CensusEasy
COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Rowan County

Kentucky · 20,353 residents · 280 sq mi
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The short version

Rowan County is home to 20,353 people in Kentucky. The median age is 26.1, younger than the US median of 33.0. 28.9% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Median home value sits at $44,300. That trails the Kentucky median by roughly 29%. Median household income is $15,922, under the $30,130 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 26.1
US median: 33.0
Average education
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 11%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

20,353
−8%vs 2000
vs 22,094 in 2000
1990 – 2025
26.1
−12%vs 2000
vs 29.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
280 sq mi
Population, 19902024
20K21K23K24K25K19902000201020202024Rowan County
202425K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.7%(1,155)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 95.7%(1,165)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.5%(1,129)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 1914.6%(2,964)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2417%(3,464)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3413.7%(2,779)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4411.3%(2,304)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.2%(1,878)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.3%(1,477)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 745.6%(1,145)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.1%(641)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.2%(252)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$15,922
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $28,055 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$7,639
−45%vs 2000
vs $13,888 in 2000
US average: $14,340
28.9%
+7.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 21.3% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$44,300
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $65,700 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$250
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $421 in 2000
US average: $450
66.7%
−3.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 69.8% in 2000
33.3% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(21,063)
Black1.5%(342)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(235)
Asian0.9%(197)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(19,882)
Black1.7%(339)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(46)
Asian0.4%(80)
Other0.3%(52)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.1%(281)
Puerto Rican0.5%(126)
Guatemalan0.1%(26)
Cuban0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(76)
Filipino0.3%(69)
Nepalese0.1%(20)
Asian Indian0.1%(19)
Ancestry
American20.6%(5,072)
English16.1%(3,964)
German12.2%(3,009)
Irish11.7%(2,878)
Scottish2.2%(530)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(445)
French1.7%(407)
Dutch1%(243)
Italian0.9%(227)
Welsh0.7%(171)
Polish0.5%(112)
West Indian0.3%(76)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.3%(69)
Greek0.2%(57)
Haitian0.2%(56)
Swedish0.2%(48)
British0.2%(46)
Danish0.2%(43)
Iranian0.1%(31)
Austrian0.1%(24)
Norwegian0.1%(23)
Swiss0.1%(20)
Russian0%(9)
Czech0%(7)
Finnish0%(7)
Section 05

Education

17.3%
−4.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 21.9% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
57.9%
−13.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 70.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
9.3%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.4% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

18.2 min
+6%vs 2000
vs 17.2 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 married43.9%(4,353)
Married43.4%(4,306)
Widowed2.7%(267)
Divorced9.9%(986)
Women 15+
Never married39.4%(4,205)
Married38.3%(4,087)
Widowed8.3%(887)
Divorced14.1%(1,502)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

6.1%
−11.2 ptssince 2013
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
53.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 52.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
19.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 18.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
27.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2020
from 31.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 2.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
65.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 62.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
43.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2020
from 46.0% 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)36.6%(393)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.3%(272)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.6%(339)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.5%(16)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,074 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 Rowan County, Kentucky?

Rowan County, Kentucky has about 20,353 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Rowan County, Kentucky earns about $15,922 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rowan County, Kentucky expensive?

In Rowan County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $44,300, and the typical rent is about $250 a month.

How educated are people in Rowan County, Kentucky?

About 17.3% of adults age 25 and over in Rowan County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rowan County, Kentucky?

About 28.9% of people in Rowan 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 →