Letcher County Demographics

A map of Letcher County's Population by Race

Letcher County, Kentucky has an estimated population of 20,808, a decrease from the 21,548 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 96.5% White, 1.5% Multiracial, 0.8% Hispanic, 0.6% Black, 0.4% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Letcher County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Letcher is about as racially diverse as it was in 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 Letcher County, that probability was 7.0% in 2020 and 6.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Letcher County is ranked the 55th most populous county in Kentucky, out of 120 counties. Letcher County was ranked the 53rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Letcher County's White Population

20,089 residents of Letcher County, or 96.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Letcher County is considerably higher than in Kentucky overall, where 81.5% of the population is White. Letcher County ranks 8th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Letcher County's White population has declined by an estimated 3.3%. White residents' share of Letcher County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 96.5%.

Letcher County is more White than neighboring Wise County (90% White), Norton County (91.6% White), Perry County (93.7% White), and Harlan County (93.9% White). Letcher County is less White than neighboring Knott County (96.7% White).

Letcher County's Black Population

128 residents of Letcher County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Letcher County is lower than in Kentucky overall, where 7.6% of the population is Black. Letcher County ranks 104th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Letcher County's Black population has grown by an estimated 47.1%. Black residents' share of Letcher County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Letcher County is less Black than neighboring Knott County (1.1% Black), Wise County (4.7% Black), Norton County (2.2% Black), Perry County (1.7% Black), and Harlan County (1.3% Black).

Letcher County's Asian Population

40 residents of Letcher County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Letcher County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Letcher County ranks 68th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Letcher County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 29.8%. Asian residents' share of Letcher County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Letcher County is less Asian than neighboring Wise County (0.3% Asian), Norton County (0.3% Asian), and Perry County (0.6% Asian).

Letcher County's Hispanic Population

160 residents of Letcher County, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Letcher County is slightly lower than in Kentucky overall, where 5% of the population is Hispanic. Letcher County ranks 119th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Letcher County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 20.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Letcher County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Letcher County is more Hispanic than neighboring Knott County (0.6% Hispanic), Perry County (0.2% Hispanic), and Harlan County (0.5% Hispanic). Letcher County is less Hispanic than neighboring Wise County (1.4% Hispanic), and Norton County (3.1% Hispanic).

Letcher County's Native American/Other Population

74 residents of Letcher County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Letcher County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Letcher County ranks 100th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Letcher County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 29.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Letcher County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Letcher County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Knott County (0.1% Native American/Other), and Norton County (0% Native American/Other). Letcher County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Wise County (0.8% Native American/Other).

Letcher County's Multiracial Population

317 residents of Letcher County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Letcher County is slightly lower than in Kentucky overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Letcher County ranks 107th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Letcher County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 28.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Letcher County's population has decreased from 2.0% to 1.5%.

Letcher County is more Multiracial than neighboring Knott County (1.3% Multiracial). Letcher County is less Multiracial than neighboring Wise County (2.7% Multiracial), Norton County (2.8% Multiracial), Perry County (3.3% Multiracial), and Harlan County (3.6% 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.