Dry Ridge, Kentucky

"Dry Ridge" redirects here. For other uses, see Dry Ridge (disambiguation).

Dry Ridge, Kentucky
City
Location of Dry Ridge in Grant County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 38°40′56″N84°35′47″W / 38.68222°N 84.59639°W / 38.68222; -84.59639
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Grant
Area [1]
• Total	5.08 sq mi (13.16 km2)
• Land	5.05 sq mi (13.07 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation [2]	961 ft (293 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,102
• Estimate  (2022) [3]	2,138
• Density	416.49/sq mi (160.81/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	41035
Area code	859
FIPS code	21-22582
GNIS feature ID	2403510 [2]
Website	cdrky.org

Dry Ridge is a home rule-class city ^[4] in Grant County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 2,191 at the 2010 census, ^[5] up from 1,995 at the 2000 census. From around 1910 to 1960, the city's economy was dominated by business related to its mineral water wells, purported to have healing properties. ^[6]

Geography

Dry Ridge is located north of the center of Grant County. It is bordered to the south by the city of Williamstown, the county seat. Interstate 75 passes through Dry Ridge, with access from Exit 159. I-75 leads north 35 miles (56 km) to Cincinnati and south 49 miles (79 km) to Lexington. U.S. Route 25 (Main Street) runs through the center of Dry Ridge, leading north 7 miles (11 km) to Crittenden and south 4 miles (6 km) to the center of Williamstown.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Dry Ridge has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²), of which 0.03 square miles (0.09 km²), or 0.72%, is water. ^[5]

History

The community now known as Dry Ridge was settled about 1792 as "Campbell's Station" near a spring said to have medicinal qualities. ^[7]

A post office called "Dry Ridge" was established in 1815 at an inn. Dry Ridge takes its name from a ridge surrounded by inns where travelers stopped for water before proceeding. ^[8]

In 1909, the city was incorporated, the last incorporated in Grant County. That same year, a creamery company found mineral water which was believed to have medical properties. During the early part of the 20th century, Dry Ridge was the home of Kentucky Carlsbad Mineral Water Bottling Company, and home of the Carlsbad Hotel completed in 1911. ^{[9] [10]} People came to Dry Ridge from all over the eastern United States to take the mineral water ^[11] of what was known as the Kentucky Carlsbad Springs, although it was not a spring, but a well. ^[6] The hotel was destroyed by fire on February 25, 1927. ^[12]

In 1937, a water distribution system was created with water from Williamstown, Kentucky's lake. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	143		—
1920	129		−9.8%
1930	97		−24.8%
1940	257		164.9%
1950	640		149.0%
1960	802		25.3%
1970	1,100		37.2%
1980	1,250		13.6%
1990	1,601		28.1%
2000	1,995		24.6%
2010	2,191		9.8%
2020	2,102		−4.1%
2022 (est.)	2,138	[13]	1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [14]

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 1,995 people, 771 households, and 535 families residing in the city. The population density was 428.2 inhabitants per square mile (165.3/km²). There were 861 housing units at an average density of 184.8 per square mile (71.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.19% White, 0.55% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.30% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 771 households, out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,647, and the median income for a family was $32,202. Males had a median income of $38,000 versus $23,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,568. About 21.0% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Grant County students are served by Grant County Middle School and Grant County High School, both located in Dry Ridge.

Notable people

• Lulu Vere Childers, African-American music educator
• Skeeter Davis (Mary Frances Penick, 1931–2004), country-pop (or Nashville sound) singer

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dry Ridge has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[16]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dry Ridge, Kentucky
3. "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.
4. "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dry Ridge city, Kentucky". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2016.^{[ dead link ]}
6. Tenkotte, Paul A.; Claypool, James C. (2015). "Carlesbad Springs Hotel". The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 154.
7. Federal Writers' Project (1996). The WPA Guide to Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky. p. 264. ISBN   0813108659 . Retrieved November 24, 2013.
8. Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 85. ISBN   0813126312 . Retrieved April 28, 2013.
9. Tenkotte, Paul A.; Claypool, James C. (2015). "Dry Ridge". The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 283.
10. Commission, Kentucky Progress (1931). Kentucky Progress Magazine ...
11. The Southwestern Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1922.
12. Tenkotte, Paul A.; Claypool, James C. (2015). "Fire". The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 332.
13. "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.
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. Climate Summary for Dry Ridge, Kentucky

External links

• City of Dry Ridge official website
• Historical Texts and Images of Dry Ridge