The metropolitan area was originally formed by the United States Census Bureau in 1950 and consisted of the Kentucky county of Jefferson and the Indiana counties of Clark and Floyd. As surrounding counties saw an increase in their population densities and the number of their residents employed within Jefferson County, they met Census criteria to be added to the MSA. Jefferson County, Kentucky, plus eleven outlying counties – seven in Kentucky and four in Southern Indiana – are now a part of this MSA. Two other counties, one each in Kentucky and Indiana, were part of the MSA in the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Censuses, but were spun off by the Census Bureau into their own Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSA) in 2013 and 2018 respectively.
The formal name given to the area by the Census Bureau is the Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky–Indiana, metropolitan statistical area, though it is regularly referred to as Kentuckiana. It is now the primary MSA of the Louisville/Jefferson County–Elizabethtown, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area, as defined by the United StatesBureau of the Census in 2000 and recently redefined in 2018. The combined statistical area (CSA) adds the counties of Hardin County, Kentucky, and LaRue County, Kentucky.[4] In 2020, the Census Bureau measured the combined statistical area's population at 1,601,309.
Before the 2023 definitions were released, the CSA had two additional micropolitan statistical areas, Bardstown, Kentucky μSA and Scottsburg, Indiana μSA. In 2023, the Bardstown μSA was dissolved with Nelson County being added to the Louisville MSA and Scottsburg, Indiana μSA was dissolved, no longer considered a statistical area by the OMB.[4] In addition, Meade County, which was part of the Elizabethtown MSA, was detached and added to the Louisville MSA. Trimble County, on the northeastern edge of the Louisville MSA, was detached in 2023.[4]
Definitions
As of 2023[update], the U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Louisville–Jefferson County MSA as including Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, and Shelby Counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd, Harrison, and Washington Counties in Indiana. The larger Louisville/Jefferson County–Elizabethtown CSA adds the Elizabethtown, Kentucky, MSA, consisting of Hardin and LaRue Counties.
In 2003, the Jefferson County government merged with that of its largest city and county seat, Louisville, forming a new entity, the Louisville–Jefferson County Metro Government (official long form) or Louisville Metro (official short form). All small cities within Jefferson County became part of the new Louisville Metro government while retaining their city governments. For statistical and ranking purposes, the United States Census Bureau uses the statistical entity Louisville–Jefferson County metro government (balance), Kentucky, to represent the portion of the consolidated city-county of Louisville–Jefferson County that does not include any of the 83 separate incorporated places (municipalities) located within the city and county.
Louisville Metro (771,158)
Louisville–Jefferson County (balance) (621,349)
Populations are based upon published estimates by the United States Bureau of the Census.
^Named Louisville, KY-IN Standard Metropolitan Area (SMA) in 1950, Louisville, KY-IN Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) from 1960 to 1981, and Louisville, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) from 1983 to 2003.
Populations are based upon published estimates by the United States Bureau of the Census.
^Named Louisville–Elizabethtown–Scottsburg, KY-IN CSA from 2000 to 2003, and Louisville/Jefferson County–Elizabethtown–Scottsburg, KY-IN CSA from 2003 to 2013.
^ abcdCensus defined area did not exist during this Census. Population totals are for counties included in 2000 Census MSA or CSA estimates. Population is shown for comparison purposes only and should not be used as a reference.
^ abcdefgCounty was not a part of Louisville, KY-IN MSA at the time of this Census and the county's population is not included in MSA total.
^ abThis county was part of the Louisville MSA in the 2000 and 2010 Censuses, but has since been spun off into its own statistical area. Its population is included in the MSA total for those censuses only.
^ abc"OMB Bulletin No. 23-01"(PDF). whitehouse.gov. July 21, 2023. pp. 59, 138. Archived(PDF) from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.