For nearly a century, Fort Knox has been a mainstay of economic activity and life in Kentucky's Heartland. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process called for the realignment of the installation, long known as the home of Armor, to the Army's Human Resource Center of Excellence.
This transformation expanded the post's white collar knowledge based workforce with a net increase of 5,000 permanent jobs, many working in the brand new 900,000 square foot state-of-the-art office complex, known as the HRCoE, Maude Complex. It is named for LTG Timothy Maude the G1 of the ARMY who lost his life in the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon. Add to that hundreds of contractor positions supporting Fort Knox missions, and the economic impact on the region is astounding.
For that reason, state and local leaders are making major investments in road improvements, infrastructure and new educational facilities.
Click here for more information on some of the major improvements.
Fort Knox Quick Facts (Updated 10 February 2012)
| Organization | FY2005 Approx. # of personnel |
FY2012 Approx. # of personnel |
| Active Duty Military | 5,457 | 8,004 |
| Reserve Component Military | 1,607 | 1,888 |
| Civilians and Contractors | 7,995 | 10,753 |
| Dependents of Active Duty Military Living On Post | 5,573**** | 8,580** |
| Total | 20,632 | 29,225 |
| Organization | FY2005 Approx. # of personnel |
FY2012 Approx. # of personnel |
| Active Duty Military | 5,457 | 8,004 |
| Reserve Component Military | 1,607 | 1,888 |
| Civilians and Contractors | 7,995 | 10,753 |
| Dependents of Active Duty Military | 14,192***** | 17,609*** |
| Total | 29,251 | 38,254 |
NOTE: The population data above DOES NOT include the installation's daily student and trainee population. However, in FY2011, there was a student/training load of more than 23,000 personnel.
** Estimated by multiplying the current number of on-post domiciles (2,600) by 3.3
*** Estimated by multiplying the combined sum of active-duty military by 2.200025
**** Estimated by multiplying the 2005 number of on-post domiciles (2,837) by 1.9647514
***** Estimated by multiplying the combined sum of active-duty military by 2.6006964
(Each multiplier is different for the following reasons: Average number of dependents in on-post housing is different than the overall average number of dependents; dependent averages change each year)
Economic Impact (nine county area):
- $2.8 billion annual installation expenditures (includes military & civilian payroll and installation operating budget)
- Provide 39,600 jobs (indirect included)
- $1.2 billion annual payroll (military and civilian)
- FY2012 Area Retirees and Retiree Dependents/Survivors (within 40 miles): 48,576
- Fifty two percent of Soldiers and Families live off post.
Installation Size:
- The installation spans 108,955 acres.
- Cantonment Area - 6,856 acres
- Training Area - 101,353 acres
- Recreational Areas - 746 acres
- Fort Knox is the sixth largest city in Kentucky.
- On-post housing - Fort Knox expects to have about 2,600 homes by FY2014.
Key Historical Information:
- 1918 - The town of Stithton (population 400) is leased by the federal government. Camp Knox is established.
- 1929 - Mechanized force is developed at Fort Eustis, Va.
- 1932 - Camp Knox is redesignated Fort Knox.
- 1933 - Mechanized force is moved to Fort Knox
- 1936 - Construction of the U.S. Bullion Depository is completed at Fort Knox.
- 1940 - Armored Force is developed at Fort Knox
- 1995 - U.S. Army Recruiting Command relocated to Fort Knox
- 2009 - 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division relocated to Fort Knox
- 2010 - Armor Center transfers authority of the installation to U.S. Army Accessions Command.
- 2011 - U.S. Army Accessions, Cadet and Human Resources Commands completely relocate to Fort Knox
- 2011 - Armor Center & School moves to Fort Benning, GA.
- 2012 - U.S. Army Accessions Command is discontinued and Cadet Command assumes authority of Fort Knox.
Major Units and Organizations:
- U.S. Army Cadet Command
- U.S. Army Recruiting Command
- U.S. Army Accessions Command Inactivation Task Force
- U.S. Army Human Resources Command
- Army Medical Command (Ireland Army Community Hospital)
- Army Reserve Readiness Training Center
- 100th Division
- 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment
- 703rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal
- 84th Training Command
- 11th Aviation Command
- 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
- 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
- 4th Cavalry Training Brigade
- 19th Engineer Battalion
- Fort Knox Garrison
- Mission and Installation Contracting Command
- 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment
Fort Knox Community Schools:
Fort Knox features eight DoDEA schools - four elementary schools, two intermediate schools, a middle school, and a high school. Student enrollment is currently at about 2,150.
