Counties in Kentucky by employer firms

Jefferson County had the highest employer firms of 120 counties in 2020, at 13,732. Robertson County had the lowest, at 20. The median was 237 and the figure for Kentucky was 60,433. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest13,732Jefferson County
Median237120 counties
Kentucky60,433History

Map of counties, 2020

Adair County: 271 countAllen County: 202 countAnderson County: 295 countBallard County: 116 countBarren County: 708 countBath County: 109 countBell County: 368 countBoone County: 2,454 countBourbon County: 344 countBoyd County: 973 countBoyle County: 624 countBracken County: 85 countBreathitt County: 130 countBreckinridge County: 234 countBullitt County: 936 countButler County: 161 countCaldwell County: 234 countCalloway County: 732 countCampbell County: 1,373 countCarlisle County: 75 countCarroll County: 195 countCarter County: 330 countCasey County: 174 countChristian County: 1,031 countClark County: 640 countClay County: 196 countClinton County: 154 countCrittenden County: 138 countCumberland County: 93 countDaviess County: 1,801 countEdmonson County: 94 countElliott County: 37 countEstill County: 146 countFayette County: 6,683 countFleming County: 197 countFloyd County: 532 countFranklin County: 987 countFulton County: 116 countGallatin County: 85 countGarrard County: 193 countGrant County: 304 countGraves County: 557 countGrayson County: 361 countGreen County: 145 countGreenup County: 363 countHancock County: 88 countHardin County: 1,676 countHarlan County: 301 countHarrison County: 245 countHart County: 220 countHenderson County: 789 countHenry County: 181 countHickman County: 62 countHopkins County: 757 countJackson County: 84 countJefferson County: 13,732 countJessamine County: 1,007 countJohnson County: 312 countKenton County: 2,355 countKnott County: 134 countKnox County: 429 countLarue County: 182 countLaurel County: 958 countLawrence County: 179 countLee County: 81 countLeslie County: 77 countLetcher County: 211 countLewis County: 111 countLincoln County: 256 countLivingston County: 118 countLogan County: 418 countLyon County: 137 countMcCracken County: 1,651 countMcCreary County: 128 countMcLean County: 140 countMadison County: 1,401 countMagoffin County: 127 countMarion County: 291 countMarshall County: 585 countMartin County: 103 countMason County: 365 countMeade County: 299 countMenifee County: 46 countMercer County: 296 countMetcalfe County: 99 countMonroe County: 173 countMontgomery County: 458 countMorgan County: 131 countMuhlenberg County: 433 countNelson County: 817 countNicholas County: 69 countOhio County: 313 countOldham County: 1,018 countOwen County: 108 countOwsley County: 39 countPendleton County: 144 countPerry County: 416 countPike County: 888 countPowell County: 148 countPulaski County: 1,170 countRobertson County: 20 countRockcastle County: 162 countRowan County: 406 countRussell County: 288 countScott County: 826 countShelby County: 871 countSimpson County: 345 countSpencer County: 193 countTaylor County: 511 countTodd County: 165 countTrigg County: 188 countTrimble County: 63 countUnion County: 207 countWarren County: 2,258 countWashington County: 205 countWayne County: 239 countWebster County: 172 countWhitley County: 468 countWolfe County: 67 countWoodford County: 499 count
  • Under 100
  • 100 to 200
  • 200 to 400
  • 400 to 800
  • 800 and over
count, 2020. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2020

Jefferson County: 13,732 countJefferson County13,732Fayette County: 6,683 countFayette County6,683Boone County: 2,454 countBoone County2,454Kenton County: 2,355 countKenton County2,355Warren County: 2,258 countWarren County2,258Daviess County: 1,801 countDaviess County1,801Hardin County: 1,676 countHardin County1,676McCracken County: 1,651 countMcCracken County1,651Madison County: 1,401 countMadison County1,401Campbell County: 1,373 countCampbell County1,373Pulaski County: 1,170 countPulaski County1,170Christian County: 1,031 countChristian County1,031Oldham County: 1,018 countOldham County1,018Jessamine County: 1,007 countJessamine County1,007Franklin County: 987 countFranklin County987Boyd County: 973 countBoyd County973Laurel County: 958 countLaurel County958Bullitt County: 936 countBullitt County936Pike County: 888 countPike County888Shelby County: 871 countShelby County871Scott County: 826 countScott County826Nelson County: 817 countNelson County817Henderson County: 789 countHenderson County789Hopkins County: 757 countHopkins County757Calloway County: 732 countCalloway County732Barren County: 708 countBarren County708Clark County: 640 countClark County640Boyle County: 624 countBoyle County624Marshall County: 585 countMarshall County585Graves County: 557 countGraves County557Floyd County: 532 countFloyd County532Taylor County: 511 countTaylor County511Woodford County: 499 countWoodford County499Whitley County: 468 countWhitley County468Montgomery County: 458 countMontgomery County458Muhlenberg County: 433 countMuhlenberg County433Knox County: 429 countKnox County429Logan County: 418 countLogan County418Perry County: 416 countPerry County416Rowan County: 406 countRowan County406Jefferson County: 13,732 countJefferson County13,732Fayette County: 6,683 countFayette County6,683Boone County: 2,454 countBoone County2,454Kenton County: 2,355 countKenton County2,355Warren County: 2,258 countWarren County2,258Daviess County: 1,801 countDaviess County1,801Hardin County: 1,676 countHardin County1,676McCracken County: 1,651 countMcCracken County1,651Madison County: 1,401 countMadison County1,401Campbell County: 1,373 countCampbell County1,373Pulaski County: 1,170 countPulaski County1,170Christian County: 1,031 countChristian County1,031Oldham County: 1,018 countOldham County1,018Jessamine County: 1,007 countJessamine County1,007Franklin County: 987 countFranklin County987Boyd County: 973 countBoyd County973Laurel County: 958 countLaurel County958Bullitt County: 936 countBullitt County936Pike County: 888 countPike County888Shelby County: 871 countShelby County871Scott County: 826 countScott County826Nelson County: 817 countNelson County817Henderson County: 789 countHenderson County789Hopkins County: 757 countHopkins County757Calloway County: 732 countCalloway County732Barren County: 708 countBarren County708Clark County: 640 countClark County640Boyle County: 624 countBoyle County624Marshall County: 585 countMarshall County585Graves County: 557 countGraves County557Floyd County: 532 countFloyd County532Taylor County: 511 countTaylor County511Woodford County: 499 countWoodford County499Whitley County: 468 countWhitley County468Montgomery County: 458 countMontgomery County458Muhlenberg County: 433 countMuhlenberg County433Knox County: 429 countKnox County429Logan County: 418 countLogan County418Perry County: 416 countPerry County416Rowan County: 406 countRowan County406
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Full ranking

RankCounties2020
count
Change on 2019
1Jefferson County13,732-0.7%
2Fayette County6,683+0.2%
3Boone County2,454-1%
4Kenton County2,355-0.3%
5Warren County2,258+0.3%
6Daviess County1,801-0.8%
7Hardin County1,676-0.4%
8McCracken County1,651-2.7%
9Madison County1,401-1.6%
10Campbell County1,373-0.1%
11Pulaski County1,170-0.8%
12Christian County1,031-3.3%
13Oldham County1,018+2.9%
14Jessamine County1,007+1.3%
15Franklin County987+0.4%
16Boyd County973-0.2%
17Laurel County958-2.8%
18Bullitt County936-2.8%
19Pike County888-1.1%
20Shelby County871-1.1%
21Scott County826+0.9%
22Nelson County817+1%
23Henderson County789-1.6%
24Hopkins County757-4.1%
25Calloway County732-0.8%
26Barren County708+1.4%
27Clark County640-3.2%
28Boyle County624-1.4%
29Marshall County585-1.7%
30Graves County557-0.9%
31Floyd County532-5%
32Taylor County511+1.6%
33Woodford County499+0.4%
34Whitley County468-1.9%
35Montgomery County458-1.7%
36Muhlenberg County433-4.2%
37Knox County429+1.4%
38Logan County418-3.9%
39Perry County416-3%
40Rowan County406-0.5%
41Bell County368-1.1%
42Mason County365-2.7%
43Greenup County3630%
44Grayson County361-0.6%
45Simpson County345-1.7%
46Bourbon County344-2.3%
47Carter County3300%
48Ohio County313+0.3%
49Johnson County312-3.1%
50Grant County304+3.4%
51Harlan County301-3.8%
52Meade County299+2.4%
53Mercer County296-1%
54Anderson County295-3.6%
55Marion County291+1.7%
56Russell County288-1.7%
57Adair County271+2.3%
58Lincoln County256-1.9%
59Harrison County245-0.4%
60Wayne County239-0.4%
61Breckinridge County234+1.7%
61Caldwell County234-5.3%
63Hart County220+0.9%
64Letcher County211-2.3%
65Union County207-1%
66Washington County205-0.5%
67Allen County202+3.6%
68Fleming County197+1%
69Clay County196-1%
70Carroll County195-1.5%
71Garrard County193+1%
71Spencer County193+1.6%
73Trigg County188-7.8%
74Larue County182-2.7%
75Henry County181-2.2%
76Lawrence County179-1.1%
77Casey County174-0.6%
78Monroe County173-4.9%
79Webster County172+1.2%
80Todd County165-6.3%
81Rockcastle County162+2.5%
82Butler County161-1.2%
83Clinton County154-1.3%
84Powell County148+4.2%
85Estill County146-5.2%
86Green County145+3.6%
87Pendleton County144+0.7%
88McLean County140-4.8%
89Crittenden County138-5.5%
90Lyon County137-6.8%
91Knott County134-4.3%
92Morgan County131+2.3%
93Breathitt County130-9.7%
94McCreary County128-3%
95Magoffin County127-4.5%
96Livingston County118+3.5%
97Ballard County1160%
97Fulton County116-3.3%
99Lewis County111+6.7%
100Bath County109-1.8%
101Owen County108+3.8%
102Martin County103-6.4%
103Metcalfe County99+2.1%
104Edmonson County94+3.3%
105Cumberland County93-5.1%
106Hancock County880%
107Bracken County85+2.4%
107Gallatin County85+1.2%
109Jackson County84+3.7%
110Lee County81-5.8%
111Leslie County77-10.5%
112Carlisle County75-1.3%
113Nicholas County69-1.4%
114Wolfe County67+3.1%
115Trimble County63-3.1%
116Hickman County62-3.1%
117Menifee County46+2.2%
118Owsley County39-2.5%
119Elliott County37-5.1%
120Robertson County20+5.3%

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of firms in the private nonfarm sectors covered by the US Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. Establishments under common ownership form one firm.

Excludes nonemployer businesses. Differs from active_companies, the INE DIRCE count, which includes businesses without employees.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties (Counties in Kentucky by employer firms, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in Kentucky by employer firms, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/kentucky-counties?period=2020. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Counties in Kentucky by employer firms, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/kentucky-counties?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in Kentucky by employer firms, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/kentucky-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 11 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2020,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in Kentucky by employer firms, 2020}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-11},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/kentucky-counties?period=2020. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in Kentucky by employer firms, 2020
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/kentucky-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/11
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/kentucky-counties?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest employer firms?

Jefferson County, with 13,732 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest employer firms?

Robertson County, with 20 in 2020.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Employer firms: other rankings

Counties in Kentucky: more rankings