Harlan County, KY

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Population

27,548

1.72% decline

Median Age

41.4


Median Household Income

$24,451

3.55% decline

Poverty Rate

35.6%


Number of Employees

7,555

5.33% decline

Median Property Value

$53,500

1.52% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Harlan County, KY had a population of 27.5k people with a median age of 41.4 and a median household income of $24,451. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Harlan County, KY declined from 28,031 to 27,548, a -1.72% decrease and its median household income declined from $25,350 to $24,451, a -3.55% decrease.

The population of Harlan County, KY is 95.2% White Alone, 2.56% Black or African American Alone, and 0.864% Hispanic or Latino. N/A% of the people in Harlan County, KY speak a non-English language, and 99.8% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Harlan County, KY are Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (1,005 degrees awarded in 2017).

The median property value in Harlan County, KY is $53,500, and the homeownership rate is 68.4%. Most people in Harlan County, KY commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 20.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Harlan County, KY is 2 cars per household.

Photo by Bill Brine

United StatesKentucky

Economy

The economy of Harlan County, KY employs 7.56k people. The largest industries in Harlan County, KY are Health Care & Social Assistance (1,533 people), Educational Services (1,078 people), and Retail Trade (978 people), and the highest paying industries are Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($75,278), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($56,346), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($51,797).

Median household income in Harlan County, KY is $24,451. Males in Harlan County, KY have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $41,451. The income inequality in Harlan County, KY (measured using the Gini index) is 0.457, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$24,451

2017 value

± $1,409

-3.55%

1 Year Growth

± 9.2%

Households in Harlan County, KY have a median annual income of $24,451, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $25,350 in 2016, which represents a -3.55% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Harlan County, KY compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

$56,557

Average Male Salary

± $1,518

$41,451

Average Female Salary

± $1,092

In 2017, full-time male employees in Kentucky made 1.36 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Kentucky by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $55,164 ± $10,370

  2. White

    $43,856 ± $923

  3. American Indian

    $34,557 ± $13,648

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Kentucky workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.26 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Kentucky by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Harlan County, KY is from Kentucky.

0.457

2017 Wage GINI

0.455

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.457 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.329% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2017 the GINI for Kentucky was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Kentucky in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Kentucky across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 9701

  2. Census Tract 9704

  3. Census Tract 9708

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Harlan County, KY was Census Tract 9701 with a value of $37,188, followed by Census Tract 9704 and Census Tract 9708, with respective values of $30,547 and $30,461.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Harlan County, KY colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 45 - 54

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

35.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Harlan County, KY (9.57k out of 26.9k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 45 - 54, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Males 6 - 11.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    8,957 ± 461

  2. Black

    398 ± 121

  3. Two Or More

    99 ± 96

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Harlan County, KY is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

7.56k

2017 Value

± 495

-5.33%

1 Year decline

± 9.58%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Harlan County, KY declined at a rate of -5.33%, from 7.98k employees to 7.56k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Harlan County, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,066 people), Construction & Extraction Occupations (825 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (676 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Harlan County, KY.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Harlan County, KY, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,066 people), Construction & Extraction Occupations (825 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (676 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Harlan County, KY has an unusually high number of residents working as Health Technologists & Technicians (2.43 times higher than expected), Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (2.3 times), and Construction & Extraction Occupations (2.19 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Harlan County, KY, by median earnings, are Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($93,816), Management Occupations ($60,750), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($55,694).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

7.56k

2017 Value

± 495

-5.33%

1 Year decline

± 9.58%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Harlan County, KY declined at a rate of -5.33%, from 7.98k employees to 7.56k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Harlan County, KY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (1,533 people), Educational Services (1,078 people), and Retail Trade (978 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Harlan County, KY, though some of these residents may live in Harlan County, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Harlan County, KY, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (1,533 people), Educational Services (1,078 people), and Retail Trade (978 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Harlan County, KY has an unusually high number of Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction (15.4 times higher than expected), Utilities (2.58 times), and Educational Services (1.54 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Harlan County, KY, by median earnings, are Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($75,278), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($56,346), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($51,797).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Kentucky to other states, or from other states to Kentucky.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Motorized vehicles

    $74.6B

  2. Base metals

    $17.8B

  3. Gasoline

    $17.2B

In 2015, the top outbound Kentucky product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $74.6B, followed by Base metals ($17.8B) and Gasoline ($17.2B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Kentucky products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Kentucky state.

$301B

2020 Value

$398B

Projected 2045 Value

32.3% growth

In 2020, total outbound Kentucky trade was $301B. This is expected to increase 32.3% to $398B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Kentucky trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Kentucky to other states, or from other states to Kentucky.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. Ohio

    $23.5B

  2. Indiana

    $20.7B

  3. Tennessee

    $17.9B

In 2015, the top outbound Kentucky domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Ohio with $23.5B, followed by Indiana with $20.7B and Tennessee and $17.9B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Kentucky shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

90.2% of the population of Harlan County, KY has health coverage, with 26.3% on employee plans, 38.1% on Medicaid, 14.7% on Medicare, 8.63% on non-group plans, and 2.46% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Harlan County, KY was $8,004 in 2014. This is a 6.11% increase from the previous year ($7,543).

Primary care physicians in Harlan County, KY see 2770 patients per year on average, which represents a 37.7% increase from the previous year (2012 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 3396 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 5434 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Harlan County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (18%). Additionally, Leslie County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (43.3%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,770 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Harlan County, KY see an average of 2,770 patients per year. This represents a 37.7% increase from the previous year (2,012 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Harlan County, KY in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

$8,004

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,551

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$7,016

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,368

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Kentucky (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 6.11%, from $7,543 to $8,004.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

9.77%

Uninsured

26.3%

Employer Coverage

38.1%

Medicaid

14.7%

Medicare

8.63%

Non-Group

2.46%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Harlan County, KY declined by 19.2% from 12.1% to 9.77%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Harlan County, KY changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Harlan County

    18% prevalence

  2. Letcher County

    17.9% prevalence

  3. Lawrence County

    17.8% prevalence

Harlan County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Kentucky, at 18%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Kentucky by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Harlan County, KY is home to a population of 27.5k people, from which 99.8% are citizens. As of 2017, 0.686% of Harlan County, KY residents were born outside of the country (189 people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Harlan County, KY is composed of 26.2k White Alone residents (95.2%), 706 Black or African American Alone residents (2.56%), 238 Hispanic or Latino residents (0.864%), 227 Two or More Races residents (0.824%), 115 Asian Alone residents (0.417%), 20 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.0726%), 18 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.0653%), and 0 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0%).

Age

Age by Nativity

42

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.5

33

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 11.1

In 2017, the median age of all people in Harlan County, KY was 41.4. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 42, were generally older than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 33. But people in Harlan County, KY are getting getting older. In 2016, the average age of all Harlan County, KY residents was 41.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

0.686%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

189 people

0.631%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

177 people

As of 2017, 0.686% of Harlan County, KY residents (189 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Harlan County, KY was 0.631%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Harlan County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    32,622 ± 4,418 people

  2. India

    10,932 ± 2,564 people

  3. Cuba

    8,780 ± 2,298 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 32,622 Kentucky residents, followed by India with 10,932 and Cuba with 8,780.

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Citizenship

99.8%

2017 Citizenship

99.8%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 99.8% of Harlan County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Harlan County, KY was 99.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Harlan County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    26.2k ± 15

  2. Black or African American Alone

    706 ± 43

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    238 ± 109

In 2017, there were 37.1 times more White Alone residents (26.2k people) in Harlan County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 706 Black or African American Alone and 238 Hispanic or Latino residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Harlan County, KY as a share of the total population.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    662 ± 129

  2. Gulf War (2001-)

    248 ± 100

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    148 ± 56

Harlan County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.67 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2017, universities in Harlan County, KY awarded 1,005 degrees. The student population of Harlan County, KY is skewed towards women, with 1,584 male students and 1,645 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Harlan County, KY are White (947 and 94.2%), followed by Black or African American (30 and 2.99%), Two or More Races (13 and 1.29%), and Unknown (8 and 0.796%).

The largest universities in Harlan County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (1,005 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Harlan County, KY are Liberal Arts & Sciences (293 and 29.2%), Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (111 and 11%), and HVAC Maintenance (63 and 6.27%).

The median tuition costs in Harlan County, KY are $N/A for private four year colleges, and $N/A and $N/A respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. Medical Administrative Assistant

    39 degrees awarded

  2. Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training

    111 degrees awarded

  3. HVAC Maintenance

    44 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for < 1 Year Postsecondary Certificate recipients in Harlan County, KY was Medical Administrative Assistant with 39 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a < 1 Year Postsecondary Certificate from schools in Harlan County, KY according to their major.

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Universities

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

1,005 degrees awarded

$N/A

Median In-State Public

$N/A

Median Private

In 2017, the Harlan County, KY institution with the largest number of graduating students was Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College with 1,005 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

486

Degrees Awarded to Men

519

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 486 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Harlan County, KY, which is 0.936 times less than the 519 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Harlan County, KY by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    947 degrees awarded

  2. Black or African American

    30 degrees awarded

  3. Two or More Races

    13 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Harlan County, KY were to White students. These 947 degrees mean that there were 31.6 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 30 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Harlan County, KY was $53,500 in 2017, which is 0.233 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $52,700 to $53,500, a 1.52% increase. The homeownership rate in Harlan County, KY is 68.4%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Harlan County, KY have an average commute time of 20.2 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Harlan County, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$53,500

2017 Median

± $3,232

$52,700

2016 Median

± $3,250

In 2017, the median property value in Harlan County, KY grew to to $53,500 from the previous year's value of $52,700.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Harlan County, KY compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Harlan County, KY the largest share of households have a property value in the $40k - $50k range.

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$24,451

Median Household Income

± $1,409

11.2k

Number of Households

± 554

In 2017, the median household income of the 11.2k households in Harlan County, KY declined from $24,451 from the previous year's value of $25,350.

The following chart displays the households in Harlan County, KY distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

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Property Taxes

< $800

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Harlan County, KY distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Harlan County, KY the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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Rent vs Own

68.4%

2017 Homeownership

69.2%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 68.4% of the housing units in Harlan County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 69.2%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Harlan County, KY compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Commute Time

20.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Harlan County, KY have a shorter commute time (20.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 1.88% of the workforce in Harlan County, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Harlan County, KY compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    83.4%

  2. Carpooled

    12.3%

  3. Worked At Home

    1.83%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Harlan County, KY was Drove Alone (83.4%), followed by those who Carpooled (12.3%) and those who Worked At Home (1.83%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Harlan County, KY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Harlan County, KY have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

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