Lousiville's estimated 2016 population is around 620,000. The most recent census estimates released put the population at 615,366 in 2015, up from 596,823 in 2010. Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and the 27th most populous city in the United States. Since 2003, the borders of Louisville are the same as Jefferson County, making Louisville a consolidated city-county.

Louisville has an estimated population of 755,000, or 626,000 in the city proper excluding the consolidated population. The city has a population density of 1836 people per square mile. The larger metropolitan area has a population estimated at 1.34 million, which is the 42nd largest metro area in the United States.

Louisville Demographics

The racial and ethnic breakdown of Louisville's population is:

• White: 74.8% (non-Hispanic: 71.7%)
• Black: 22.2%
• American Indian: 0.6%
• Asian: 2.0%
• Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.1%
• Other race: 1.4%
• Two or more races: 1.6%
• Hispanic or Latino of any race: 2.9%

The pre-merger area population of Louisville is 60.1% white, 35.2% black, 1.9% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.0% other race and 2.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are around 136,000 Roman Catholics in the city, most of whom are of German descent from large-scale immigration in the 19th century. 30% of Louisvillians are Southern Baptist, many of whom are descendants of people who moved to the city from Tennessee and rural Kentucky to work in the factories. German immigrants also brought Evangelical and Lutheran faiths to the city, which are still present today.

There are about 8,500 Jewish people in Louisville, as many Jewish families moved to the area from Eastern Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as 4,000 to 10,000 practicing Muslims.

In 2005, Louisville was ranked as the 7th safest large city in the country.

Louisville History

The Louisville area was chosen as a settlement because it is located at the Falls of the Ohio, which created a barrier to river travel. The first European settlement was Corn Island in 1779. Two years later, the town charter for Louisville was approved and the city was named in honor of King Louis XVI of France, whose soldiers were then helping Americans in the Revolutionary War. Early residents eventually moved out by the 1780s due to Indian raids.

The city's growth in the 1800's was greatly influenced by the fact that river boats had to unload and move downriver before reaching the falls. By 1828, the population reached 7,000 and the city was incorporated. It became a shipping port and it was known as a point of escape for slaves moving north. It was also a stronghold for Union troops during the Civil War.

During World War II, Louisville became a center for factory war production, which later transitioned into manufacturing tractors and agricultural equipment. Like many other older cities in the country, the population began to shift in the 1960s as more people fled to the suburbs.

Louisville Population Growth

About 30% of the population growth in all of Kentucky is in Louisville's CSA counties. The consolidation of Louisville and Jefferson County also caused Louisville to grow 189% from 2000 to 2010. The region has been growing slowly thanks to steady job growth, a low cost of living and affordable home prices. Louisville's growth can also be attributed to Kentucky residents moving from rural areas to the city, as the state as a whole grew just 6% from 2000 to 2010.