Campbellsville, Kentucky

"Campbellsville" redirects here. For the unincorporated community in Tennessee, see Campbellsville, Tennessee.

Campbellsville, Kentucky
City
Seal
Motto:  Urbs progrediens media in civitate (Latin: City in the middle of the commonwealth)
Location of Campbellsville in Taylor County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 37°20′45″N85°20′44″W / 37.34583°N 85.34556°W / 37.34583; -85.34556
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Taylor
Government
• Mayor	Dennis Benningfield (previous mayor Brenda Allen passed away September 7, 2024)
Area [1]
• Total	7.67 sq mi (19.86 km2)
• Land	7.54 sq mi (19.52 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Elevation	814 ft (248 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,426
• Estimate  (2022) [2]	11,599
• Density	1,516.39/sq mi (585.47/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	42718-42719
Area code(s)	270 & 364
FIPS code	21-12160
GNIS feature ID	0488742
Website	www.campbellsville.us

Campbellsville is a city in central Kentucky founded in 1817 by Andrew Campbell. It is known for Campbellsville University, Taylor Regional Hospital health care system, its historic downtown, and the proximity to Green River Lake State Park. Campbellsville is the county seat of Taylor County which has a geographic boundary shaped like a heart. Campbellsville celebrated its bicentennial on July 4, 2017.

History

Founding

The city was founded in 1817 and laid out by Andrew Campbell, who had moved from Augusta County, Virginia, along with his wife Rebecca Campbell and four of his brothers, James, Adam, Michael, and David Campbell. Campbell owned a gristmill and a tavern and began selling lots in Campbellsville in 1814. ^[3] Campbellsville was designated by the state legislature as the county seat in 1848 ^[4] after Taylor County was separated from Green County. The city agreed to sell the public square to the county for one dollar so that a courthouse could be built.

Historic sites

Campbellsville has several historic sites as listed under Taylor County in the National Register of Historic Places listings in Kentucky.

The Campbellsville Historic Commercial District includes several blocks of Main Street. The historic First Street Brewery one street over dates back to the prohibition. Which is due to open in 2021 for the first time since the 1930s.

Justice Center, 2017

The city's first courthouse was burned by Confederate cavalry in 1864 because the Union Army was using it for barracks. After the war, a second courthouse was built on the same site. The third courthouse was built in 1965 on a property adjoining the "old courthouse" (on the aptly named Court Street). A fourth courthouse referred to as the Justice Center building was built on Main Street (along with a new adjoining county jail) in 2008. The project removed several old commercial buildings from the 300 block of East Main Street.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km²), of which 6.0 square miles (16 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (1.65%) is covered by water. ^[5]

US 68, KY 55, KY 210, and KY 70 pass through Campbellsville.

Taylor County has also claimed ^[6] to contain the geographic center of Kentucky, in Campbellsville. In addition to the City of Campbellsville motto meaning "city in the middle of the commonwealth", the city contains a station marker placed by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey circa 1916 which has since been regarded by citizens as the fabled center marker of Kentucky. It is located in front of the Montgomery Library on the campus of Campbellsville University.

Climate

The climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Campbellsville has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps. ^[7]

Parks

Miller Park is the main recreational park with softball fields, tennis courts, swimming pool, playgrounds, walking track gardens, and open space. It surrounds the Pitman Creek that flows through the park. About one mile to the west, Osborne Park (named after former Mayor Paul E. Osborne) is mostly open space and soccer fields. These two recreation parks are joined by the nature trail, the Pitman Creek Trail (a Trail Town project).

Demographics

The population within city limits was 10,604 at the 2010 U.S. census.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	446		—
1870	512		14.8%
1880	775		51.4%
1890	1,018		31.4%
1900	1,341		31.7%
1910	1,206		−10.1%
1920	1,535		27.3%
1930	1,923		25.3%
1940	2,488		29.4%
1950	3,477		39.8%
1960	6,966		100.3%
1970	7,598		9.1%
1980	8,715		14.7%
1990	9,577		9.9%
2000	10,498		9.6%
2010	9,108		−13.2%
2020	11,426		25.5%
2022 (est.)	11,599	[8]	1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, 9,018 people, 3,764 households, and 2,160 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,760.9 inhabitants per square mile (679.9/km²). The 4,114 housing units averaged 817.9 per square mile (315.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.11% White, 8.74% African American, 0.14% Native American 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.17% of the population.

Of the 4,114 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were not families. About 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city, the population was distributed as 21.8% under the age of 18, 14.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,922, and for a family was $30,643. Males had a median income of $26,672 versus $19,736 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,996. About 18.7% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Present day

Campbellsville University (the local university), Taylor Regional Hospital (the regional health care system), and the Amazon fulfillment center are the top employers. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Campbellsville University (CU) published its 2016/2017 economic impact report showing an annual impact of $106,482,540. Of that, $42.9 million impact the local economy. The university's operations directly employ and support over 13.26% of all jobs in Taylor County, Kentucky. ^[11]

Taylor Regional Hospital (TRH) - The expanding healthcare system serves the region of 110,000 people. TRH is one of the area's largest employers. In 2016, TRH served 98,900 patients. ^[12]

Amazon's fulfillment center, known as SDF1, is located near the technology park.

Campbellsville is home to the Heartland Commerce and Technology Park (HCTP). The park's initial tenant is an automotive components manufacturer, the INFAC Corporation. In June 2017, HCTP received a "Build-Ready" certification to attract new companies. ^[13]

Tourism is also part of the local economy because of nearby Green River Lake and Green River Lake State Park.

Historical

In the 20th century, Campbellsville was a regional center of industry (agriculture, lumber, textiles, milling, automotive, distribution, oil and gas, light manufacturing, education, healthcare, and tourism).

For decades, employment in the area was dominated by a large textile plant, formerly Union Underwear and since Fruit of the Loom. It closed in 1998 due to cost cutting measures, with production moving to Latin America. ^[14] Shortly thereafter, another notable employer closed, the Indiana-based Batesville Casket Company. ^[15]

In 1969, the booming petroleum business was shut down because of environmental concerns of excess salt water disposal. In 2008, attempts failed to revitalize oil reserves because of water infiltration.

Legacy

The area is home to wood-milling companies that produce interior trim products (Cox Interior, Wholesale Hardwoods).

Campbellsville Industries (CI), "The Steeple People (tm)," is the oldest and largest steeple and tower manufacturer in the United States. ^[16] CI has more than 15,000 installations located throughout the United States and Canada. CI claims the record for the world's largest prefabricated church steeple at 229 ft at the First Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama. ^[17]

Campbellsville is home to the last Druther's (Burger Queen) restaurant in operation.

Media

Local print, radio, and TV:

• The local weekly newspaper, Central Kentucky News-Journal, ^[18] has been published since 1910.
• WVLC 99.9 FM country music, Campbellsville
• WCKQ 104.1 FM Adult contemporary music, Campbellsville
• WGRK 103.1 Country, Greensburg
• WTCO 1450 AM Rock, Campbellsville
• WLCU TV, Campbellsville University

Law and government

Campbellsville is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Taylor County, Kentucky, United States. ^[19]

The Campbellsville City Council is made up of twelve elected members. During city council meetings held monthly, the mayor presides and all thirteen members have voting rights.

Education

Campbellsville is home to Campbellsville University, founded in 1906 as an academy.

School districts with portions of Campbellsville include: ^[20]

• Campbellsville Independent School District
• Taylor County School District
• Kentucky Christian Academy-Private school Ages 3 through High School-Accredited through the Association of Christian Schools International.

Campbellsville has two local public schools, Campbellsville High School and Taylor County High School, for each district.

Campbellsville has a lending library, the Taylor County Public Library. ^[21]

Transportation

Public transportation is limited. RTEC provides public transit service that serves a 13-county area in southeast Kentucky. ^[22]

Airports

Campbellsville does have a local airport, the Taylor County Airport (FAA Identifier: AAS). It is 2.5 miles from downtown Campbellsville.

Roadways

Campbellsville is accessible by two-lane roadways. The closest four-lane roadway is the Bluegrass Parkway.

Notable people

• Sandra Blanton, former member of the Indiana House of Representatives; raised in Campbellsville
• Nancy Cox, 1990 Miss Kentucky; Lexington television reporter; born and raised in Campbellsville
• Zack Cox, former Arkansas Razorback baseball player, Current professional baseball player
• Clem Haskins, former college and professional basketball player and college basketball coach at University of Minnesota
• J. B. Holmes, professional golfer
• Russ Mobley, state representative from 2001 to 2009
• Max Wise (born 1975), former FBI agent, serving as a member of the Kentucky Senate

Sister cities

Campbellsville is twinned with Buncrana in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
2. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
3. Taylor County History: Volume One.
4. "Campbellsville | Small Town, Historic Sites, Civil War | Britannica". www.britannica.com. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Geographic Center of Kentucky". www.kyatlas.com. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
7. "Campbellsville, Kentucky Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "Campbellsville University Economic Impact 2016/2017". Campbellsville.edu. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
12. "Taylor Regional Hospital Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Taylor Regional Hospital. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
13. "Heartland Commerce and Technology Park in Campbellsville, Kentucky, Receives Certification - Area Development". areadevelopment.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
14. Tribune, Chicago (April 16, 1998). "FRUIT OF LOOM PLANT CLOSING; 812-JOB TOLL". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
15. "Company News; Fruit of Loom to Cut 800 Jobs in Another Plant Closing". New York Times. April 16, 1998.
16. "CI Example - The Hoboken Clock Tower". Cvilleindustries.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
17. "CI's Largest Pre-Fab Steeple". Cvilleindustries.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
18. "CKNJ.com". CKNJ.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
19. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Taylor County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 25, 2022. - Text list - For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: "Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Campbellsville ISD" (PDF). Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer. Frankfort, KY: Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission. September 15, 2015. p. 96 (PDF p. 110/174).
21. "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
22. "RTEC web". RTEC. Retrieved January 30, 2018.

External links

• Chamber of Commerce