The Town Files

Adair County, Kentucky

19,089 people. The median home is worth $150,800 (typical Kentucky town: $161,450) and the median household earns $53,553.

Towns in Adair County

Towns in Adair County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Columbia4,845$143,600$47,29928.2

People and housing

Adair CountyTypical Kentucky town
Median home value$150,800$161,450
Median rent$771$837
Median household income$53,553$54,969
Median age39.739.1
Bachelor's degree or higher21.8%19.8%
Below the poverty line18.4%18.0%

Jobs and pay

4,954 jobs in 2024, average pay $41,613 a year.

Largest industries in Adair CountyRetail762 jobs · $35,561Manufacturing340 jobs · $52,847Construction188 jobs · $48,162Finance & insurance185 jobs · $50,939Transportation & warehousing155 jobs · $65,889Administrative & support120 jobs · $40,586
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Adair County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 248 storm events in Adair County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Adair County by type since 1996Hail38Flood8Tornado10High Wind6Ice Storm1Heavy Rain3Heavy Snow13Flash Flood25Frost/Freeze4Winter Storm11
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Adair County has been included in 27 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 29, 2026Winter StormDR-4913: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3633: Severe Winter Storm
May 23, 2025Severe StormDR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
April 3, 2025Severe StormEM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 24, 2025Severe StormDR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
February 16, 2025Severe StormEM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).