City of Simpsonville | |
---|---|
Nickname: American Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World | |
Coordinates: 38°13′00″N85°21′05″W / 38.21667°N 85.35139°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kentucky |
County | Shelby |
Incorporated | 1833 [1] |
Named for | John Simpson |
Government | |
• Type | City Commission |
• Mayor | Ronnie Sowder |
Area | |
• Total | 2.38 sq mi (6.15 km2) |
• Land | 2.35 sq mi (6.09 km2) |
• Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
Elevation | 771 ft (235 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,990 |
3,028 | |
• Density | 1,270.72/sq mi (490.71/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP code | 40067 |
Area code | 502 |
FIPS code | 21-70752 |
GNIS feature ID | 2405466 [3] |
Interstates | |
Website | www |
Simpsonville is a home rule-class city [5] in Shelby County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is located 8 miles west of Shelbyville, Kentucky and 23 miles east of Louisville situated along U.S. 60. [6] The population was 2,484 during the 2010 U.S. Census. [7]
Simpsonville was first laid out in 1816 on the petition of Isaac Watkins. [8] It received its first post office in 1821 [9] and was incorporated in 1833. It was named in honor Captain John Simpson; a native Virginian who represented Shelby County in the Kentucky House of Representatives and died in the War of 1812. By 1825 it had become a stage coach town; one of the largest between Shelbyville and Louisville. [6] The Midland trail stagecoach would either swap out or rest their horses and travelers could stay at the Old Stone Inn. The second oldest stone building in the county which is still standing today. [10]
For most of its history Simpsonville was an agrarian community which dairy, tobacco, cattle, and hogs being the primary source of income for most residents. [6] This was due to its remarkably fertile soil based on limestone and red clay. [11] Later on it would be the genesis for the town's moniker 'American Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World'. [6]
In January 1865 at least 80 members of Company E of the 5th United States Colored Cavalry were transporting 900 head of Federal cattle from Camp Nelson to a stock market in Louisville. [12] They set up camp in Simpsonville and on the morning of January 25 they were attacked by Confederate guerrillas led by Henry Magruder. [13] The guerrillas attacked from the rear killing 22 Union soldiers and injuring over 20 more, at least some of whom were killed after trying to surrender. [14] None of the guerrillas were documented to be injured. [15] The Union army camped in Louisville was indifferent to the ambush, not responding for three days and leaving the citizens of Simpsonville to care for the wounded. [16] Eventually, the wounded were transferred to an Army hospital in Jeffersonville, Indiana where a further four more died. [15] The citizens of Simpsonville buried the dead in two mass graves that later became an African American cemetery, [14] one of which is now marked with a memorial along U.S. 60. Some of the survivors later became Buffalo Soldiers. [15]
No guerillas were ever prosecuted for the attack. However, Henry Magruder would be tried, convicted, and sentenced to death by a military tribunal for several other murders. He was executed at the Louisville Military Prison on October 20, 1865. [17]
In the years following the Civil War Simpsonville remained a small village of 200 to 300 residents and was a school and church center. [18] It was connected west to Louisville and east to Shelbyville by the Louisville & Eastern Railroad in 1910. An interurban railroad that would be purchased by the Louisville and Interurban Railroad in 1911 who would operate the line until 1934. [19] In the years following the First World War Midland trail would be converted into U.S. 60 providing Simpsonville with a direct link to the U.S. Highway System. [20] It was after the Second World War that Simpsonville's population started to grow. The completion of Interstate 64 in 1965 [21] created an easy connection to Louisville which allowed Simpsonville to add acres of new residences, factories, warehouses, and retail. [20]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (1.50%) is water.
Early in its history Simpsonville had several one-room schools [6] including Professor John W. Adams' school in the 1850s and Jordans Fairview Academy from 1868 to 1880. [22] By 1895 it had four private schools and its first public high school (Simpsonville High School) was built in 1912. [6] In the following decades the high school was merged with Todd's Point in 1940 [23] and Finchville High School in 1950. [24] The high school closed its doors in 1958 when Shelby County decided to consolidate its school system and it became Simpsonville Elementary school. [6] Today Simpsonville is served by the Shelby County Public School system with its residents attending Martha Layne Collins High School in Shelbyville. There is also one private that serves all grades: Corpus Christi Academy. [25]
Following the Civil War all Kentucky schools were segregated. Simpsonville's African-American children attended Simpsonville School and Lincoln Model School. [26] Simpsonville was also the site of the Lincoln Institute; a boarding school for African American founded in 1912. It was built by Berea College in response to the Day Law which forced segregation of all public and private educational facilities. It offered both high school and vocational training until 1966 when declining enrollment caused by Brown v. Board of Education forced it to close. Today the grounds serve as the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Job Corps Training Center. [27]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1830 | 77 | — | |
1850 | 225 | — | |
1860 | 169 | −24.9% | |
1870 | 239 | 41.4% | |
1880 | 253 | 5.9% | |
1890 | 290 | 14.6% | |
1900 | 203 | −30.0% | |
1910 | 185 | −8.9% | |
1920 | 189 | 2.2% | |
1930 | 181 | −4.2% | |
1940 | 220 | 21.5% | |
1950 | 247 | 12.3% | |
1960 | 220 | −10.9% | |
1970 | 628 | 185.5% | |
1980 | 642 | 2.2% | |
1990 | 907 | 41.3% | |
2000 | 1,281 | 41.2% | |
2010 | 2,484 | 93.9% | |
2020 | 2,990 | 20.4% | |
2022 (est.) | 3,028 | [4] | 1.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census [28] |
As of the census [29] of 2010, there were 2,484 people, 935 households, and 672 families residing in the city. The population density was 980.9 inhabitants per square mile (378.7/km2). There were 935 housing units at an average density of 395.9 per square mile (152.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.89% White, 6.80% African American, 0.52% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 2.86% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.98% of the population.
There were 935 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,000, and the median income for a family was $52,560. Males had a median income of $34,688 versus $27,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,443. About 7.7% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,065. Its county seat is Shelbyville. The county was established in 1792 and named for Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. Shelby County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Shelby County's motto is "Good Land, Good Living, Good People".
Spencer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,490. Its county seat is Taylorsville. The county was founded in 1824 and named for Spier Spencer.
Oldham County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state and commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,607. Its county seat is La Grange. The county is named for Colonel William Oldham.
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Jefferson County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 782,969. It is the most populous county in the commonwealth.
Henry County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky bordering the Kentucky River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,678. Its county seat is New Castle, but its largest city is Eminence. The county was founded in 1798 from portions of Shelby County. It was named for the statesman and governor of Virginia Patrick Henry. Henry County is included in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Since the 1990s, it has become an increasingly important exurb, especially as land prices have become higher in neighboring Oldham County. With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is classified as a wet county.
Shelby County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 45,055. The county seat is Shelbyville.
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Shelbyville is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Shelby County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 17,282 at the 2020 census.
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The Grand Lodge of Kentucky is one of two state organizations that supervise Masonic lodges in the state of Kentucky. It was established in 1800.
Finchville is an unincorporated community within Shelby County, Kentucky, United States.
Henry Clay Magruder was a Confederate soldier, convicted war criminal, and guerrilla during the American Civil War. Born near Lebanon, Kentucky, he took part in several major Western theater battles. Still, he is best known for his fate as a guerrilla and was possibly the inspiration of a fictional local folk hero and guerrilla fighter, Sue Munday, whose exploits closely mirrored his own.
Elijah P. Marrs was a minister and educator in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a sergeant in the 12th Regiment Heavy Artillery U.S. Colored Troops during the American Civil War (1861–1865). After the war he taught in various schools and helped organize Loyal Leagues to defend blacks from attacks by the Ku Klux Klan. Together with his brother, Henry, he helped found what became Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville in 1879.
John Simpson was a United States Army officer, attorney, and politician. Simpson saw military action in both the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812. He also served 4 terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives including 2 years as the House's Speaker. In 1812 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives but died before he could take office.