Kentucky Demographics

As of July 1, 2006, Kentucky has an estimated population of 4,206,074, which is an increase of 33,466, or 0.8%, from the prior year and an increase of 164,586, or 4.1%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 77,156 people (that is 287,222 births minus 210,066 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 59,604 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 27,435 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 32,169 people. As of 2004, Kentucky's population included about 95,000 foreign-born (2.3%).

Since 1900, rural Kentucky counties have experienced a net loss of over 1 million people, while urban areas have experienced a slight net gain in population.[53]

The center of population of Kentucky is located in Washington County, in the city of Willisburg.[54]

The five largest ancestries in the commonwealth are: American (20.9%) (Mostly of British ancestry), German (12.7%), Irish (10.5%) (Most actually of Scots-Irish descent), English (9.7%), African American (7.8%).

African Americans, who made up one-fourth of Kentucky's population prior to the Civil War, declined in number as many moved to the industrial North in the Great Migration. Today they are mostly concentrated in the Central and Western areas of the state (notable communities being Christian County and the city of Paducah), the Bluegrass, and the cities of Louisville and Lexington.

In 2000, The Association of Religion Data Archives reported[55] that of Kentucky's 4,041,769 residents:

• 33.68% were members of evangelical Protestant churches
  • Southern Baptist Convention (979,994 members, 24.25%)
  • Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (106,638 members, 2.64%)
  • Church of Christ (58,602 members, 1.45%)
• 10.05% were Roman Catholics
• 8.77% belonged to mainline Protestant churches
  • United Methodist Church (208,720 members, 5.16%)
  • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (67,611 members, 1.67%)
• 0.05% were members of orthodox churches
• 0.88% were affiliated with other theologies
• 46.57% were not affiliated with any church.

Today Kentucky is home to several seminaries. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville is the principal seminary for the Southern Baptist Convention. Louisville is also the home of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Lexington also has a seminary, Lexington Theological Seminary, and Asbury Theological Seminary is located in nearby Wilmore. In addition to seminaries, there are several colleges affiliated with denominations. Transylvania in Lexington is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ. In Louisville, Bellarmine and Spalding are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Louisville is also home to the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and their printing press. Louisville is also home to a sizable Jewish population.

Religious movements were important in the early history of Kentucky. Perhaps the most famous event was the interdenominational revival in August 1801 at the Cane Ridge Meeting house in Bourbon County. As part of what is now known as the "Western Revival", thousands began meeting around a Presbyterian communion service on August 6, 1801, and ended six days later on August 12, 1801 when both humans and horses ran out of food.[56] Some claim that the Cane Ridge revival was propagated from an earlier camp meeting at Red River Meeting House in Logan County.[57]

Kentucky Population Density Map.

Lexington Theological Seminary (then College of the Bible), 1904.