CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Owsley County

Kentucky · 4,858 residents · 197 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

With 4,858 people, Owsley County is a county in Kentucky. The poverty rate is 45.4%, above the 12.4% national rate. That trails the Kentucky median by roughly 53%. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Median home value sits at $34,500. The median household earns $15,805, about 63% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

4,858
−4%since 1990
from 5,036 in 1990
1990 – 2025
38.2
+11%since 1990
from 34.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
197 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K4K5K5K5K19902000201020202024Owsley County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.5%(268)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.9%(335)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.3%(357)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.6%(367)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.1%(297)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.3%(599)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.7%(714)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.8%(668)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6410.7%(522)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 748.1%(395)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.9%(239)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2%(97)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$15,805
+40%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $8,595 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$10,742
+85%since 1990
from $5,791 in 1990
US average: $21,522
45.4%
−6.7 ptssince 1990
from 52.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$34,500
+9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$276
+50%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $140 in 1990
US average: $602
78.5%
+3.7 ptssince 1990
from 74.7% in 1990
21.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.9%(5,029)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(6)
Asian0.1%(7)
2000
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(4,785)
Black0.1%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(35)
Asian0%(2)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(7)
Ancestry
American36.8%(1,460)
English25.1%(995)
Irish7.1%(280)
German4.5%(180)
Polish0.7%(29)
Greek0.3%(11)
Czech0.3%(10)
Italian0.3%(10)
Scottish0.3%(10)
French0.1%(4)
Dutch0.1%(2)
Section 05

Education

7.7%
−2.1 ptssince 1990
from 9.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
49.2%
+13.8 ptssince 1990
from 35.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.7%
−0.4 ptssince 1990
from 5.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

21.3 min
−7%since 1990
from 22.9 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 married26.2%(507)
Married55.9%(1,080)
Widowed3.3%(63)
Divorced14.6%(283)
Women 15+
Never married14.1%(277)
Married60%(1,180)
Widowed13.8%(272)
Divorced12.1%(238)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

4.8%
−14.9 ptssince 2013
from 19.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
27.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 30.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
4.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 5.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
27.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 25.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
57.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 54.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
31.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2020
from 34.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
73.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 72.8% 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)3.1%(2)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.2%(11)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era59.4%(38)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 64 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Owsley County

Head to head

Compare Owsley County to nearby counties

Frequently asked

How many people live in Owsley County, Kentucky?

Owsley County, Kentucky has about 4,858 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Owsley County, Kentucky earns about $15,805 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Owsley County, Kentucky expensive?

In Owsley County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $34,500, and the typical rent is about $276 a month.

How educated are people in Owsley County, Kentucky?

About 7.7% of adults age 25 and over in Owsley County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Owsley County, Kentucky?

About 45.4% of people in Owsley County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Owsley County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Owsley County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 178 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →