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Statistically, the state is not growing. Less than 1%, and is not measurable growth. But why is the population not growing with millions of illegals entering the U.S.? Is there state to state migration that is offsetting these numbers?
The 2020 census to 2022 estimate is a little odd, but if you take it back to 2010, there's modest growth. The only reason Tennessee is growing faster than Kentucky is metro Nashville, which accounted for 2/3rds of that state's net population growth in the 2010s. Kentucky doesn't have a region like that. Metro Louisville and Metro Nashville were close in size in 1990, but about 1/4 of Metro Louisville is in Indiana, and Metro Nashville has more than doubled since 1990.
This really isn't the case with Tennessee.
The Nashville metro area is very fast-growing for sure, and fuels a lot of the overall growth. But Tennessee has quite a few other faster-growing areas, with stronger economies, and is luring in retirees and those looking for low income taxes.
Chattanooga, Clarksville, Knoxville, Cookeville, Johnson City and other cities are growing super well. However, the Memphis region is mostly stagnant, in Tennessee.
One of Kentucky's glaring issues is the huge part of the state with eastern Kentucky, which consists of so many declining tiny coal towns that have the majority of their populations at or below the poverty rate.
Tennessee doesn't have such a massive region dragging down a lot of its growth. Tennessee has just a handful of impoverished counties similar to Kentucky's eastern region.
Kentucky does have Louisville, which is a city with many original attractions that set it apart from many other cities its size, like Nashville. I think a lot of folks have been looking at Louisville for a while now, in order to see if it would "pop" with growth like a Charlotte, Nashville or Austin. But it has not yet happened.
The crimes that went national in 2020 did not help Louisville's image. Also, companies are just not locating to Louisville en masse, like they are to other fast-growing regions like Nashville. That's what Louisville needs--good paying jobs, and company growth.
That in turn will cause new graduates in Kentucky to stay there--instead of moving to Atlanta, Chicago, Indy, Nashville, etc.
I think TN used to be much more like KY, even its Appalachian part. Is anyone here old enough to remember "The Beverly Hill Billies" and "Petticoat Junction" ? They were about TN and poor backwards TN hillbillies. That was the stereotype for TN, really no better than the stereotype for KY.
When TN stopped having a state income tax, people looked at it more seriously as a place to move to and many did move there, even to eastern TN which led to more and better jobs, more businesses, better infrastructure and a faster growing population. Of course having Dolly Parton promote TN and eastern TN hasn't hurt either. Dollywood has about 3 million guests a year and employes about 4000 people.
As far as weather, the two states are quite similar most days overall, even in winter. For the most part, you can't tell if you are in northern TN or southern KY as far as climate or geography/topography. Even Louisville gets only about 5-7 inches of snow any given year. That's about the same as Nashville.
As far as crime in Louisville vs either Nashville or Memphis, it ranks as a slightly safer city than Nashville and a much safer city than Memphis according to a well known site that ranks cities by crime rates.
Last edited by marino760; 12-18-2023 at 09:48 AM..
I think TN used to be much more like KY, even its Appalachian part. Is anyone here old enough to remember "The Beverly Hill Billies" and "Petticoat Junction" ? They were about TN and poor backwards TN hillbillies. That was the stereotype for TN, really no better than the stereotype for KY.
When TN stopped having a state income tax, people looked at it more seriously as a place to move to and many did move there, even to eastern TN which led to more and better jobs, more businesses, better infrastructure and a faster growing population. Of course having Dolly Parton promote TN and eastern TN hasn't hurt either. Dollywood has about 3 million guests a year and employes about 4000 people.
As far as weather, the two states are quite similar most days overall, even in winter. For the most part, you can't tell if you are in northern TN or southern KY as far as climate or geography/topography. Even Louisville gets only about 5-7 inches of snow any given year. That's about the same as Nashville.
As far as crime in Louisville vs either Nashville or Memphis, it ranks as a slightly safer city than Nashville and a much safer city than Memphis according to a well known site that ranks cities by crime rates.
Northern Kentucky does not have as much in common with Tennessee in terms of climate, although with rapidly warming winters the differences are less over time. Louisville averages closer to 13-15 inches of snowfall, certainly not 5-7 inches per season. Elevation plays a key role as there are areas outside of Louisville that are around double in elevation that get substantially cooler temperatures in all seasons. Western Floyd County, IN being a prime example. Economically, Indiana is much more prosperous than Kentucky as well, but has many issues with forced economic development at the expense of managing natural resources well. Read about the LEAP project here in Boone County, IN: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/...y/71879959007/
Northern Kentucky does not have as much in common with Tennessee in terms of climate, although with rapidly warming winters the differences are less over time. Louisville averages closer to 13-15 inches of snowfall, certainly not 5-7 inches per season. Elevation plays a key role as there are areas outside of Louisville that are around double in elevation that get substantially cooler temperatures in all seasons. Western Floyd County, IN being a prime example. Economically, Indiana is much more prosperous than Kentucky as well, but has many issues with forced economic development at the expense of managing natural resources well. Read about the LEAP project here in Boone County, IN: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/...y/71879959007/
You're correct about the average snowfall in Louisville. I was reading the chart incorrectly, but still it's average. There have been two years with winter snow as low as about 4 inches in in the last 10 years and then there were two years with substantially more, so it averages to about 13 inches. The data is from a U.S. weather data site.
I never mentioned northern KY, just the snowfall in Louisville and the general climate mostly in southern KY which is very much like the climate of north TN. I probably shouldn't even be comparing the two states but it's hard not to when discussing why KY's population is growing slowly.
Last edited by marino760; 12-18-2023 at 05:58 PM..
I think TN used to be much more like KY, even its Appalachian part. Is anyone here old enough to remember "The Beverly Hill Billies" and "Petticoat Junction" ? They were about TN and poor backwards TN hillbillies. That was the stereotype for TN, really no better than the stereotype for KY.
Better check your TV show trivia. The Clampetts lived in the Ozarks. But Granny had ties to east Tennessee. lol
Everyone brings up good points but most people who like an area like it through their prospectives and forget that someone from out of town may not be as excited about the things you grew up loving about your state. If Kentucky is to attract out of town talent and investors, the locals have to embrace growth and change. Way too many older locals are set in their ways and cringe at the idea of change and the younger generation. Kentucky is beautiful and does have a lot to offer with events and celebrations that’s unique to Kentucky. One have to remember that these things although things Kentuckians love, may not appeal to outsiders enough for them to move to the state. Kentucky may just be a state people just like to visit and that’s it and that’s fine, the state can capitalize on its tourist attractions. To grow the States population and economic developments would mean Kentucky would have to abandon a lot of its conservative views on a lot of things. Plus Kentucky is in constant competition with neighboring states like Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois and Missouri and the competition is fierce! Indiana alone is investing billions in LEAP districts. These are farmland areas the state have bought up surrounding Indianapolis metro and creating an area for high tech companies to move into move in ready facilities. These areas are research labs, tech labs and manufacturing. The anchor company is pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly,whcih are investing BILLIONS. Indy and its major suburbs have several tech districts like this spread all around like Indys 16 tech. Even other cities in Indiana like Ft Waye, South Bend and Michigan City are all getting in on it and the state helps fund each one. Basically the entire state is open for business and the entire state works together to pull in jobs in every county. Kentucky’s state government has to work together in ways like this if Kentucky is going to compete one some level. Eli Lilly is a huge factor for Indy and they invest Billions a year in the state. Plus with the pro franchise in Indy this is a HUGE economic driver for the city and helps attract out of town talent. Pro sports have taken Indy on another level with other cities that have them as well and it attracts people and investors. This is hurting Louisville not having a major pro franchise and the only thing Louisville really can do is pay BIG bucks to retain local talent and pay for out of state investors and talent to relocate to Kentucky but the problem is, a lot of states are paying for talent to relocate there.
Last edited by Indyguy50; 12-20-2023 at 01:03 PM..
Everyone brings up good points but most people who like an area like it through their prospectives and forget that someone from out of town may not be as excited about the things you grew up loving about your state. If Kentucky is to attract out of town talent and investors, the locals have to embrace growth and change. Way too many older locals are set in their ways and cringe at the idea of change and the younger generation. Kentucky is beautiful and does have a lot to offer with events and celebrations that’s unique to Kentucky. One have to remember that these things although things Kentuckians love, may not appeal to outsiders enough for them to move to the state. Kentucky may just be a state people just like to visit and that’s it and that’s fine, the state can capitalize on its tourist attractions. To grow the States population and economic developments would mean Kentucky would have to abandon a lot of its conservative views on a lot of things. Plus Kentucky is in constant competition with neighboring states like Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois and Missouri and the competition is fierce! Indiana alone is investing billions in LEAP districts. These are farmland areas the state have bought up surrounding Indianapolis metro and creating an area for high tech companies to move into move in ready facilities. These areas are research labs, tech labs and manufacturing. The anchor company is pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly,whcih are investing BILLIONS. Indy and its major suburbs have several tech districts like this spread all around like Indys 16 tech. Even other cities in Indiana like Ft Waye, South Bend and Michigan City are all getting in on it and the state helps fund each one. Basically the entire state is open for business and the entire state works together to pull in jobs in every county. Kentucky’s state government has to work together in ways like this if Kentucky is going to compete one some level. Eli Lilly is a huge factor for Indy and they invest Billions a year in the state. Plus with the pro franchise in Indy this is a HUGE economic driver for the city and helps attract out of town talent. Pro sports have taken Indy on another level with other cities that have them as well and it attracts people and investors. This is hurting Louisville not having a major pro franchise and the only thing Louisville really can do is pay BIG bucks to retain local talent and pay for out of state investors and talent to relocate to Kentucky but the problem is, a lot of states are paying for talent to relocate there.
If I wanted to live in a state like Indiana or Tennessee then I would have moved there. I don’t want to trade Kentucky farmlands for dirty industrial factories. What the battery factory is doing to quaint little Glendale is heartbreaking. We are a big nation, it’s nice that states like my sweet, friendly, slow paced Kentucky still exist.
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I wasn’t suggesting you move to another state. I was just giving my response from the research ive done on why Kentucky population isn’t growing as fast as surrounding states. I was simply giving my take on the subject just like many others on the thread. I never suggested anyone should move away to another state.
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Why isn’t Kentucky having population growth?
