Dawson Springs: Demographics & People
Dawson Springs is home to 1,951 people, in 774 households. Population shrank 1.1% from 1,973 (2022) to 1,951 (2024). Median age 41.6 years. (4.4y older than Kentucky). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 87% White (non-Hispanic) and 7% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.05). 61% of households are family-led. County is losing 199 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs Kentucky avg 2.7).
- 39% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Kentucky 42%).
- 89 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Kentucky 66).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.1% from 1,973 (2022) to 1,951 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,929 (extrapolated at -0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,900.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,649 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,973 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,951 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 1,951 people (vs Kentucky 19,515) |
| Population Estimate | 1,900 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 41.6y is 2.7 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 41.6 years (vs Kentucky 37.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,951 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 451 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 366.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 665.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 469 |
| Population under 18 | 451 |
| Median age | 41.6 years (vs Kentucky 37.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,951 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.05 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,899 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 4 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 47 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 5.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 97.4% |
| Black population | 6.9% (vs Kentucky 6.4%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.9% (vs Kentucky 5.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 87.4% (vs Kentucky 79.5%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 0% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,238 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 703 |
| Share born in this state | 63.5% |
| Share born in another state | 36.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 36.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 4 |
Households & Family Composition
774 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 61% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 441 families, 26% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 437 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 441 |
| Married couples with children | 116 |
| Single-parent households | 21 |
| Average household size | 2.25 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 32 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 12 |
| Family households | 471 households (vs Kentucky 4,204) |
| Households that are families | 60.9% (vs Kentucky 57.8%) |
| Total households | 774 households (vs Kentucky 6,786) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 12.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 199 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 12.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 11,044 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 11,243 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -199 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 208 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.9% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 106 residents live in group quarters (5.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 106 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 21033 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 21 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 033 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Caldwell |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 39.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 30.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 49.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 21033 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Caldwell County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 491 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 21033 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Caldwell County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 60.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 53.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 49.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 12,747 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.30 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,951, declining, established, lower-income, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,951 people (vs Kentucky 19,515) |
| Town Summary · County | Caldwell County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade