Rowan County Demographics

A map of Rowan County's Population by Race

Rowan County, Kentucky has an estimated population of 24,578, a less than 1% change from the 24,662 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 93.5% White, 2.4% Hispanic, 1.8% Multiracial, 1.4% Black, 0.8% Asian, and 0.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Rowan County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Rowan 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 Rowan County, that probability was 14.6% in 2020 and 12.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Rowan County is ranked the 46th most populous county in Kentucky, out of 120 counties. Rowan County was ranked the 46th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Rowan County's White Population

22,983 residents of Rowan County, or 93.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Rowan County is considerably higher than in Kentucky overall, where 81.5% of the population is White. Rowan County ranks 49th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rowan County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Rowan County's population has increased from 92.3% to 93.5%.

Rowan County is more White than neighboring Morgan County (89.2% White), and Elliott County (92.5% White). Rowan County is less White than neighboring Menifee County (95.5% White), Bath County (94.6% White), and Fleming County (94.3% White).

Rowan County's Black Population

338 residents of Rowan County, or 1.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Rowan County is lower than in Kentucky overall, where 7.6% of the population is Black. Rowan County ranks 68th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rowan County's Black population has declined by an estimated 9.1%. Black residents' share of Rowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.4%.

Rowan County is more Black than neighboring Menifee County (0.1% Black), Bath County (0.7% Black), and Fleming County (0.9% Black). Rowan County is less Black than neighboring Morgan County (5% Black), and Elliott County (3.4% Black).

Rowan County's Asian Population

196 residents of Rowan County, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Rowan County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Rowan County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rowan County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 24.8%. Asian residents' share of Rowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Rowan County is more Asian than neighboring Menifee County (0% Asian), Morgan County (0.5% Asian), Bath County (0% Asian), and Elliott County (0% Asian).

Rowan County's Hispanic Population

588 residents of Rowan County, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Rowan County is slightly lower than in Kentucky overall, where 5% of the population is Hispanic. Rowan County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rowan County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 8.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Rowan County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.4%.

Rowan County is more Hispanic than neighboring Bath County (1.8% Hispanic), Fleming County (1.7% Hispanic), and Elliott County (1.7% Hispanic). Rowan County is less Hispanic than neighboring Menifee County (2.8% Hispanic), and Morgan County (3.6% Hispanic).

Rowan County's Native American/Other Population

24 residents of Rowan County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Rowan County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Rowan County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rowan County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 83.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Rowan County's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.1%.

Rowan County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Menifee County (0% Native American/Other), and Morgan County (0% Native American/Other). Rowan County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Fleming County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Elliott County (0.4% Native American/Other).

Rowan County's Multiracial Population

449 residents of Rowan County, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Rowan County is slightly lower than in Kentucky overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Rowan County ranks 79th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rowan County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 33.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Rowan County's population has decreased from 2.7% to 1.8%.

Rowan County is more Multiracial than neighboring Menifee County (1.5% Multiracial), and Morgan County (1.7% Multiracial). Rowan County is less Multiracial than neighboring Bath County (2.7% Multiracial), Fleming County (2% Multiracial), and Elliott County (2% 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.