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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Breathitt County

Kentucky · 15,703 residents · 492 sq mi
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The short version

Breathitt County is a county of 15,703 people in Kentucky. The poverty rate is 39.5%, above the 13.2% national rate. That trails the Kentucky median by roughly 45%. Median home value sits at $30,000. Median household income is $12,383, under the $30,130 national median. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 31.8
US median: 33.0
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

15,703
−2%vs 2000
vs 16,100 in 2000
1990 – 2025
31.8
−12%vs 2000
vs 35.9 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
492 sq mi
Population, 19902024
13K14K15K15K16K19902000201020202024Breathitt County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.7%(1,050)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.6%(1,043)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 1410.1%(1,580)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 199.4%(1,472)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 247%(1,103)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.5%(2,441)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.1%(2,365)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.3%(1,614)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.4%(1,322)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 745.9%(932)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.7%(580)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.3%(201)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$12,383
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $19,155 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$6,905
−37%vs 2000
vs $11,044 in 2000
US average: $14,340
39.5%
+6.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 33.2% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$30,000
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,000 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$205
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $297 in 2000
US average: $450
71.8%
−4.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 76.5% in 2000
28.2% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(15,797)
Black0.4%(62)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(106)
Asian0.3%(47)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic99.7%(15,653)
Black0.1%(22)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(15)
Asian0.2%(28)
Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.7%(94)
Guatemalan0.1%(18)
Panamanian0.1%(17)
Spaniard0.1%(8)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(40)
Ancestry
American30.8%(4,090)
English22.5%(2,984)
Irish8.2%(1,083)
German3.8%(498)
Scotch-Irish2.2%(287)
Italian1%(134)
Scottish1%(129)
French0.6%(77)
Welsh0.4%(53)
British0.4%(50)
Dutch0.3%(36)
Greek0.2%(29)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.1%(16)
Polish0.1%(11)
Slovak0%(5)
Swiss0%(4)
Section 05

Education

8.6%
−1.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 10.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
47.8%
−9.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 57.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
3.9%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.5% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

23.1 min
−2%vs 2000
vs 23.6 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married31.6%(1,691)
Married51.7%(2,768)
Widowed5.2%(277)
Divorced11.6%(622)
Women 15+
Never married23.4%(1,322)
Married47%(2,662)
Widowed16.4%(930)
Divorced13.2%(745)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

3.2%
−16.4 ptssince 2013
from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
35.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 36.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
6.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 7.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
25.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 25.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
54.5%
+6.4 ptssince 2020
from 48.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
40.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 42.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
70.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2020
from 64.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)25.9%(105)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)14.5%(59)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era41.6%(169)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.9%(20)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 406 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

Breathitt County, Kentucky has about 15,703 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

The typical household in Breathitt County, Kentucky earns about $12,383 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Breathitt County, Kentucky expensive?

In Breathitt County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $30,000, and the typical rent is about $205 a month.

How educated are people in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

About 8.6% of adults age 25 and over in Breathitt County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

About 39.5% of people in Breathitt County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →