Central City, Kentucky | |
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Motto(s): "Where the opportunities are endless and the music never ends" [1] | |
Coordinates: 37°17′42″N87°7′43″W / 37.29500°N 87.12861°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kentucky |
County | Muhlenberg |
Established | Morehead's Horse Mill, 1826 [2] |
Incorporated | Stroud City, 1873 [2] |
Incorporated | Central City, 1882 [2] |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor-City Administrator- City Council |
• Mayor | Tony Armour |
Area | |
• Total | 5.25 sq mi (13.59 km2) |
• Land | 5.24 sq mi (13.56 km2) |
• Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 5,819 |
• Estimate (2022) [5] | 5,810 |
• Density | 1,111.13/sq mi (429.05/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP Code | 42330 |
Area code(s) | 270 & 364 |
FIPS code | 21-13978 |
GNIS feature ID | 0489282 |
Central City is a home rule-class city [6] in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 5,819 at the 2020 census. [4] It is the largest city in the county and the principal community in the Central City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Muhlenberg County.
The site of present-day Central City was originally known as "Morehead's Horse Mill" after local resident Charles S. Morehead's steam-powered gristmill. A larger community began to develop after the 1870 advent of the Elizabethtown and Paducah Railroad. A post office was constructed the next year in 1871 and called "Owensboro Junction" after the projected 1872 completion of the Owensboro and Russellville Railroad. By 1873, the settlement was large enough to be incorporated by the state legislature as "Stroud City", after local landowner John Stroud. [7]
The same year, however, the du Ponts' Central Coal and Iron Company began operation in the area and became so vital to the local economy that the city was reïncorporated in 1882 as "Central City". [7] Recessions replaced the E&P and the O&R with a procession of different companies, including the Owensboro and Nashville Railway, but the two rights of way always remained in separate hands, keeping Central City an important regional hub for the Illinois Central and the L&N, with train yards, roundhouses, and even an elevated rail station. Coal was mined from nearby fields, prompting explosions such as one in 1912 that killed five workers. [8]
The expansion of automotive traffic in the early 20th century reduced some of Central City's importance, but it continues to service mainline freight traffic on the Paducah and Louisville Railway and trunk-line service for CSX from Madisonville to the Paradise Combined Cycle Plant, minutes south of the city.
Central City is located in northeastern Muhlenberg County at 37°17′42″N87°07′43″W / 37.294989°N 87.128622°W (37.294989, -87.128622). [9] The Western Kentucky Parkway runs along the southern edge of the city, with access from Exit 58 (U.S. Route 431). The parkway leads northeast 80 miles (130 km) to Elizabethtown and west 57 miles (92 km) to Eddyville. U.S. Route 62 passes through Central City south of the city center; it leads northeast 17 miles (27 km) to Beaver Dam and southwest 7 miles (11 km) to Greenville, the Muhlenberg county seat. US 431 passes through Central City's downtown, leading north 35 miles (56 km) to Owensboro and south 36 miles (58 km) to Russellville.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Central City has a total area of 5.25 square miles (13.6 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.21%, are water. [3] Terrain in Central City is rolling hills to steep bluffs along the northern boundaries of the city along the Green River. The city, along its northwestern border, is known for its swamps and lowland area that remain at or near the water table year-round.
Most of Central City has a sandstone bedrock with #9 bituminous coal underlying the bedrock. Central City has a number of old underground coal mine shafts that still crisscross the city. Most of these old shafts date back to the early 1900s. The majority of terrain around the city limits is reclaimed land where surface mining has taken place.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 1,144 | — | |
1900 | 1,348 | 17.8% | |
1910 | 2,545 | 88.8% | |
1920 | 3,108 | 22.1% | |
1930 | 4,321 | 39.0% | |
1940 | 4,199 | −2.8% | |
1950 | 4,110 | −2.1% | |
1960 | 3,694 | −10.1% | |
1970 | 5,450 | 47.5% | |
1980 | 5,214 | −4.3% | |
1990 | 4,979 | −4.5% | |
2000 | 5,893 | 18.4% | |
2010 | 5,978 | 1.4% | |
2020 | 5,819 | −2.7% | |
2022 (est.) | 5,810 | [10] | −0.2% |
U.S. Decennial Census [11] |
As of the census [12] of 2000, there were 5,893 people, 2,065 households, and 1,410 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,126.2 inhabitants per square mile (434.8/km2). There were 2,313 housing units at an average density of 442.0 per square mile (170.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.07% White, 10.67% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 2,065 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,371, and the median income for a family was $32,959. Males had a median income of $29,284 versus $18,265 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,637. About 18.4% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
Central City is home to Central City Elementary School. Central City Elementary School is a feeder school for Muhlenberg North Middle School which, in turn, feeds Muhlenberg County High School.
Central City is also home to the Muhlenberg Campus of Madisonville Community College, completed in 2001.
Central City has a lending library, a branch of the Muhlenberg County Public Library. [13]
Major employers in Central City include:
On Labor Day Weekend 1988, Central City began hosting The Everly Brothers Homecoming event to raise money for a scholarship fund for Muhlenberg County students. [14] The Homecoming became a popular annual event for fourteen years, before ending in 2002. [15]
Not to be discouraged, the citizens reformed the event as a weekend long cruise-in and car show that is still held annually on Labor Day Weekend.
Sponsored by the Central City Business & Professional Women's Club, the Hall of Fame is located inside the Central City Public Library, 108 E. Broad Street and features a portrait and memorabilia gallery which includes former Governor Martha Layne Collins, Country & Western music giant Loretta Lynn, and local author, editorialist, historian, war correspondent for the Service Star and noted cultivator of roses Agnes S. Harralson. Central City Library hours are Monday-Wednesday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit www.mcplib.org for more info; Central City BPW meets the second Tuesday of each month in the library meeting room at 6:00 pm - visitors are welcome.
The Muhlenberg County Rail Trail is a paved trail following an old Paducah and Louisville railway route between Central City and Greenville that is open to pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle traffic. Kentucky's most extensive rail trail conversion to date, the Muhlenberg Rail Trail opened October 20, 2000 and was named "Trail of the Month" by the Rails to Trails Conservancy in May 2004. [16] A viewing platform and birding guide are available where the trail passes through a local wetland. [17] The Muhlenberg County Rails to Trails Committee has obtained an additional 3 miles of abandoned rail, possibly for a later extension into McLean County. [18]
McCracken County is a county located in the far west portion of U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,875. The county seat and only municipality is Paducah. McCracken County was the 78th county formed in the state, having been created in 1825. It is part of the historic Jackson Purchase, territory sold by the Chickasaw people to General Andrew Jackson and Governor Isaac Shelby; this territory was located at the extreme western end of Kentucky.
Ohio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,772. Its county seat is Hartford, and its largest city is Beaver Dam. The county is named after the Ohio River, which originally formed its northern boundary. It is a moist county, which means that the sale of alcohol is only legal within certain city limits.
Muhlenberg County is a county in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,928. Its county seat is Greenville and its largest city is Central City.
McLean County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,152. Its county seat is Calhoun and its largest city is Livermore. McLean is a prohibition or dry county. McLean County is part of the Owensboro, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of some 114,752.
Hopkins County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,423. Its county seat is Madisonville. Hopkins County was created December 9, 1806, from Henderson County. It was named for General Samuel Hopkins, an officer in both the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812, and later a Kentucky legislator and U.S. Congressman.
Grayson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,420. Its county seat is Leitchfield. The county was formed in 1810 and named for William Grayson (1740–1790), a Revolutionary War colonel and a prominent Virginia political figure. Grayson County was formerly a prohibition or dry county, but Leitchfield allowed limited alcohol sales in restaurants in 2010 and voted "wet" in 2016.
Daviess County ( "Davis"), is a county in Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 103,312. Its county seat is Owensboro. The county was formed from part of Ohio County on January 14, 1815.
Butler County is a county located in the US state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 12,371. Its county seat is Morgantown. The county was formed in 1810, becoming Kentucky's 53rd county. Butler County is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Irvington is a home rule-class city in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 1,181 at the 2010 census.
Bardwell is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Carlisle County, Kentucky, United States. The city was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1878. The population was 714 at the 2020 census, down from 723 in 2010. Bardwell is included in the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Hawesville is a home rule-class city on the south bank of the Ohio River in Hancock County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 945 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Owensboro metropolitan area.
Cumberland is a home rule-class city in Harlan County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population according to the 2010 Census was 2,237, down from 2,611 at the 2000 census. The city sits at the confluence of Looney Creek and the Poor Fork Cumberland River.
Madisonville is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Hopkins County, Kentucky, United States, located along Interstate 69 in the state's Western Coal Fields region. The population was 19,591 at the 2010 census. Madisonville is a commercial center of the region and is home to Madisonville Community College.
Nortonville is a home rule-class city in Hopkins County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 1,204 as of the 2010 census.
Island is a home rule-class city in McLean County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 429 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Owensboro metropolitan area.
Livermore is a home rule-class city located at the confluence of the Green and Rough rivers in McLean County in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 1,230 as of the 2020 census, down from 1,365 in 2010. It is included in the Owensboro metropolitan area.
Drakesboro is a home rule-class city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 481 at the 2020 census. Incorporated in 1888, the city was named for early pioneer William Drake.
Greenville is a home rule-class city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 4,492 as of the 2020 census.
Powderly is a home rule-class city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 788 as of the 2020 census.
Williamsburg is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Whitley County, on the southeastern border of Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,326 at the 2020 census. Developed along the Cumberland River, the city was founded in 1818 and named after William Whitley.