This study was designed to provide insight in the urbanization processes that are occurring in the state of Kentucky from 1990-2010. The goal of this study is to provide a lens to view the potential urban problems that accompany the urbanization processes. Population change and Urban Expansion were evaluated to determine the change in rural to urban shift.

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Urbanization in Kentucky
Aaron Nelson
This brief study was undertaken to provide an insight into the urbanization process that is occurring in Kentucky. Because urbanization bring urban problems to areas that are undergoing it’s processes, a brief analysis of the increase of urban areas was the first
step in a process that will assist in addressing the inevitable urban problems associated with the urbanization process.
Abstract
The growth of urbanization in the state of Kentucky has happened at an
increasing pace. From 1990, with only 567 square miles of urban areas, the
process of urbanization has more than doubled in 2010 to 1,434 square miles.
Through out history, implications of urbanization have produces issues that
have had to be addressed in aggressive manners, and these implications will
still need to be addressed in the modern age. The most dominate implications
include social problems, housing, transportation and increased strain on
sanitation systems, which may begin to impact Kentucky with increase
urbanization.
Background
Between 1990 and 2000, Kentucky's population grew from 3,685,296 to
4,041,769, an increase of 9.7%. The population was projected to reach 4.35
million by 2015 and 4.48 million by 2025. Population increase has not
happened evenly in Kentucky, however the urban areas have expanded
remarkably and this expansion indicates a shift in population locations, from
rural to urban areas.
• In 1990, there were 567 square miles of urbanized area.
• In 2000, urban areas increased to 1,215 square miles of urbanized areas.
• 2010 saw urban areas increase to 1,434 square miles of urban lands.
Objectives
• To determine the population change of each county in the state of Kentucky.
• To determine the urban areas for each census year.
• To determine the change in urban area land size.
Methods
• Population change will be determined using U.S. Census Bureau Data for
each census year, 1990, 2000, and 2010.
• Urban areas will be determined using U.S. Census Bureau vector files for
each census year.
• The change in urban areas will be determined using ArcGIS tools for
analysis, specifically Area Calculation.
Results
Results
Conclusions
• From 1990, there were only small, widespread areas of urbanization in
Kentucky, with the largest area of urbanization in the Louisville KY-IN area.
• 2000 saw a remarkable spread on urbanized areas, which caused
established urban areas to expand, however several new areas of
urbanization were also established.
• In 2010, established urban areas were still growing, but only few areas on
new urbanization were formed.
• Because urbanization processes bring not only population, but also urban
problems, it is logical to assume that urban problems will become issues for
Kentucky. Urban problems will need to be addressed, however a more
inclusive study for the state of Kentucky will need to be conducted before
suggestions for effectively dealing with urban problems can be made.
1990 2000 2010
Population
(millions)
3.694 4.049 4.346
Urban Area
(Square Miles)
567 1215 1434
Population change -- 9.7 7.36
Urban Area
Change
-- 114% 18%