Henderson Now Kentucky's 7th Largest City

By CHUCK STINNETT
, Gleaner staff
831-8343 * cstinnett@thegleaner.com
Thursday, June 28, 2007

Henderson surpassed Hopkinsville in population last year to become the state's seventh-largest city, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Henderson's population increased by an estimated 424 people, or 1.5 percent, from 2000 to 2006, reaching 27,915.

Hopkinsville, though, lost 2,715 residents or 9 percent of its residents, dropping its population to an estimated 27,415.

That allowed Henderson to climb from No. 8 to the No. 7 position among Kentucky's largest cities.

It isn't likely to move any higher, however. No. 6 Richmond, which in 2000 was slightly smaller than Henderson, has grown by 14.5 percent. By 2006, it had about 3,500 more people than Henderson.

The merged Louisville/Jefferson County (554,496) and Lexington-Fayette County (270,789) maintained their solid hold as No. 1 and 2 largest cities in Kentucky.

But Bowling Green (53,176) is gaining on No. 3 Owensboro (55,525). In 2000, Owensboro had 4,901 more people than Bowling Green. By last year, that had shrunk to less than 2,350.

In the Tri-county, both Corydon (786) and Robards (565) showed positive growth.

But practically every city in Union and Webster counties lost population.