The Louisville metropolitan area is the 43rd largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States. It had a population of 1,395,855 in 2020 according to the latest official

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

, and its principal city is

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

. The metropolitan area was originally formed by the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

in 1950 and consisted of the

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

county of Jefferson and the

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

counties of

Clark Clark is an English language surname with historical links to England, Scotland, and Ireland, ultimately derived from the Latin ''clericus'' meaning "scribe", "secretary" or a scholar within a religious order, referring to someone who was educated ...

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 countiesseven in Kentucky and four in

Southern Indiana Southern Indiana is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern third of the U.S. state of Indiana and borders the states of Illinois to the west, Kentucky to the south, and Ohio to the east. Spanning the state's southe ...

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 States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Bureau of the Census The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

in 2000 and recently redefined in 2018. The combined statistical area (CSA) adds the counties of

Hardin County, Kentucky Hardin County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. Its county seat is Elizabethtown. The county was formed in 1792. Hardin County is part of the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, as ...

, and

LaRue County, Kentucky LaRue County is a county in the central region of the U.S. state of Kentucky, outside the Bluegrass Region and larger population centers. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,867. Its county seat is Hodgenville, which is best known ...

. 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. 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.

Definitions

, 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.

Counties

Louisville–Jefferson County MSA *

Bullitt County, Kentucky Bullitt County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 82,217. Its county seat is Shepherdsville. The county was founded in 1796. Located just south of the cit ...

(80,246) *

Clark County, Indiana Clark County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 121,093. The county seat is Jeffer ...

(116,973) *

Floyd County, Indiana Floyd County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Its county seat is New Albany, Indiana, New Albany. The population of the county was 80,484 as of the 2020 United States census. Floyd County has the second- ...

(77,071) *

Harrison County, Indiana Harrison County is located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. The County (United States), county was officially established in 1808. Its population was 39,654 as of the 2020 United States census. Its cou ...

(39,898) *

Henry County, Kentucky Henry County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky bordering the Kentucky River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,678. Its county seat is New Castle, but its largest city is Eminence. T ...

(16,006) *

Jefferson County, Kentucky Jefferson County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 782,969. It is the most populous county in the commonwealth (with more than twice the population of sec ...

(771,158) *

Meade County, Kentucky Meade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,003. Its county seat is Brandenburg. The county was founded December 17, 1823, and named for Captain James M. Meade, who was killed i ...

(28,154) *

Nelson County, Kentucky Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,065. Its county seat is Bardstown. Nelson County comprises the Bardstown, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also include ...

(45,640) *

Oldham County, Kentucky Oldham County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state and commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,607. Its county seat is La Grange. The county is named for Colonel William Oldham. Old ...

(66,415) *

Shelby County, Kentucky Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,065. Its county seat is Shelbyville. The county was established in 1792 and named for Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentuck ...

(47,421) *

Spencer County, Kentucky Spencer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,490. Its county seat is Taylorsville. The county was founded in 1824 and named for Spier Spencer. Spencer County is part of ...

(18,507) *

Washington County, Indiana Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 28,182. The county seat (and the county's only incorporated city) is Salem. Washington County is part of the Louisville metrop ...

(27,827) Elizabethtown–Fort Knox, Kentucky MSA *

(108,071) *

(14,205)

Municipalities

Principal city *

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

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 The government of Louisville, Kentucky, headquartered at Louisville City Hall in Downtown Louisville, is organized under Chapter 67C of the Kentucky Revised Statutes as a List of cities in Kentucky#Classes, First-Class city in the state of Kentu ...

(771,158)
Louisville–Jefferson County (balance) (621,349) Municipalities with more than 25,000 people *

Jeffersontown, Kentucky Jeffersontown is a list of Kentucky cities, home rule-class city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 28,474 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is a major suburb of Louisvil ...

* *

Jeffersonville, Indiana Jeffersonville is a city and the county seat of Clark County, Indiana, Clark County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It lies directly across the Ohio Riv ...

New Albany, Indiana New Albany is a city in New Albany Township, Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River, opposite Louisville, Kentucky. The population was 37,841 as of the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Floyd County. It ...

Municipalities with 10,000 to 25,000 people *

Clarksville, Indiana Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River and is a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 22,333 at the 2020 census. The town was founded in 1783 by early resident George Rogers Cl ...

Lyndon, Kentucky Lyndon is a list of Kentucky cities, home rule-class city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 11,002 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, up from 9,369 at the 2000 United States ...

* *

Mount Washington, Kentucky Mount Washington is a home rule-class city in northeast Bullitt County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 18,090 at the 2020 census. The city is one of several surrounding Louisville that have experienced a sharp rise in popula ...

St. Matthews, Kentucky St. Matthews is a city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. It forms part of the Louisville Metro government but is separately incorporated as a home rule-class city. The population was 17,472 at the 2010 census, up from 15,852 at the ...

* *

Shelbyville, Kentucky Shelbyville is a list of Kentucky cities, home rule-class city in and the county seat of Shelby County, Kentucky, Shelby County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 17,282 at the 2020 census. History Early history The town of Shelbyville ...

Shepherdsville, Kentucky Shepherdsville is a home rule-class city on the Salt River in Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States. It is the second largest city and seat of its county, located just south of Louisville. The population was 14,201 during the 2020 U.S. Cens ...

Shively, Kentucky Shively is a home rule-class city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States, and a suburb of Louisville within the Louisville Metro government. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 15,264, reflecting an increase of 107 (+0.7%) ...

* Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 people * Anchorage* * Audubon Park* * Bancroft* * Barbourmeade* * Beechwood Village* * Bellemeade* * Bellewood* * Blue Ridge Manor* * Borden * Brandenburg * Briarwood* * Broeck Pointe* * Brownsboro Farm* * Brownsboro Village* * Cambridge* * Campbellsburg * Charlestown * Clarksville * Coldstream* * Corydon * Crandall * Creekside* * Crestwood * Crossgate* * Douglass Hills* * Druid Hills* * Ekron * Elizabeth * Eminence * Fincastle* * Forest Hills* * Fox Chase * Fredericksburg * Georgetown * Glenview Hills* * Glenview Manor* * Glenview* * Goose Creek* * Goshen * Graymoor-Devondale* * Green Spring* * Greenville * Hardinsburg * Hebron Estates * Heritage Creek* * Hickory Hill* * Hills and Dales* * Hillview * Hollow Creek* * Hollyvilla* * Houston Acres* * Hunters Hollow * Hurstbourne Acres* * Hurstbourne* * Indian Hills* * Kingsley* * La Grange * Laconia * Lanesville * Langdon Place* * Lebanon Junction * Lincolnshire* * Little York * Livonia * Lynnview* * Manor Creek* * Maryhill Estates* * Mauckport * Meadow Vale* * Meadowbrook Farm* * Meadowview Estates* * Middletown* * Milltown * Mockingbird Valley* * Moorland* * Muldraugh * Murray Hill* * New Amsterdam * New Castle * New Middletown * New Pekin * Norbourne Estates* * Northfield* * Norwood* * Old Brownsboro Place* * Orchard Grass Hills * Palmyra * Parkway Village* * Pewee Valley * Pioneer Village * Plantation* * Pleasureville * Poplar Hills* * Prospect*‡ * Richlawn* * River Bluff * Riverwood* * Rolling Fields* * Rolling Hills* * Saltillo * Sellersburg * Seneca Gardens* * Simpsonville * Smithfield * South Park View* * Spring Mill* * Spring Valley* * St. Regis Park* * Strathmoor Manor* * Strathmoor Village* * Sycamore* * Taylorsville * Ten Broeck* * Thornhill* * Utica * Vine Grove * Watterson Park* * Wellington* * West Buechel* * West Point * Westwood* * Wildwood* * Windy Hills* * Woodland Hills* * Woodlawn Park* * Worthington Hills* *Part of Louisville Metro
‡Prospect lies in both Jefferson and Oldham Counties. The portion within Jefferson County is part of Louisville Metro.

Historical statistics

Metropolitan statistical area

Notes * Populations are based upon published estimates by the United States Bureau of the Census.

Combined statistical area

Notes * Populations are based upon published estimates by the United States Bureau of the Census.

Notes

References

External links

* {{authority control Metropolitan areas of Kentucky Geography of Louisville, Kentucky Regions of Kentucky