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1977

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 1977

Deaths 940Fatal crashes 796Per 100,000 —US deaths 47,878

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 1977.

In 1977, 940 people died in 796 fatal crashes in Kentucky.

The death toll rose 10% from 854 in 1976 to 940 in 1977.

Kentucky accounted for 2% of the 47,878 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

33.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1976 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 1977Kentucky 1976United States 1977
Deaths94085447,878
Fatal crashes79674842,211
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver34%29%34%

Counties in 1977

Every county with a fatal crash in 1977, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 114 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County11112215.41,088
Fayette County29329.7369
Warren County202516.9178
Hardin County172118.6199
Hopkins County152146.480
Bullitt County142023.3116
Henderson County141840.778
Lincoln County101768.260
Kenton County16169.2108
Christian County141521.1120
Harlan County131559.954
Barren County111430.795
McCracken County111217.8127
Clark County101231.967
Breckinridge County91256.554
Johnson County91254.333
Laurel County81218.9132
Webster County71293.430
Clay County111156.156
Floyd County111131.9104
Jessamine County91119.565
Madison County91111.0109
Graves County81129.975
Marshall County101031.584
Pike County101018.0162
Calloway County91025.758
Campbell County91010.688
Muhlenberg County91032.868
Whitley County91026.985
Bell County81043.458
Boone County8106.9119
Ohio County81041.858
Edmonson County61079.124
Lee County410136.716
Meade County8929.678
Hart County7945.255
Oldham County7912.859
Daviess County787.7121
Taylor County7829.854
Marion County6840.352
Bourbon County7734.459
Bracken County7782.419
Greenup County7719.834
Letcher County7734.848
Rockcastle County7743.157
Butler County6755.842
Carroll County6763.033
Lawrence County6744.337
Garrard County5738.830
Grayson County5725.986
Perry County5726.283
Pulaski County5710.5136
Wolfe County57110.040
Allen County6627.253
Boyd County6612.641
Elliott County6682.614
Breathitt County5646.949
Larue County5639.743
Lewis County5646.647
Magoffin County5654.034
Montgomery County5620.964
Boyle County5515.942
Knox County5516.953
McCreary County5529.746
Martin County5546.717
Nelson County5510.3112
Union County5537.928
Wayne County5525.548
Casey County4531.431
Crittenden County4555.725
Green County4543.331
Leslie County4551.427
McLean County4554.818
Mason County4529.534
Owen County4543.728
Shelby County4510.067
Morgan County3535.025
Caldwell County1–2539.637
Carter County4415.356
Franklin County447.651
Grant County4415.650
Metcalfe County4437.920
Monroe County4435.812
Pendleton County4426.921
Russell County3421.732
Scott County346.585
Woodford County3414.456
Carlisle County1–2483.714
Trimble County1–2446.624
Adair County3315.645
Bath County3323.233
Henry County3318.541
Hickman County3368.310
Logan County3310.553
Menifee County3347.322
Mercer County3312.842
Estill County1–21–2—16
Fleming County1–21–2—17
Harrison County1–21–2—23
Lyon County1–21–2—33
Rowan County1–21–2—41
Simpson County1–21–2—46
Spencer County1–21–2—24
Todd County1–21–2—44
Washington County1–21–2—33
Clinton County1–21–2—29
Cumberland County1–21–2—17
Fulton County1–21–2—13
Gallatin County1–21–2—33
Jackson County1–21–2—37
Knott County1–21–2—30
Livingston County1–21–2—20
Owsley County1–21–2—15
Trigg County1–21–2—43

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am5.7%
1am4.2%
2am4.2%
3am2.8%
4am2.2%
5am1.6%
6am2.2%
7am2.7%
8am3.5%
9am2.7%
10am2.4%
11am4.1%
12pm3.3%
1pm4.4%
2pm5.2%
3pm5.4%
4pm6.2%
5pm6.2%
6pm5.8%
7pm6.3%
8pm5.1%
9pm4.1%
10pm5.3%
11pm4.6%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday12%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday15%
Saturday24%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 1977?

940 people in 796 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1977 file.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 1977?

Jefferson County with 122 deaths in 111 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1977 compare with 1976 in Kentucky?

940 deaths against 854 in 1976 (+10%). Nationally the 1977 total was 47,878.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1977 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.