Home » Kentucky data expert discusses the impact of the state’s beloved 120 counties

Kentucky data expert discusses the impact of the state’s beloved 120 counties

Kentucky data expert discusses the impact of the state’s beloved 120 counties  Louisville Public Media

Atthisyear’sKentuckyStateFair,representativesofmorethan100countiesaremakingtheirpitchtofairgoersonwhytheyshouldpayavisittotheircommunities. Catchingsightofthemallisnoeasyfeat:Kentuckyhasthethird-mostcountiesintheU.S.,behindonlyTexasandGeorgia—fourthifcountingVirginia’sindependentcities. Thatlargenumberofcountiesleadstosmallerpopulationsineach,anditcanbetrickyfordataanalysis.That’saccordingtoMattRuther,directoroftheKentuckyStateDataCenter,whichispartoftheUniversityofLouisville. TheagencyisaffiliatedwiththeU.S.CensusBureauandusesitsdatatopresentfindingsforlocalandstatewidegroups.ThoseincludeKentucky’sLegislativeResearchCommissionandthestate’s15AreaDevelopmentDistricts,likeKIPDA,whichhandlesLouisvilleandsurroundingcounties. RutherspokewithLPMNews’JacobMunozabouthowthe120countiestieintohiswork.Thisconversationhasbeeneditedforclarityandlength. Iwanttotalkaboutareportthattheagenc