2018 | 618,997 | -1,186 | -0.19% |
2017 | 620,183 | 2,345 | 0.38% |
2016 | 617,838 | 2,159 | 0.35% |
2015 | 615,679 | 2,789 | 0.46% |
2014 | 612,890 | 2,218 | 0.36% |
2013 | 610,672 | 6,283 | 1.04% |
2012 | 604,389 | 4,387 | 0.73% |
2011 | 600,002 | 3,484 | 0.58% |
2010 | 596,518 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 256,231 | -12,832 | -4.77% |
1990 | 269,063 | -29,631 | -9.92% |
1980 | 298,694 | -63,012 | -17.42% |
1970 | 361,706 | -28,933 | -7.41% |
1960 | 390,639 | 21,510 | 5.83% |
1950 | 369,129 | 50,052 | 15.69% |
1940 | 319,077 | 11,332 | 3.68% |
1930 | 307,745 | 72,854 | 31.02% |
1920 | 234,891 | 10,963 | 4.9% |
1910 | 223,928 | 19,197 | 9.38% |
1900 | 204,731 | 43,602 | 27.06% |
1890 | 161,129 | 37,371 | 30.2% |
1880 | 123,758 | 23,005 | 22.83% |
1870 | 100,753 | 32,720 | 48.09% |
1860 | 68,033 | 24,839 | 57.51% |
1850 | 43,194 | 21,984 | 103.65% |
1840 | 21,210 | 10,869 | 105.11% |
1830 | 10,341 | 6,329 | 157.75% |
1820 | 4,012 | 2,612 | 186.57% |
1810 | 1,400 | 1,000 | 250% |
1800 | 400 | 200 | 100% |
1790 | 200 | -604,919 | -99.97% |