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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Breathitt County

Kentucky · 16,100 residents · 492 sq mi
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The short version

Breathitt County is home to 16,100 people in Kentucky. The poverty rate is 33.2%, above the 12.4% national rate. Median home value sits at $32,000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Households here earn about 43% less than in Kentucky as a whole. Median household income is $19,155, under the $42,589 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.9
US median: 35.2
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 19%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

16,100
+3%since 1990
from 15,703 in 1990
1990 – 2025
35.9
+13%since 1990
from 31.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
492 sq mi
Population, 19902024
13K14K15K15K16K19902000201020202024Breathitt County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.8%(940)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.2%(1,155)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.3%(1,171)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198.2%(1,328)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 247%(1,122)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.1%(2,102)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.9%(2,558)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5414.3%(2,310)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.7%(1,557)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.7%(1,075)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.5%(567)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.3%(215)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$19,155
+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $12,383 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$11,044
+60%since 1990
from $6,905 in 1990
US average: $21,522
33.2%
−6.3 ptssince 1990
from 39.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$32,000
−19%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $30,000 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$297
+10%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $205 in 1990
US average: $602
76.5%
+4.8 ptssince 1990
from 71.8% in 1990
23.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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

10.0%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 8.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
57.5%
+9.7 ptssince 1990
from 47.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.5%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 3.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

23.6 min
+2%since 1990
from 23.1 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.2%(1,705)
Married61.3%(3,841)
Widowed2.4%(149)
Divorced9.1%(570)
Women 15+
Never married17.8%(1,172)
Married59.1%(3,889)
Widowed12.4%(814)
Divorced10.7%(707)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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 16,100 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Breathitt County, Kentucky earns about $19,155 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 $32,000, and the typical rent is about $297 a month.

How educated are people in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

About 10.0% 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 33.2% of people in Breathitt County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Breathitt County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Breathitt County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 397 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →