Pulaski County’s population, estimated at 58,400 last July 1, continues a modest growth and is projected to exceed 67,300 by 2030.

According to the latest statistics released by the Kentucky State Data Center, the federal census in 2000 put Pulaski County’s population at 56,217. During the past eight years the estimated population has grown 2,183.

Somerset, a third-class city ranked 30th in population among the state’s 421 incorporated cities, has 12,219 residents. The unusually large and diverse metropolitan shopping and service areas in and around Somerset are due to attracting people from a 10-county area to a regional hospital surrounded by complex medical services and merchandising ranking with a city three times it size. Lake Cumberland inflates the community’s non-resident population during the summer.

Ferguson, a 5th-class city ranked 223, has 920 residents.

Burnside, a 5th-class city ranked 266, has 675 residents.

Science Hill, a 6th-class city ranked 270, has 655 residents.

Eubank, a 6th-class city ranked 334, has 373 residents.

Countywide, according to the 2000 census, there were 22,719 households in which 31.20 percent had children under the age of 18 living at home; 58.50 percent were married couples living together; 10.10 percent had a female householder with no husband present; and 28.10 percent were non-families.

The average household size was 2.42 persons and the average family size was 2.87 persons.

Age distribution was 23.40 percent under 18; 8 percent from 18 to 24; 28.60 percent from 25 to 44; 24.90 percent from 45 to 64; and 15.10 percent who were 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 38. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,370, and the median income for a family was $32,350.

Per capita income for the county was $15,352. About 14.80 percent of families and 19.10 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.90 percent of those under age 18 and 16.60 percent of those age 65 or over.

Historically, Pulaski County’s population has grown except for a period in the 1950s when coal mining jobs decreased and people moved north to find jobs, and between 1910 and 1920, the period of World War I and the great influenza pandemic.

The greatest growth spurt was between 1970 and 1980 with a 30 percent population jump, spurred by new industrial plants moving here from northern cities.

Following is a census count by decade of Pulaski County’s population:

1800 –– 3,161

1810 –– 6,897

1820 –– 7,597

1830 –– 9,500

1840 –– 9,620

1850 — 14,195

1860 –– 17,201

1870 –– 17,670

1880 –– 21,318

1890 –– 25,731

1900 –– 31,293

1910 –– 35,986

1920 –– 34,010

1930 –– 35,640

1940 –– 39,863

1950 — 38,452

1960 ––34,403

1970 –– 35,234

1980 –– 45,803

1990 –– 49,489

2000 –– 56,217

2007 (estimated) –– 58,400.

Statistics were taken from the Kentucky State Data Center Web site.