Covington, Kentucky

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Covington, Kentucky
—  City  —
Location in Kenton County, Kentucky, USA
Coordinates: 39°3′54″N 84°30′35″W / 39.065°N 84.50972°W / 39.065; -84.50972Coordinates: 39°3′54″N 84°30′35″W / 39.065°N 84.50972°W / 39.065; -84.50972
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Kenton
Founded 1815
Government
 • Type Commission-City Manager
 • Mayor Denny Bowman (D)
Area
 • Total 13.7 sq mi (35.4 km2)
 • Land 13.1 sq mi (34.0 km2)
 • Water 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2)
Elevation 509 ft (155 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 40,640
 • Density 3,301.3/sq mi (1,274.4/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 41011-41012, 41014-41019
Area code(s) 859
FIPS code 21-17848
GNIS feature ID 0490167
Website www.covingtonky.gov

Covington is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 40,640; it is the fifth-most-populous city in Kentucky.[1] It is one of two county seats of Kenton County.[2] Covington is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers. Covington is part of the Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky metropolitan area and is separated from Cincinnati by the Ohio River and from Newport by the Licking River. Covington is located within the Upland South region of the United States of America.

Contents

[edit] History

Main article: History of Covington, Kentucky
Daniel Carter Beard Boyhood Home

Covington was established in 1814 when John Gano, Richard Gano, and Thomas Carneal purchased 150 acres (0.6 km2) on the west side of the Licking River at its confluence with the Ohio River, referred to as "the Point," from Thomas Kennedy for $50,000. The city was incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly a year later. Covington experienced growth during most of the 19th century, only to decline during the Great Depression and the middle 20th century. The city has seen some redevelopment during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

[edit] Covington Blue Sox

In 1912, city leaders attempted to acquire a baseball franchise in the Class D Blue Grass League; the Cincinnati Reds, whose park was just five miles away across the Ohio River, nixed the move. Instead (after several larger cities backed out), Covington was awarded a team in the new "outlaw" circuit, the Federal League.

The city raised $12,500, with $6,000 budgeted to build the ballpark. Bernard Wisehall, a prominent local architect, designed Federal Park (also known as Riverbreeze Park) with a capacity to 6,000. The playing field (bounded by East 2nd Street, East 3rd Street, Madison Avenue and Scott Boulevard [1]) was tiny, believed to be smallest for any pro baseball park ever built: just 194 feet down the right-field line, 267 feet to dead center and 218 feet down the left-field line. [2] Construction didn't even begin until a month before Opening Day; after starting the season on a long road trip, the Blue Sox managed to sell out their home opener in late May, with thousands of fans turned away.[3]

But Covington simply didn't have the populace to support such an ambitious endeavor. On June 26, the team moved to Kansas City and ownership of the team reverted to creditors. Federal Park was used for other events the next few years, but it was eventually torn down and a tobacco warehouse was put up in its place; Covington has never hosted a professional team in any sport since.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Covington has a total area of 13.7 square miles (35 km2), of which 13.1 square miles (34 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (3.88%) is water.

[edit] Climate

Covington is located within a climatic transition zone; it is nestled within the southern end of the humid continental climate zone and the northern periphery of the humid subtropical climate of the Upland South, with hot, humid summers and cool winters. Evidence of both a humid subtropical climate and a humid continental climate can be found here, particularly noticeable by the presence of plants indicative of each climatic region; for example, the Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) from the subtropics and the blue spruce from cooler regions are successful landscape plants in and around Covington.


Climate data for Covington, Kentucky
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25)		 77
(25)		 88
(31)		 90
(32)		 95
(35)		 102
(39)		 108
(42)		 103
(39)		 101
(38)		 92
(33)		 83
(28)		 75
(24)		 108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 38
(3)		 44
(7)		 55
(13)		 66
(19)		 75
(24)		 83
(28)		 87
(31)		 86
(30)		 79
(26)		 67
(19)		 54
(12)		 43
(6)		 64.8
(18.2)
Average low °F (°C) 23
(−5)		 27
(−3)		 35
(2)		 43
(6)		 54
(12)		 62
(17)		 67
(19)		 65
(18)		 58
(14)		 46
(8)		 37
(3)		 27
(−3)		 45.3
(7.4)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27)		 −9
(−23)		 3
(−16)		 18
(−8)		 28
(−2)		 40
(4)		 48
(9)		 44
(7)		 32
(0)		 20
(−7)		 1
(−17)		 −13
(−25)		 −16
(−27)
Precipitation inches (mm) 2.70
(68.6)		 2.30
(58.4)		 3.49
(88.6)		 3.81
(96.8)		 4.50
(114.3)		 3.71
(94.2)		 3.25
(82.6)		 3.46
(87.9)		 3.04
(77.2)		 2.80
(71.1)		 3.49
(88.6)		 3.02
(76.7)		 39.57
(1,005.1)
Source: The Weather Channel.[3]

[edit] Demographics

The Ascent at Roebling's Bridge
Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1830 743
—
1840 2,026 172.7%
1850 9,408 364.4%
1860 16,471 75.1%
1870 24,505 48.8%
1880 29,720 21.3%
1890 37,371 25.7%
1900 42,938 14.9%
1910 53,270 24.1%
1920 57,121 7.2%
1930 65,252 14.2%
1940 62,018 −5.0%
1950 64,452 3.9%
1960 60,376 −6.3%
1970 52,535 −13.0%
1980 49,585 −5.6%
1990 43,264 −12.7%
2000 43,370 0.2%
2010 40,640 −6.3%
U.S. Census Bureau[4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile (1,274.4/km²). There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile (600.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.05% White, 10.14% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 18,257 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.08.

A view of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, looking towards Covington, Ky

The age distribution was 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,735, and the median income for a family was $38,307. Males had a median income of $31,238 versus $24,487 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,841. About 15.5% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

Omnicare and Ashland are based in Covington.

[edit] Top employers

According to Covington's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[6] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 St. Elizabeth Healthcare 6,300
2 Fidelity Investments 3,900
3 Covington Independent Schools 925
4 Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington 800
5 ACNielsen 400
6 State of Kentucky 360
7 Omnicare 325
8 Club Chef 300
9 NorthKey 280
10 Atkins & Pearce 225

[edit] Historic Churches

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington

[edit] Notable residents

  • Adrian Belew, a musician best known for his role as vocalist and guitarist of King Crimson since the early 1980s, he was born in Covington, December 23, 1949.
  • Byrd Spilman Dewey, writer and Florida pioneer, was born in Covington February 16, 1856.
  • Asa Drury (1802–1870), educator, Baptist minister and first superintendent of Covington public schools.
  • Frank Duveneck, realist painter born in Covington on October 9, 1848.
  • Mitch English, national television personality best known as one of the hosts on the show The Daily Buzz also featured in theatrical releases and other television programs was born St. Elizabeth Hospital on October 2, 1969
  • Una Merkel, actress born in Covington, December 10, 1903.
  • Gertrude Orr, screenwriter born in Covington, January 17, 1891.
  • Lee Roy Reams, Broadway actor born in Covington, August 23, 1942.

[edit] Transportation

Covington is served by Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

[edit] See also

[edit] Gallery

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://travel.ky.gov/facts_populations.aspx
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ "MONTHLY AVERAGES for Covington, KY". The Weather Channel. http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/USKY0801from=month_bottomnav_undeclared. Retrieved 2010-05-26. 
  4. ^ Historical Census Data Retrieved on 2010-05-26
  5. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ City of Covington CAFR
  7. ^ "John H. McNeely, "Holding Institute"". The Handbook of Texas. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HH/kbh7.html. Retrieved September 30, 2009. 

[edit] External links

Municipalities and communities of Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
County seats: Covington and Independence
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