Junction City, Kentucky

Junction City, Kentucky
City
Junction City
Location of Junction City in Boyle County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 37°35′07″N84°47′25″W / 37.58528°N 84.79028°W / 37.58528; -84.79028
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Counties	Boyle
Incorporated	April 8, 1882 [1]
Named for	the L&N and Cincinnati Southern railroads
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area [2]
• Total	2.01 sq mi (5.21 km2)
• Land	2.01 sq mi (5.20 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation [3]	984 ft (300 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,268
• Estimate  (2022) [4]	2,290
• Density	1,130.61/sq mi (436.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	40440
Area code	859
FIPS code	21-41338
GNIS feature ID	2404815 [3]
Website	jcky.us

Junction City is a home rule-class city ^[5] in Boyle County on its border with Lincoln County in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Junction City's population was 2,241 at the 2010 U.S. census. ^[6] It is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Junction City began when the Louisville and Nashville Railroad reached the area. It was originally known as "Goresburg" for the proprietors of the Gore Hotel. The Gore post office opened in 1880, and was renamed Goresburg in 1882. The town was renamed "Junction City" when the Cincinnati Southern Railway reached town later that year, its tracks intersecting those of the L&N. The city was formally incorporated April 8, 1882, by the state assembly. ^[1] The L&N station there was known as "Danville Junction" for its proximity to the larger city of Danville.

The southeastern part of Junction City was once the separate town of Shelby City, incorporated in 1867, and named for Kentucky's first governor Isaac Shelby, who lived and was buried nearby. This community's separate post office was known as "South Danville" when it was established April 26, 1866, renamed Shelby City the next year (the eastern portion of Junction City is still known as Shelby City), and closed in 1926. It was also known as "Briartown" and its L&N station was called "Danville Station". The tomb of Kentucky's first governor, Isaac Shelby, and his homestead Traveler's Rest, is located across the Lincoln County line, just south of this part of town. ^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²), all land. ^[8]

The city lies in a broad valley south of Danville, and just north of the border between Boyle and Lincoln counties. Much of Junction City is concentrated along Shelby Street between the Cincinnati Southern tracks on the west and U.S. Route 127 on the east. The part of town east of US 127 is known as "Shelby City." Kentucky Route 37 and Kentucky Route 300 intersect in northwestern Junction City.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	174		—
1890	648		272.4%
1900	817		26.1%
1910	747		−8.6%
1920	722		−3.3%
1930	781		8.2%
1940	694		−11.1%
1950	988		42.4%
1960	1,047		6.0%
1970	1,046		−0.1%
1980	2,045		95.5%
1990	1,983		−3.0%
2000	2,184		10.1%
2010	2,241		2.6%
2020	2,268		1.2%
2022 (est.)	2,290	[9]	1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 2,184 people, 876 households, and 617 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,088.3 people per square mile (420.2 people/km²). There were 945 housing units at an average density of 470.9 units per square mile (181.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.53% White, 1.05% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.73% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.85% of the population.

Caboose on display in Junction City

There were 876 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93.

27.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was US $29,569, and the median income for a family was $32,609. Males had a median income of $25,700 versus $21,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,258. About 14.5% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Junction City, Kentucky". Accessed 1 August 2013.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Junction City, Kentucky
4. "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.
5. "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
6. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Junction City city, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 30, 2012.
7. "Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer" . Retrieved November 1, 2008.
8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Junction City city, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 30, 2012.
9. "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.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

External links

• Official site