Fact Sheet #3

Oldham Ahead is analyzing the 2000 Census Data and drafting a series of Fact Sheets to provide citizens and government leaders some insights, comparisons, and perspectives of the data that might not be available otherwise. We have included our third fact sheet below. If you would like copies of the fact sheets in Word Document format, contact us at OldhamAhead@aol.com.

The Census Bureau released the Table DP-1 Profile of General Demographic Characteristics for Kentucky on May 17.

The latest data include more detailed sex, age, and race data as well as household and housing data.

The data reflect the following highlights for the 2000 Census for Oldham County:

· The county comprises 53.3 percent males and 46.7 percent females—however, the large prison population distorts these percentages. Adjusting for the institutionalized population, the figures are 49.3 and 50.7 for males and females respectively.

· The median age in years of the population is 36.7 compared to the Commonwealth median age in years of 35.9. The incarcerated population skews this medium higher as well.

· Ninety-one percent of the total population of 46,178 resides in households while 8.4 percent resides in group quarters

· The group quarters population—people living in group quarters institutions (including prisons), nursing homes, or group homes comprise 8.4 percent of the Oldham County population compared to 2.8 percent Kentucky-wide.

· Married-couple families comprise 71.5% of Oldham County households compared to 51.7% of U.S. households.

· The average household size is 2.85 individuals and the average family size is 3.17 persons.

· The total housing units for the county was 15,541—a 37.8 percent increase from 1990 which mirrored the overall population growth during the period.

· The average household size of owner-occupied units is 2.92 while the average household size of renter-occupied units is 2.39.

Data released earlier by the Census bureau also reveals the following for Oldham County.

q Of 3,141 counties nationwide, Oldham County is ranked 164^th in the 2000 Census with respect to rate of growth. This places the Oldham County in the top 6% of counties nationwide. Comparing Oldham County with counties nationwide in 1990 that had populations between 25,000 and 50,000, Oldham County is ranked 32^nd of 618 counties.

q With respect to numerical population change, Oldham County—with a net increase of 12,915 persons the last decade—ranked 489^th of the 3,141 counties (top 15.5%). For counties with a 1990 population of 50,000 or less, Oldham ranks 43^rd for numerical population change the past 10 years.

Overall, the Oldham County 2000 Census data reflect an overall growth of 12,915 residents (7^th in the state); an overall growth rate of 38.8 percent (5^thin the state); and an under 18 age population percent of 27.4 (11^th in the state).

However, the large correctional institutional population that resides in the Buckner/LaGrange area Census Tract 302 skews that tract as well as the overall Oldham County population, social and economic data.

The 2000 census reflects that Census Tract 302 grew 89%--a net gain of 1,960 residents from 1990. However, it appears that the increase is due mainly to the increase in the incarcerated population residing within the Census Tract. Based on the data available, the correctional institutional population grew 95.8% the past ten years—from a 1990 total of 1,843 to 3,610 in 2000 (we had estimated 3,531 based on earlier available data).

The 2000 census reflects the following selected data for Census Tract 302: (The overall totals and the block data that includes incarcerated populations are depicted.) Note: This table has been updated from our April 30 fact sheet.

Note: Future releases of Census data will provide an exact count of institutionalized incarcerated persons in this Census Tract. The County group quarters institutionalized population is 3,789, of which 165 are included in LaGrange City. Thus the figure for Census Tract 302 may be 3,624.

Because 8.2 percent of the overall Oldham County population resided in group institutional quarters in 2000, it is instructive to “back out” those totals to look at the resulting population trends within the county over the past ten years. The 2000 Census data released on May reflect the following:

The adjusted data reflect that the county grew about 3.3 percent slower in real terms as opposed to the official 2000 Census results. This would place Oldham County as the 6^th fastest growing county as opposed to the fifth, as Scott County (with a 38.5 percent population increase) would swap places with Oldham County in state rankings.

Backing out the correctional institutional data would propel Oldham County to second in the state in the percentage of under-18 population. Oldham’s percentage would increase from its present 27.4% (11^th in the state) to 29.6%. The adjusted 2000 figure is slightly lower than the 30.3% adjusted number from 1990. The county’s sustained high youth population has potential schools, parks, and other infrastructure implications for county officials and planners.

Additionally, the medium age official figure for the county for 2000 is 36.7 years. The adjusted medium age cannot be calculated with available data, but would be lower than officially reflected. The medium age for Kentucky increased to 35.9 last year from 33 in 1990.

The table below reflects the raw Census data comparing sex and age from the 1990 and the 2000 Census. The age figures for ages 19 and below should be relatively “pure” as the correctional institutional data would not affect the younger-aged population within the county.

Subject	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Percent Change 1990-2000

TOTAL POPULATION	46,178	100%	33,263	100%	39%

SEX AND AGE
Male ........................................	24,595	53.3%	17,298	52.0%	42.2%
Female......................................	21,583	46.7%	15,965	48.0%	35.2%

Under 5 years ...............................	3,036	6.6%	2,160	6.5%	40.6%
5 to 9 years .................................	3,608	7.8%	2,728	8.2%	32.3%
10 to 14 years ...............................	3,824	8.3%	3,064	9.2%	24.8%
15 to 19 years ...............................	3,200	6.9%	2,455	7.4%	30.3%
20 to 24 years ...............................	2,170	4.7%	1,807	5.4%	20.1%
25 to 34 years ...............................	5,777	12.5%	5,693	17.1%	1.5%
35 to 44 years ...............................	9,514	20.6%	6,908	20.8%	37.7%
45 to 54 years ...............................	7,771	16.8%	4,065	12.2%	91.2%
55 to 59 years ...............................	2,502	5.4%	1,136	3.4%	120.2%
60 to 64 years ...............................	1,529	3.3%	1,001	3.0%	52.7%
65 to 74 years ...............................	1,930	4.2%	1,457	4.4%	32.5%
75 to 84 years ...............................	973	2.1%	612	1.8%	59.0%
85 years and over ............................	344	0.7%	177	0.5%	94.4%

The 2000 Census reflects that for Kentucky, the fastest-growing segment of the population was for those “baby boomers” with ages of 45 to 54. This population segment increased 46 percent from 1980.

For Oldham County, the percentage increase was 91.2%. Even more pronounced was the 120.2% increase in the 55-59 bracket. However, the under five years population continues to boom, rising 40.6 percent the past decade.

Also important in looking at the unadjusted data is analyzing the work-force-age segments. While the Louisville Metro Area experienced a 0.1% decline in age 20-24 work force population; an 11.8% decline in age 25-34 work force population, while gaining 14.2% in the 35-44 age segment, Oldham County would appear to have gained 4.7% in the 20-24 age segment; 12.5% in the 25-34 age segment, and 20.6% in the 35-44 work force population segment. On the surface, this would place Oldham County in a competitive advantage within the region with respect to workforce availability. However, until more detailed data become available that takes the incarcerated population into account, the economic development aspects of the data will be difficult to ascertain and promote.

As stated, the chart is skewed due to the high institutionalized population in the county. We have taken the raw data and attempted to adjust the data to reflect a more realistic portrait of the county that can better help planners and service providers. We have also included 2000 Census Data for Kentucky, Jefferson and Boone Counties for comparison.

Sex and Age Data (adjusted for institutionalized population) with Comparisons of Kentucky, Jefferson County, and Boone County