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What are the largest counties in Kentucky?

Jefferson County is the largest county in Kentucky, with 795,222 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Fayette County (329,751) and Kenton County (175,779) come next.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 120 Kentucky counties ranked

Kentucky counties ranked by population
RankCountyResidents 2025Change 2020–25
1Jefferson County795,222+1.6%
2Fayette County329,751+2.2%
3Kenton County175,779+3.8%
4Warren County149,375+10.6%
5Boone County145,316+6.5%
6Hardin County113,482+2.4%
7Daviess County104,898+1.5%
8Madison County101,696+9.3%
9Campbell County95,441+2.5%
10Bullitt County86,454+5.0%
11Oldham County70,986+4.8%
12Christian County70,115−3.6%
13McCracken County67,553−0.5%
14Pulaski County67,384+3.5%
15Laurel County63,746+1.6%
16Scott County62,262+8.2%
17Jessamine County57,147+7.7%
18Pike County54,721−6.4%
19Franklin County52,649+2.0%
20Shelby County51,243+6.2%
21Nelson County49,036+4.8%
22Boyd County47,751−1.0%
23Barren County45,641+2.5%
24Hopkins County45,127−0.5%
25Henderson County44,255−0.9%
26Calloway County39,421+4.9%
27Clark County37,888+2.3%
28Whitley County37,297+1.6%
29Graves County37,050+1.4%
30Greenup County35,213−1.9%
31Floyd County34,401−3.9%
32Marshall County31,659−0.1%
33Boyle County31,632+2.9%
34Meade County30,699+2.2%
35Muhlenberg County30,634−0.9%
36Knox County29,532−2.2%
37Montgomery County28,822+2.5%
38Logan County28,669+4.2%
39Woodford County27,883+3.7%
40Grayson County27,406+3.6%
41Taylor County26,763+2.9%
42Perry County26,555−6.4%
43Grant County26,181+4.7%
44Carter County26,149−1.7%
45Lincoln County25,353+4.6%
46Anderson County25,225+5.5%
47Harlan County24,725−7.6%
48Rowan County24,476−1.0%
49Ohio County23,934+0.8%
50Mercer County23,733+4.8%
51Bell County22,829−4.8%
52Allen County22,536+9.5%
53Johnson County22,051−2.6%
54Breckinridge County21,503+5.2%
55Spencer County20,998+7.7%
56Simpson County20,788+5.9%
57Bourbon County20,243−0.3%
58Hart County20,117+4.3%
59Marion County20,115+2.7%
60Letcher County19,952−7.0%
61Harrison County19,627+4.9%
62Wayne County19,597+0.3%
63Clay County19,465−4.2%
64Adair County19,423+2.8%
65Russell County18,608+3.4%
66Garrard County18,207+7.3%
67McCreary County17,124+1.7%
68Mason County16,936−1.2%
69Henry County16,447+4.8%
70Casey County16,205+1.8%
71Rockcastle County16,148+0.6%
72Fleming County15,787+4.6%
73Lawrence County15,765−3.3%
74Larue County15,184+2.0%
75Pendleton County14,800+1.1%
76Trigg County14,512+3.1%
77Morgan County14,415+5.0%
78Estill County13,962−1.4%
79Jackson County13,325+2.7%
80Knott County13,321−5.9%
81Bath County13,176+3.6%
82Todd County12,972+5.6%
83Webster County12,929−0.7%
84Lewis County12,901−1.4%
85Union County12,839−5.9%
86Powell County12,812−2.2%
87Edmonson County12,749+5.0%
88Caldwell County12,609−0.3%
89Breathitt County12,558−8.3%
90Butler County12,520+1.6%
91Washington County12,368+2.7%
92Green County11,644+4.6%
93Owen County11,601+2.6%
94Monroe County11,191−1.1%
95Carroll County11,141+2.9%
96Magoffin County11,110−4.3%
97Martin County10,697−4.9%
98Metcalfe County10,583+2.9%
99Leslie County9,627−8.1%
100Clinton County9,139−1.0%
101Lyon County9,123+5.2%
102McLean County9,064−0.8%
103Hancock County9,050−0.6%
104Livingston County8,863−0.1%
105Gallatin County8,840+1.9%
106Crittenden County8,807−2.2%
107Trimble County8,701+2.8%
108Bracken County8,511+1.3%
109Nicholas County7,949+5.4%
110Ballard County7,594−1.5%
111Lee County7,297−0.9%
112Elliott County7,265−0.9%
113Menifee County6,430+4.8%
114Wolfe County6,298−4.0%
115Fulton County6,218−4.5%
116Cumberland County5,992+2.3%
117Carlisle County4,747−1.2%
118Hickman County4,372−3.4%
119Owsley County3,932−2.5%
120Robertson County2,325+6.6%

How this is ranked

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built.

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Questions

What is the largest county in Kentucky?

Jefferson County is the largest county in Kentucky, with 795,222 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Fayette County (329,751) and Kenton County (175,779) come next.

How is this ranking calculated?

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

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