Kentucky elevation
Kentucky runs from 257 ft at Mississippi River to 4,145 ft at Black Mountain, with an average of about 810 ft.
Highest point: Black Mountain
4,145ft
1,263 m above sea level
Black Mountain, Harlan County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Mississippi River
- 257 ft (78 m)
- NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 810 ft (247 m)
- Mean of 218 USGS points about 22 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Kentucky places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Frankfort504 ft
Kentucky elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Black Mountain | 4,145 ft (1,263 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Mississippi River | 257 ft (78 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 3,888 ft (1,185 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 810 ft (247 m) | USGS 3DEP, 218 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 4,132 ft (1,260 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Frankfort | 504 ft (154 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 39,485 sq mi (102,267 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 810 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (810 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 97 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- At or below 1,000 ft, use the standard USDA sea-level times.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in Kentucky
- Lexington-Fayette1,004 ft
- Bowling Green528 ft
- Louisville/Jefferson County520 ft
- Covington507 ft
- Frankfort (capital)504 ft
- Owensboro395 ft
Largest places in Kentucky
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | 520 ft (159 m) · pop. 640,796 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Lexington-Fayette | 1,004 ft (306 m) · pop. 329,437 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Bowling Green | 528 ft (161 m) · pop. 79,076 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Owensboro | 395 ft (120 m) · pop. 60,675 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Covington | 507 ft (155 m) · pop. 41,611 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Kentucky?
Black Mountain at 4,145 ft (1,263 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Kentucky?
Mississippi River, at 257 ft, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Kentucky?
About 810 ft (247 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 218 points on a regular grid about 22 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Kentucky city on this site is highest?
Frankfort, at 504 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Kentucky?
At 810 ft, water boils at about 210.5 °F (99.2 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.06 inHg (984 hPa), so each breath holds about 97% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Kentucky spans 3,888 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made