Laurel County Demographics

A map of Laurel County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	59,725	58,503	94.8%	93.4%
Multiracial	1,439	1,989	2.3%	3.2%
Hispanic	1,061	1,011	1.7%	1.6%
Black	352	440	0.6%	0.7%
Native American/Other	211	244	0.3%	0.4%
Asian	195	426	0.3%	0.7%

Laurel County, Kentucky has an estimated population of 62,983, a less than 1% change from the 62,613 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 94.8% White, 2.3% Multiracial, 1.7% Hispanic, 0.6% Black, 0.3% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Laurel County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Laurel has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Kentucky overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Laurel County, that probability was 12.6% in 2020 and 10.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Laurel County is ranked the 15th most populous county in Kentucky, out of 120 counties. Laurel County was ranked the 15th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Laurel County's White Population

59,725 residents of Laurel County, or 94.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Laurel County is considerably higher than in Kentucky overall, where 81.5% of the population is White. Laurel County ranks 37th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.1%. White residents' share of Laurel County's population has increased from 93.4% to 94.8%.

Laurel County is more White than neighboring Whitley County (94.4% White), and Clay County (91.3% White). Laurel County is less White than neighboring Rockcastle County (95.3% White), Jackson County (96.2% White), and Knox County (95% White).

Laurel County's Black Population

352 residents of Laurel County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Laurel County is lower than in Kentucky overall, where 7.6% of the population is Black. Laurel County ranks 90th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel County's Black population has declined by an estimated 20.0%. Black residents' share of Laurel County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Laurel County is more Black than neighboring Jackson County (0.2% Black). Laurel County is less Black than neighboring Knox County (1% Black), Whitley County (1.1% Black), and Clay County (3.9% Black).

Laurel County's Asian Population

195 residents of Laurel County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Laurel County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Laurel County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 54.2%. Asian residents' share of Laurel County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Laurel County is more Asian than neighboring Rockcastle County (0.1% Asian), Jackson County (0% Asian), Knox County (0.2% Asian), and Clay County (0.1% Asian).

Laurel County's Hispanic Population

1,061 residents of Laurel County, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Laurel County is slightly lower than in Kentucky overall, where 5% of the population is Hispanic. Laurel County ranks 81st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Laurel County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.7%.

Laurel County is more Hispanic than neighboring Rockcastle County (1.3% Hispanic), Jackson County (1.1% Hispanic), and Knox County (1.3% Hispanic). Laurel County is less Hispanic than neighboring Whitley County (2.1% Hispanic), and Clay County (2.1% Hispanic).

Laurel County's Native American/Other Population

211 residents of Laurel County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Laurel County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Laurel County ranks 74th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 13.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Laurel County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Laurel County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Jackson County (0.1% Native American/Other), Knox County (0% Native American/Other), Whitley County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Clay County (0.2% Native American/Other). Laurel County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Rockcastle County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Laurel County's Multiracial Population

1,439 residents of Laurel County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Laurel County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Laurel County ranks 67th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 27.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Laurel County's population has decreased from 3.2% to 2.3%.

Laurel County is more Multiracial than neighboring Rockcastle County (2.1% Multiracial), and Whitley County (2% Multiracial). Laurel County is less Multiracial than neighboring Jackson County (2.4% Multiracial), Knox County (2.4% Multiracial), and Clay County (2.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.