Middletown, Kentucky

This article is about the present-day Middletown in Jefferson County. For the former Middletown in Nelson Co., see Bloomfield, Kentucky.

Not to be confused with Middlesboro, Kentucky.

Middletown, Kentucky
City
Main Street in Middletown
Flag
Location of Middletown in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Middletown Location within the state of Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Middletown Middletown (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 38°14′42″N85°31′17″W / 38.24500°N 85.52139°W / 38.24500; -85.52139
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Jefferson
Established	1797
Incorporated	1866
Reïncorporated	1979
Area [1]
• Total	5.20 sq mi (13.46 km2)
• Land	5.14 sq mi (13.30 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation [2]	705 ft (215 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,706
• Density	1,889.80/sq mi (729.68/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	40243, 40253
Area code	502
FIPS code	21-51978
GNIS feature ID	2404253 [2]
Website	cityofmiddletownky.org

Middletown is an independent, home rule-class city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States, and a suburb of Louisville. The population was 7,218 at the 2010 census. The city is home to the main campus of the largest church in the state (and one of the country's largest Protestant churches), the Southeast Christian Church.

History

See also: History of Louisville, Kentucky

The City of Middletown was originally incorporated in 1797 by the Jefferson County Court on 500 acres of land lying on a branch of the forks of Beargrass Creek that originally belonged to Jacob Meyers and Culberth Harrison. Though there is no recorded explanation why the city was named Middletown, it is commonly believed that that name was chosen because the town was in the "middle" of the two older cities of Louisville which was founded June 24, 1778, and Shelbyville, which was founded December 20, 1792. In 1871 the Kentucky General Assembly amended the original charter to increase Middletown's boundaries.

After failing to hold elections and collect taxes after 1919, Circuit Judge Macauley Smith dissolved the city's charter on July 26, 1960, and Middletown lost its 163-year-old city status. The city's charter was restored as a sixth-class city on August 7, 1976, with a commission form of government. On July 15, 1982, this was upgraded to the status of a fourth-class city. ^[3]

Geography

Middletown is located in northeast Jefferson County, Kentucky near Louisville, Kentucky.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.10 square miles (13.2 km²), of which 5.04 square miles (13.1 km²) is land and 0.061 square miles (0.16 km²) (1.20%) is water.

Demographics

Corner of Madison & Main Street in Middletown

2010

As of the census ^[4] of 2010, there were 7,218 people, 3,292 households, and 1,966 families living in the city. The population density was 1,414.9 inhabitants per square mile (546.3/km²). There were 3,547 housing units at an average density of 695.3 per square mile (268.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.1% White (85.1% non-Hispanic), 7.1% African American, 0.11% Native American or Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 3,292 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.86.

Bybee Pottery on Main Street

The age distribution was 21.4% under 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	244		—
1890	302		—
1980	414		—
1990	5,016		1,111.6%
2000	5,744		14.5%
2010	7,218		25.7%
2020	9,706		34.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

2000 census

As of the census ^[6] of 2000, there were 5,744 people, 2,391 households, and 1,654 families living in the city. The population density was 1,181.4 inhabitants per square mile (456.1/km²). There were 2,543 housing units at an average density of 523.0 per square mile (201.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.39% White, 5.54% African American, 0.30% Native American or Alaska Native, 1.44% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.50% of the population.

There were 2,391 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,608, and the median income for a family was $61,667. Males had a median income of $45,417 versus $33,135 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,660. About 2.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Middletown welcome sign

Education

Public education in Middletown is administered by Jefferson County Public Schools, which operates Eastern High School, Hite Elementary, Middletown Elementary, and Crosby Middle School in the Middletown area. Middletown also has multiple privately funded schools. There is also a branch of the Louisville Free Public Library.

Government services

Middletown police in front of city hall

Anchorage-Middletown-Eastwood-Worthington fire and EMS operates out of 11 stations to provide fire protection to 90 square miles of the eastern Louisville Metro area. Middletown is also home to a small 24 hour paid police department based out of city hall. Middletown is also home to LMPD's 8th division. EMS is serviced by the fire department and Louisville metro EMS.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middletown, Kentucky
3. "Early settlers came from Louisville". The Courier-Journal .^{[ dead link ‍]}
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

• Guthrie, Blaine A. Jr. (2001). "Middletown". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 619–620. ISBN   0-8131-2100-0. OCLC   247857447.

Further reading

• Stewart, Kay (November 8, 1989). "Middletown: As a prime stagecoach stop, the community saw much of its activity centered on 2 thriving inns". The Courier-Journal . p. 11. Retrieved May 18, 2024– via newspapers.com.

External links

• Official website
• Middletown Chamber of Commerce
• "America's Emptiest Cities", Forbes.com, 02.12.09 at archive.today (archived January 24, 2013)