Paducah is the only incorporated community in McCracken County.  Paducah is located along the Ohio River below the mouth of the Tennessee River.  McCracken County covers an area of 251 square miles.  Paducah is situated half way between St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee along Interstate-24.

Population

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000 Paducah had a population of 26,275.  McCracken County had a population of 65,514.  For population changes over the past 40 years and population forecasts, see Chapter Two of the Comprehensive Plan.

Demographic Profile

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000 45.48% of the population of Paducah is comprised of males and 54.52% is comprised of females.  McCracken County follows a similar trend with 47.50% males and 52.50% females.   The median age in Paducah is 39.9 years of age.  The median age in McCracken County is 39.2 years of age.  Both Paducah and McCracken County have higher median ages than the State of Kentucky (35.9 years of age) and the nation (35.3 years of age).

The racial composition of Paducah as reported in the 2000 U.S. Census is as follows:  72.8% White and 24.1% African-American with the remaining percentages being comprised with persons who reported their races as either American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Other race reported, two or more Races, or Hispanic.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000 the majority of households in Paducah were one- (39.3%) or two-person (32.1%) households.  The average household size in Paducah is 2.12 persons per household.  That figure is the smallest relative to the County, State, and nation.

Income and Poverty Level

In 1999, the median household income in Paducah was $26,137, and the mean household income income was $39,707.  For McCracken County, the median household income was $33,865, and the mean was $45,476.  For the State of Kentucky, the median household income was $33,672, and the mean was $45,246.

Educational Attainment

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 31.1% of the population 25 years of age and older in Paducah have obtained their high school degreee (or equivalent).  And additional 5.8% earned an Associate degree, 11.0% earned a Bachelor's degree, and 7.5% earned a Master's degree, Professional degree, or Doctorate degree.