Tri-County Region

Northern Kentucky (Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties plus 37 distinctive communities) is a blend of tradition and culture that has produced rich diversity and opportunity. The forward-thinking leaders collectively offer newcomers a strong and expanding economy, excellent schools, top-notch healthcare facilities, ideal transportation services, and a pro-business attitude which all highly contribute to successful economic development activities.

Northern Kentucky is a region that offers the assets of a 2.1 million+ metropolitan area, all while providing the convenience and affordability of a smaller community. Situated in an ideal geographic location, Northern Kentucky is within 600 miles of two-thirds of the nation’s population, personal income, and manufacturing business establishments, driven by the convenience of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. It is a distinct region that offers all the personal amenities of living in the Cincinnati MSA.

Northern Kentucky is the regional name given to the three most northern counties of Kentucky-Boone, Campbell and Kenton. Tri-ED markets the three counties, including their cities and towns, on a national and international basis as a location for new or expanding companies. With an estimated population in 2011 of 373,083 residents in those counties, Northern Kentucky represents 17% of Cincinnati MSA residents.

A high level of services such as public safety, recreation, transportation and education are made available through cooperative agreements with regional providers. Amenities and entertainment venues, such as the historic Mainstrasse Village, Crestview Hills Town Center and Newport on the Levee have made Northern Kentucky a tourist attraction, while providing a high quality-of-life for residents.

Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties

Boone County

Boone County (population 121,737) is the area in the westernmost part of the three Northern Kentucky counties. It is bounded by the Ohio River on its north and west side and by Interstate 75/71 on most of its east side. Boone County is a major contributor to the Cincinnati MSA as well as a central transportation hub for the region as home of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Delivering a greater impact are the hundreds of companies and more than 60,000 people working in Boone County and contributing to the tremendous investment of the area.

Topography: The most level of the region's varying topography. Boone County's industrial areas are near interstates and the airport, providing necessary infrastructure and other amenities, making it inviting for prospective companies.

For a closer look at communities located in Boone County, please visit the Boone County, City of Florence, and City of Union feature sections in Thrive, the online newsletter for all things Northern Kentucky.

Campbell County

Campbell County (population 90,940) is the area in the easternmost of the three Northern Kentucky counties. Campbell is bounded on three sides by water, the Ohio River on the north and the east and the Licking River on the west. A forward-looking administration within the County and the City of Newport has reinvented the old river city as a premier tourist destination for the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Newport on the Levee and Newport Aquarium have produced growth along the riverfront, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the tax base and to the wealth of the community.

The historic riverfront communities of Newport, Bellevue and Dayton enjoy spectacular views of the Cincinnati skyline and the activities on the Ohio River. Marinas and restaurants hug the south shore of the Ohio River from Newport through Bellevue and Dayton to take advantage of the scenery. A major institution in Campbell County is Northern Kentucky University, the fastest-growing college in the state system. NKU enjoyed the national spotlight when former President George W. Bush visited the campus to promote the new College of Informatics, one of only a few of its kind in the U.S. The University will also assume a role in economic development when the new commercial development campus site is completed.

Topography: The topography of Campbell County that creates the beautiful vistas for residential use also limits other commercial development to valley floors or areas in the southern part of the county.

For a closer look at Campbell County communities, please visit the Campbell County feature section of Thrive.

Kenton County

Kenton County (population 160,406) is the central of the three Northern Kentucky counties. It is bounded by the Ohio River on the north side, by the Licking River on the east side, and by Interstate 75/71 on most of its west side. It is the more densely populated of the three counties, beginning along the historic waterfront area of Covington and moving south toward Interstate 275. The construction along the river, where the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Corporex towers and other high-rise structures were completed, is redefining the skyline piece-by-piece. The Ascent, the newest high rise structure completed in Covington, features luxury condos with excellent views of the riverfront and downtown Cincinnati. Through strategic partnerships, the urban core in Covington and the riverfront are being revitalized to improve the quality of life and business in the area.

Topography: The topography of Kenton County is fairly steep just south of the Ohio River basin, but moderates to gently rolling in its center and southern sections.