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Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Kentucky

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Kentucky using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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#30. Nicholas County

– Population: 7,153
– Born in Kentucky: 5,807 (81.2% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,281 (17.9% of population)
— Midwest (9.8%), Northeast (1.2%), South (4.7%), West (2.2%)
– Born in another country: 65 (0.9% of population)
— Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#29. Lee County

– Population: 6,881
– Born in Kentucky: 5,598 (81.4% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,206 (17.5% of population)
— Midwest (12.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (3.7%), West (0.9%)
– Born in another country: 56 (0.8% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#28. Anderson County

– Population: 22,409
– Born in Kentucky: 18,270 (81.5% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,870 (17.3% of population)
— Midwest (7.2%), Northeast (1.6%), South (7.2%), West (1.2%)
– Born in another country: 248 (1.1% of population)
— Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#27. Nelson County

– Population: 45,650
– Born in Kentucky: 37,220 (81.5% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,586 (16.6% of population)
— Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (1.9%), South (5.4%), West (1.7%)
– Born in another country: 478 (1.0% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#26. Bullitt County

– Population: 80,171
– Born in Kentucky: 65,384 (81.6% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 13,099 (16.3% of population)
— Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (1.7%), South (5.5%), West (2.3%)
– Born in another country: 1,322 (1.6% of population)
— Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#25. Knox County

– Population: 31,365
– Born in Kentucky: 25,631 (81.7% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,119 (16.3% of population)
— Midwest (9.5%), Northeast (0.7%), South (5.0%), West (1.2%)
– Born in another country: 484 (1.5% of population)
— Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.9%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#24. Fleming County

– Population: 14,513
– Born in Kentucky: 11,872 (81.8% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,549 (17.6% of population)
— Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (1.6%), South (4.9%), West (0.7%)
– Born in another country: 63 (0.4% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#23. Ohio County

– Population: 24,071
– Born in Kentucky: 19,720 (81.9% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,865 (16.1% of population)
— Midwest (9.1%), Northeast (0.7%), South (4.8%), West (1.4%)
– Born in another country: 418 (1.7% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#22. Clay County

– Population: 20,368
– Born in Kentucky: 16,766 (82.3% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,384 (16.6% of population)
— Midwest (9.7%), Northeast (1.0%), South (4.8%), West (0.9%)
– Born in another country: 210 (1.0% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#21. Edmonson County

– Population: 12,138
– Born in Kentucky: 9,999 (82.4% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,108 (17.4% of population)
— Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (1.5%), South (6.4%), West (1.8%)
– Born in another country: 26 (0.2% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#20. Harlan County

– Population: 26,699
– Born in Kentucky: 22,009 (82.4% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,469 (16.7% of population)
— Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (0.6%), South (9.4%), West (0.4%)
– Born in another country: 150 (0.6% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Grayson County

– Population: 26,247
– Born in Kentucky: 21,731 (82.8% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,044 (15.4% of population)
— Midwest (6.5%), Northeast (1.4%), South (5.6%), West (1.8%)
– Born in another country: 307 (1.2% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#18. Powell County

– Population: 12,304
– Born in Kentucky: 10,193 (82.8% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,897 (15.4% of population)
— Midwest (7.8%), Northeast (1.5%), South (5.9%), West (0.2%)
– Born in another country: 183 (1.5% of population)
— Africa (0.4%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#17. Knott County

– Population: 15,260
– Born in Kentucky: 12,758 (83.6% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,381 (15.6% of population)
— Midwest (8.9%), Northeast (0.5%), South (5.8%), West (0.3%)
– Born in another country: 96 (0.6% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#16. Bath County

– Population: 12,355
– Born in Kentucky: 10,330 (83.6% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,924 (15.6% of population)
— Midwest (9.8%), Northeast (1.7%), South (2.6%), West (1.5%)
– Born in another country: 63 (0.5% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#15. Magoffin County

– Population: 12,491
– Born in Kentucky: 10,445 (83.6% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,030 (16.3% of population)
— Midwest (12.4%), Northeast (0.3%), South (3.1%), West (0.5%)
– Born in another country: 13 (0.1% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#14. Green County

– Population: 10,979
– Born in Kentucky: 9,235 (84.1% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,587 (14.5% of population)
— Midwest (9.2%), Northeast (1.4%), South (3.5%), West (0.4%)
– Born in another country: 107 (1.0% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#13. Washington County

– Population: 12,023
– Born in Kentucky: 10,119 (84.2% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,591 (13.2% of population)
— Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (1.2%), South (3.9%), West (2.0%)
– Born in another country: 280 (2.3% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#12. Wolfe County

– Population: 7,207
– Born in Kentucky: 6,091 (84.5% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,102 (15.3% of population)
— Midwest (11.6%), Northeast (0.1%), South (2.3%), West (1.3%)
– Born in another country: 14 (0.2% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#11. Estill County

– Population: 14,224
– Born in Kentucky: 12,057 (84.8% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,146 (15.1% of population)
— Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (1.9%), South (3.4%), West (1.8%)
– Born in another country: 4 (0.0% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#10. Breathitt County

– Population: 12,977
– Born in Kentucky: 11,015 (84.9% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,864 (14.4% of population)
— Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.0%), West (1.0%)
– Born in another country: 67 (0.5% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#9. Floyd County

– Population: 36,456
– Born in Kentucky: 31,025 (85.1% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,188 (14.2% of population)
— Midwest (8.1%), Northeast (0.5%), South (5.2%), West (0.5%)
– Born in another country: 183 (0.5% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#8. Rockcastle County

– Population: 16,820
– Born in Kentucky: 14,318 (85.1% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,489 (14.8% of population)
— Midwest (10.0%), Northeast (0.8%), South (3.2%), West (0.8%)
– Born in another country: 13 (0.1% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#7. Letcher County

– Population: 22,295
– Born in Kentucky: 18,985 (85.2% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,161 (14.2% of population)
— Midwest (5.3%), Northeast (0.9%), South (7.2%), West (0.7%)
– Born in another country: 97 (0.4% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#6. Perry County

– Population: 26,624
– Born in Kentucky: 22,801 (85.6% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,466 (13.0% of population)
— Midwest (7.8%), Northeast (0.6%), South (4.1%), West (0.5%)
– Born in another country: 344 (1.3% of population)
— Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#5. Jackson County

– Population: 13,369
– Born in Kentucky: 11,453 (85.7% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,906 (14.3% of population)
— Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.3%), West (0.8%)
– Born in another country: (0.0% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#4. McLean County

– Population: 9,283
– Born in Kentucky: 7,999 (86.2% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,212 (13.1% of population)
— Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (1.3%), South (4.3%), West (1.4%)
– Born in another country: 66 (0.7% of population)
— Africa (0.3%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#3. Marion County

– Population: 19,244
– Born in Kentucky: 16,765 (87.1% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,173 (11.3% of population)
— Midwest (4.8%), Northeast (1.0%), South (3.8%), West (1.6%)
– Born in another country: 244 (1.3% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.1%)

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#2. Owsley County

– Population: 4,442
– Born in Kentucky: 3,912 (88.1% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 518 (11.7% of population)
— Midwest (5.5%), Northeast (0.1%), South (6.0%), West (0.0%)
– Born in another country: 12 (0.3% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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#1. Leslie County

– Population: 10,283
– Born in Kentucky: 9,217 (89.6% of population)
– Born in another U.S. state or territory: 955 (9.3% of population)
— Midwest (5.8%), Northeast (0.0%), South (2.9%), West (0.6%)
– Born in another country: 31 (0.3% of population)
— Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)