Shipping Containers for Sale in Lexington, KY

Kentucky saw modest net population growth from July 2024 to July 2025, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, but where are new residents coming from?

The Census Bureau estimated Kentucky had 4,606,864 residents as of July 1, 2025, up by 18,492 individuals compared to the previous year. While some states lost residents during the pandemic, the Bluegrass State’s population is up from its 2020 figure of 4,506,287.

A handful of states are leading in moves to Kentucky, including some in the Midwest, as well as the South.

One of the leading contributors to Kentucky’s recent population growth is immigration, as reported by WEKU. The Census Bureau reports 4.7% of residents are immigrants.

While Kentucky is gaining residents overall, some of the commonwealth’s counties are performing better than others for growth. Jefferson, Fayette, Warren, Boone, Kenton, Madison, Scott, Jessamine, Bullitt and Nelson counties led in population growth from 2023 to 2024.

Conversely, Pike, Floyd, Perry, Letcher, Harlan, McCreary, Martin, Christian, Knott and Larue counties saw the greatest population decreases in the state over the same period, according to Census data.

Here’s what to know about migration to and from Kentucky in 2024, the most recent year for which Census data is available.

Where are new Kentucky residents coming from?

Here’s a roundup of the top 10 states with movers to Kentucky in 2024, according to the Census Bureau:

1. Ohio: 14,376 movers to Kentucky

2. Tennessee: 14,181

3. Indiana: 7,756

4. Florida: 7,326

5. California: 6,856

6. Georgia: 5,106

7. North Carolina: 3,509

8. Illinois: 3,102

9. West Virginia: 2,915

10. Texas: 2,807

Some of the same states that saw the greatest number of residents move to Kentucky also made the list for top states residents are moving to. Ohio was the No. 1 destination state for former Kentucky residents, with 13,444 movers, with Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan and Alabama rounding out the top 10.

Note: An AI tool assisted with organizing the data for this story. A Lexington Herald-Leader journalist reviewed the data and wrote the story. It was also edited by a Herald-Leader editor. You can read more about our AI policy here.

Do you have a question about living in Lexington or Kentucky for the Herald-Leader? We’d like to hear from you. Email ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form below.

Starting at the end of 2025, the Lexington dining scene has seen a rash of restaurants announcing they are closing. Here is a rundown.

A longtime Central Kentucky Chinese restaurant with a popular motto is closing.

Wok ‘N’ Go, located in Versailles, announced on social media that its owner is retiring and is closing Friday, April 24.

“Wok N Go has always been more than just a restaurant to us — it has been a home, a gathering place, and a backdrop to countless special moments,” Henry Panda Lam wrote online, speaking for the family-owned Chinese restaurant.

Reached for comment, Lam said the popular restaurant was once part of a local chain owned by Indy Chane. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Wok ‘N’ Go had many Central Kentucky locations including Lexington restaurants on Jefferson Street, South Limestone Street, Richmond Road, Southland Drive and New Circle Road. Lam says each restaurant was eventually sold off and ran independent of one another, including a Danville location that is still open.

“While they may have had similar menu items, taste was with the owner/operator,” said Lam.

The restaurant locations were known for their saying, “I know it’s only Wok ‘N’ Go, but I like it.”

After more than 35 years of running the cash-only restaurant, Charlie Lam’s retirement will hit hard, his son said.

“My dad is honestly an end of an era,” said Lam. “My dad’s generation was friends with a lot of the Lexington restaurants people from there grew up on, Ho Ho’s on New Circle Road, Great Wall on Winchester road, etc.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Months of planning have led to this: Lexington’s first Civic Assembly held its inaugural meeting on the campus of Transylvania University on Sunday afternoon.

The first meeting was set up to be more of an orientation-style meeting for the 36 randomly selected assembly members.

“This is their first time coming together, meeting each other. So that’s a big part of today is having them get to know each other, doing some icebreakers and understanding where they’re coming from, and just getting familiar with each other,” Communications Director of Civic Lex, Haley Wartell, said.

The 36 assembly members are tasked with recommending potential updates to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter.

During the opening session, members learned more about the assembly process and heard from guest speakers like Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Fayette County Clerk Susan Lamb.

Members also learned about the importance of the Urban County Charter and what specific topics they will focus on during a series of six meetings. On the docket: compensation for council members and how often the charter is reviewed.

“This Tuesday, they’re going to look at council compensation. So they’re going to look at what the current council compensation is, what in cities like Lexington, what council members are paid there. And then they’re going to hear from council members past and present, what their experience has been like serving as a council member. And then next week they will look at the charter review process,” Director of Communications Haley Wartell said.

Speakers included Mayor Linda Gorton, Vice Mayor Dan Wu, Fayette County Clerk Susan Lamb, and CivicLex Deputy Director Kit Anderson.

The assembly is scheduled to meet six times. Community members can register in advance to attend meetings in person or watch them live online. The public may also submit comments online for the assembly to review at each meeting.

For more information on the Civic Assembly, click here.

The Kentucky men’s basketball program officially introduced the new Nike Book Chapter 2 “Must Be the Denim” shoes last night.

The shoes from former UK star Devin Booker are a tribute to the 1996 Kentucky national championship team.

There will be an exclusive UK launch of the Nike Book 2 “Must Be The Denim” Saturday at the Downtown Studio in front of Rupp Arena from 2-8 p.m. ET.

You can see details about the release and how to purchase the shoes in other locations below.

Starting to feel a little like '96. @nikebasketball x #GoBigBlue pic.twitter.com/le7SoENspF

Details on the release:

Lexington, Ky. – Hibbett and Nike will celebrate the University of Kentucky Wildcats with an exclusive early debut of the ‘Nike Book 2 Must Be The Denim’ sneaker inspired by Devin Booker’s Wildcat legacy while commemorating the 30th anniversary of Kentucky’s 1996 NCAA Championship and the team’s iconic denim uniforms.

A limited number of pairs will be available for purchase for one day only – February 7, 2026, while supplies last, exclusively in Lexington, ahead of the March retail launch.

• Team Spirit: Men’s and Women’s Wildcat Basketball Teams and 30th Anniversary Wildcat Alumni Team will be outfitted with ‘Nike Book 2’ Shoes at the event

* Photo: Screenshot from UK Men’s Basketball video on X

Related Items:BBN, devin booker, kentucky basketball, kentucky wildcats

Attached video is from previous coverage.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The city of Lexington did not refuse state help clearing its roads, Mayor Linda Gorton said Friday in a press release.

PREVIOUS:

“I would never instruct any employee to refuse any kind of help from the state, especially help with clearing our roads,” Gorton said.

Gorton said she has spoken with the governor and believes it was a misunderstanding after talking with city employees involved in communicating with the state Department of Transportation. The city did receive help from the state last week and again this week.

City plans to hire specialized ice storm contractors

Lexington is already moving ahead to hire the kind of contractor who can handle an ice storm during a stretch of extended cold, Gorton said.

“Clearly, under these conditions, we don’t have the tools we need to get the ice off the streets, so we’re going to hire the right kind of help,” Gorton said. “Ice is becoming a more frequent visitor during our winters. It is a formidable foe. We need to be better prepared to handle it.”

City says it pre-treated roads

The city of Lexington did pre-treat its roads, beginning 72 hours before the snow event, according to Gorton.

“Pre-treating is a regular part of the way we operate. We did extensive pre-treating for this storm,” Gorton said.

“Even though we took several steps and invested in improving our response this year, including new equipment and hiring additional contractors, we were still not prepared to handle the thick coating of ice Lexington received, especially when it was coupled with extended cold,” she said.

After-action review planned

The city is planning an internal, extensive, military-style after-action review of its response to the current storm.

“We want to take a look at what we did right and where we went wrong,” Gorton said. “I will be looking at the full time-line of our preparations for the storm and response to it, organizational structure, including communication and the need for a detailed map of which streets have received treatment; accountability; impact of the $3.5 million investment made last year after the 2025 storm; and more.”

Gorton invited residents, especially those who have lived in cities that experience a lot of ice storms, to contribute their ideas on ways the city can improve. Suggestions can be sent to mayor@lexingtonky.gov.

Extended cold weather creates challenges

Extended cold is challenging, Gorton said.

“Local meteorologists are saying that this period of below-freezing weather ranks 12th longest in Lexington’s meteorological history. Between January 22 and February 3, we had 278 hours at or below freezing,” she said.

In the past 14 days, Lexington has had one day above freezing.

Road clearing continues by state crews, construction contractors and city crews.

“We appreciate the state’s assistance. Work is progressing into the neighborhoods on school bus routes,” Gorton said.

Read the full press releases below:

The city of Lexington did not refuse state help clearing its roads, Mayor Linda Gorton said today.

“I would never instruct any employee to refuse any kind of help from the state, especially help with clearing our roads,” Gorton said. Gorton has spoken with the Governor, and said, after talking with city employees involved in communicating with the state Department of Transportation, she believes it was a misunderstanding. The city did receive help from the state last week, and again this week.

Additionally, the city of Lexington did pre-treat its roads, beginning 72 hours before the snow event. “Pre-treating is a regular part of the way we operate. We did extensive pre-treating for this storm,” Gorton said.

“Even though we took several steps and invested in improving our response this year, including new equipment and hiring additional contractors, we were still not prepared to handle the thick coating of ice Lexington received, especially when it was coupled with extended cold.”

Extended cold is challenging, Gorton said. “Local meteorologists are saying that this period of below-freezing weather ranks 12^th longest in Lexington’s meteorological history. Between January 22 and February 3, we had 278 hours at or below freezing.” In the past 14 days, Lexington has had one day above freezing.

Today, road clearing continues by state crews, construction contractors, and city crews. “We appreciate the state’s assistance. Work is progressing into the neighborhoods on school bus routes,” Gorton said.

Second press release:

Lexington is already moving ahead to hire the kind of contractor who can handle an ice storm during a stretch of extended cold, Mayor Linda Gorton said today.

“Clearly, under these conditions, we don’t have the tools we need to get the ice off the streets, so we’re going to hire the right kind of help,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “Ice is becoming a more frequent visitor during our winters. It is a formidable foe. We need to be better prepared to handle it.”

Meanwhile, the city is planning an internal, extensive, military-style after-action review of its response to the current storm. “We want to take a look at what we did right and where we went wrong,” Gorton said. “I will be looking at the full time-line of our preparations for the storm and response to it, organizational structure, including communication and the need for a detailed map of which streets have received treatment; accountability; impact of the $3.5 million investment made last year after the 2025 storm; and more.”

Gorton invited residents, especially those who have lived in cities that experience a lot of ice storms, to contribute their ideas on ways the city can improve. Suggestions can be sent to .