Population Boom Expected To Lift Boone Co. To Ky's. 3rd Largest County By 2035

By Travis Thayer (Boone County, Ky.) – A new report shows that Boone County will be one of the most populous counties in the Bluegrass State within the next 20 years. The Kentucky State Data Center at the University of Louisville released the new population projections on Tuesday. The report suggests that the population of Kentucky will grow by 10.4 percent between 2015 and 2040. During that time span the population is expected to rise from over 4.2 million people to nearly 4.9 million. Despite the expected overall population growth, only 41 of Kentucky's 120 counties are projected to exhibit increases in total population, including Boone, Gallatin and Kenton counties. According to the report, Boone County will pass Kenton County to become the state’s third largest county in 2035 with a projected population of 177,141. That number is expected to climb to 191,093 by 2040. Kenton County’s population was estimated at just over 165,000 in 2015. By 2035, the county is expected to have a population near 178,392, making it the fourth largest county in the state at that time. Gallatin County is also expected to see population growth over the next 20 to 25 years, climbing from 8,636 people in 2015 to an estimated 9,111 in 2040. The report anticipates that Carroll County will be one of 79 counties in the state to see their population decline in the future. In 2015, Carroll County was estimated to have 10,699 people. By 2040, the report projects that Carroll County will see a slight population decrease to 10,539. Jefferson County is expected to remain the most populous county in the state between 2015 and 2040. The county is home to the City of Louisville, which is the largest city in the Commonwealth and the 30th most populous city in the United States. The full report can be seen at http://www.ksdc.louisville.edu/.