POPULATION186,000 residents in 2006 census. Population increased by over a fifth between 2002 and 2006. 65.5 per cent of residents live in urban areas.
HOUSINGCurrently 1,836 houses for sale in Kildare on Myhome.ie
EMPLOYERSBig employers include Intel, Hewlett Packard, Musgraves, NUI Maynooth, Green Isle Foods and Pfizer. Intel in Leixlip has announced a €370m expansion plan which will create 850 temporary construction jobs followed by 200 permanent IT jobs.
SHOPPINGThe countrys largest Tesco opened in Naas in November 2010. Superquinn Naas closed in January 2011.
COLLEGESNUI Maynooth has 8,400 registered students.
HORSESOne-quarter of all horses trained in Ireland are trained in Co Kildare: 104 stud racehorse trainers and 1,021 breeders are based here. The horse industry is estimated to employ 5,500 in Kildare. The Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown is worth €50m plus to the local and national economy, plus 2,000 full and part time jobs locally.
WATERWAYSThe county has both the Grand and Royal Canals plus rivers Liffey and Barrow.
