In addition to the Kentucky: By the Numbers data series, below is a list of website to help those interested in finding data on the internet.

See more information in Finding and Using Data from the Internet.

Each source is a website that contains county data. Some sites are specific to Kentucky, while other are national sources containing county data for any state (including Kentucky).

For more information on how to define rural, visit Rural Classifications at the USDA Economic Research Service.

Useful Websites with County Level Data

• data.census.gov (Census Bureau): Access to Census Bureau data including the American Community Survey, annual Population Estimates, County Business Patterns, and Non-Employer Statistics.
• Census of Agriculture (USDA): To find data by county, click under “Find Current Data By…”  For previous years, click under “Historical Census of Ag Publications” and pick a year.
• Ag Census Web Maps (USDA): Mapping website with data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
• Local Unemployment Rates (Official): The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces the official monthly and annual unemployment rates.
• Small Area Poverty Estimates (Official): Single year estimates of individuals living in poverty, children in poverty, and median household income.
• Small Area Health Insurance Estimates: Contains single-year estimates of health insurance coverage status for all counties in the U.S. by selected economic and demographic characteristics.
• Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYStats): Kentucky data include workforce development, career/college readiness, graduation rates, and post-secondary attendance.  
• Kentucky State Data Center: American Community Survey, population projections, data for Area Development Districts.
• Kentucky School Report Card: Provides data on Kentucky K-12 public schools
• Atlas of Rural and Small Town America: Easy to use mapping website with demographic, social, and economic data
• Food Access Research Atlas: Food access indicators for low-income and other census tracts using different measures of supermarket accessibility
• Food Environment Atlas: Map food environment factors such as store and restaurant proximity, availability of local foods, food and nutrition assistance programs, and community characteristics
• County Health Rankings: Provides maps, data, and rankings on health outcomes, factors, and additional health related measures.
• Map the Meal Gap (Feeding America): Local estimates on food insecurity.  
• Places: Local Data for Better Health: Provides health and health-related data using small-area estimation for counties, etc.
• Kids Count Data Center: Data on indicators of youth well-being including economic, education, and social data. 
• County Business Patterns (data.census.gov): An annual series that provides subnational economic data including number of establishments and employment and payroll. To locate the data source on data.census.gov, on "Surveys" filter, click "Economic Surveys" then "Business Patterns"
• Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development: Community data, industrial site and building information for cities and counties. Click on "Community Profiles"
• Blueprint Kentucky (University of Kentucky): Provides economic data for Kentucky counties by different themes. 

  Updated February 2025