COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

McCreary County

Kentucky · 15,603 residents · 427 sq mi

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McCreary County is a county of 15,603 people in Kentucky. 45.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 53% less than in Kentucky as a whole. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 5% of adults. The typical home is worth $26,700. The median household earns $10,598, about 65% below the national median.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Younger

median age 30.4

US median: 33.0

Less educated

5% 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

Total population

15,603

−9%vs 2000

vs 17,080 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

30.4

−11%vs 2000

vs 34.2 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

427 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202417K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 57.5%(1,170)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 97.5%(1,177)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 149.3%(1,445)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 199.8%(1,527)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 247.5%(1,166)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3414.6%(2,278)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4414%(2,184)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5410.6%(1,659)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 648.1%(1,257)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 746.3%(979)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 844.1%(636)

US avg: 4%

85 and over0.8%(125)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$10,598

−28%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $19,348 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$5,153

−48%vs 2000

vs $9,896 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

45.5%

+13.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 32.2% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$26,700

−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $36,600 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$217

−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $320 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

74.7%

−0.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 75.7% in 2000

25.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic97.6%(16,671)

Black0.6%(106)

Hispanic / Latino0.6%(106)

Asian0%(3)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic98.6%(15,384)

Black0.8%(131)

Hispanic / Latino0.1%(12)

Asian0%(0)

Other0.6%(88)

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%(113)

Puerto Rican0.3%(58)

Central American0%(2)

Guatemalan0%(2)

Asian origin

Filipino0.1%(9)

Pacific Islander origin

Native Hawaiian0.1%(22)

Ancestry

American11.6%(1,949)

English8.5%(1,436)

Irish4.9%(824)

German3.9%(654)

Scottish1.8%(311)

Italian0.5%(76)

Dutch0.4%(72)

Scotch-Irish0.4%(67)

Subsaharan African0.2%(32)

Polish0.2%(27)

French0.1%(24)

British0.1%(16)

+ 5 more ancestry groups with data

French Canadian0.1%(13)

Arab0%(8)

Moroccan0%(8)

Welsh0%(5)

Somali0%(2)

RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

4.6%

−2.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 6.7% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

40.2%

−12.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 52.6% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

2.8%

−0.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 3.7% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

23.7 min

+19%vs 2000

vs 19.8 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 married37.7%(2,901)

Married40.1%(3,083)

Widowed3.7%(284)

Divorced18.5%(1,420)

Women 15+

Never married22.4%(1,373)

Married46.4%(2,844)

Widowed11.7%(717)

Divorced19.5%(1,198)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

8.1%

−9.3 ptssince 2013

from 17.4% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

29.4%

−4.6 ptssince 2020

from 34.0% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

7.4%

−1.6 ptssince 2020

from 9.0% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

21.7%

−2.8 ptssince 2020

from 24.5% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

51.8%

+1.9 ptssince 2020

from 49.9% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

3.4%

−0.7 ptssince 2020

from 4.1% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

37.0%

−5.5 ptssince 2020

from 42.5% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

66.1%

−1.0 ptssince 2020

from 67.1% 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)20.4%(160)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)18.5%(145)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era38.7%(304)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War2.8%(22)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II2%(16)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 785 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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