City Score: Blue Heron, KY

The score

Blue Heron, KY scores 38 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 42 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 31 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: Kentucky state-wide

Read state-wide: Kentucky

State-wide for every index: the numbers for Violent crime, Property crime, Drug overdose deaths, Legal gambling, Given to local needs in Joy, Needs met in Joy, Volunteers mobilized in Joy, New believers in Joy, Searches for a church in Joy, Foster and adoptive families in the churches, Christian colleges and universities, Divorces, Marriages, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for Kentucky as a whole, not by city, so every Kentucky city carries Kentucky's numbers.

Kentucky scores 41 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 47 · Movement 31).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any Kentucky city reaches Kentucky's officials, and Kentucky's own score moves with them.

Start a petition for Kentucky in the Joy app.

What's moving it

• 3 prayer gatherings (Prayer, listed from church websites)
• 13 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
• 16 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
• 119 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
• 6 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of Blue Heron, KY

• What Blue Heron is up against: 44 out of 100 — Better than 62% of cities, up 2 points (Kentucky state-wide)
• Where grace is growing: 9 out of 100 — Better than 1% of cities (Kentucky state-wide)
• Marriage & family: 53 out of 100 — Better than 56% of cities (Kentucky state-wide)
• Christian liberty: 51 out of 100 — Better than 49% of cities (Kentucky state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in Blue Heron, KY

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. Blue Heron, KY rates 34 out of 100: Drifting across 7 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 11 out of 100, Barren

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (272.4 adherents per 1,000 residents, McCreary County, KY). Kentucky (15 counties summed) state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (3 prayer gatherings, 13 ways to serve, and 16 gatherings).

The Family: 52 out of 100, Mending

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (75.0 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, McCreary County, KY). Kentucky state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (6 Bible studies).

Education: 50 out of 100, Searching

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (0 0-2, Kentucky). Kentucky state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (6 Bible studies).

Government: 54 out of 100, Unsettled

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (42.5 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, Kentucky). Kentucky state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 26 out of 100.

Media: 45 out of 100, Mixed

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (-0.5 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), Kentucky). Kentucky state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 5 out of 100.

Arts & Entertainment: 34 out of 100, Worldly

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. From Blue Heron, KY's other areas. The church's movement in it this week: 5 out of 100.

Business: 5 out of 100, Greedy

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (0.3 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, McCreary County, KY). Kentucky (15 counties summed) state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 5 out of 100.

Compassion: 24 out of 100, Indifferent

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (26.4 deaths per 100,000, Kentucky (28 counties summed)). Kentucky (28 counties summed) state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 28 out of 100 (13 ways to serve).

What takes Blue Heron, KY to Revival

• City Pulse: City Pulse 2 → 40
• Unity: Unity 12 → 45
• Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
• Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

• This quarter: Drug overdose deaths up 13 percentile points (What Blue Heron is up against)
• This quarter: Violent crime down 6 percentile points (What Blue Heron is up against)
• This quarter: Divorces up 2 percentile points (Marriage & family)

Blue Heron, KY over time

• Oct 2026 — Entered Liberty

Sources

1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 29, 2026
2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 29, 2026
3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · Kentucky (28 counties summed) · fetched Oct 28, 2026
5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Kentucky · fetched Nov 4, 2026
6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · McCreary County, KY · fetched Oct 28, 2026
13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · McCreary County, KY · fetched Oct 28, 2026
14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · McCreary County, KY · fetched Oct 28, 2026
15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kentucky (15 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kentucky (15 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kentucky (15 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kentucky (15 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kentucky (15 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · Kentucky (15 counties summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · Kentucky · fetched Nov 10, 2026
22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · McCreary County, KY · fetched Oct 28, 2026
23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · McCreary County, KY · fetched Oct 28, 2026
24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · McCreary County, KY · fetched Oct 28, 2026
25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 28, 2026
26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 28, 2026
27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 28, 2026
29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 28, 2026
30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 28, 2026
31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Kentucky · fetched Oct 29, 2026
32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Kentucky · fetched Nov 4, 2026
33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Kentucky · fetched Nov 4, 2026
34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Kentucky · fetched Nov 4, 2026
35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · Kentucky · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, Blue Heron, KY, Kentucky, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

Compare Blue Heron, KY

• Blue Heron, KY vs Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati, OH scores 43)
• Blue Heron, KY vs Lexington, KY (Lexington, KY scores 36)
• Blue Heron, KY vs Huntington, WV (Huntington, WV scores 27)
• Blue Heron, KY vs Clarksville, TN (Clarksville, TN scores 43)
• Blue Heron, KY vs Bowling Green, KY (Bowling Green, KY scores 38)

Every indicator

What Blue Heron is up against — 44 out of 100

• Violent crime: 216.2 offences per 100,000, better than 76% of cities, down 6 points · 2025, Kentucky · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Property crime: 1282.8 offences per 100,000, better than 69% of cities, up 1 points · 2025, Kentucky · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Sexually transmitted infections: not shown (no data) · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
• Drug overdose deaths: 26.4 deaths per 100,000, better than 24% of cities, up 13 points · 2025, Kentucky (28 counties summed) · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
• Legal gambling: 2 0-3, better than 45% of cities · 2026, Kentucky · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Adult entertainment outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Gambling outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Cannabis outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Liquor outlets and bars: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Predatory lenders: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Abortion facilities (mapped): not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)

Where grace is growing — 9 out of 100

• Church adherents: 272.4 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 7% of cities · 2020, McCreary County, KY · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Congregations: 17.8 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 39% of cities · 2020, McCreary County, KY · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Charitable giving: 0.3 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 9% of cities · 2023, McCreary County, KY · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
• Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Kentucky (15 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Kentucky (15 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Kentucky (15 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Kentucky (15 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Kentucky (15 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, Kentucky (15 counties summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
• Christian colleges and universities: 4.6 per million residents, better than 83% of cities · 2024, Kentucky · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 53 out of 100

• Children with married parents: 75.0 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 68% of cities · 2020-2024, McCreary County, KY · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Adults 25-44 married: 42.9 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 24% of cities · 2020-2024, McCreary County, KY · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Cohabiting households: 4.7 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 83% of cities · 2020-2024, McCreary County, KY · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Divorces: 17.8 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, better than 9% of cities, up 2 points · 2020-2024, Kentucky · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Marriages: 36.6 married in the last 12 months per 1,000 unmarried people 15+, better than 74% of cities · 2020-2024, Kentucky · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Births to unmarried mothers: not shown (no data) · CDC WONDER

Christian liberty — 51 out of 100

• Religious Liberty in the States score: 42.5 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, better than 60% of cities, up 1 points · 2026, Kentucky · Religious Liberty in the States
• Safeguards fully in law: 7 of the edition's safeguards, better than 61% of cities · 2026, Kentucky · Religious Liberty in the States
• State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 1 1 = full protection, 0 = none, better than 70% of cities · 2026, Kentucky · Religious Liberty in the States
• Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.1 incidents per 100,000, better than 23% of cities · 2025, Kentucky · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• School choice: 0 0-2, better than 18% of cities · 2026, Kentucky · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Protections for the unborn: 2 0-2, better than 84% of cities · 2026, Kentucky · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Homeschool freedom: 2 0-2, better than 77% of cities · 2026, Kentucky · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Tone of news coverage of Christianity: -0.5 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), better than 45% of cities · 2026-11, Kentucky · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, Blue Heron, KY, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/blue-heron-ky/score

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• How the score is built (methodology)
• The Q4 2026 release: rankings and every state's table

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