Winchester, Kentucky

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Winchester, Kentucky
City
The Clark County Courthouse Clock
The Clark County Courthouse Clock
Nickname: 
Wincity
Location of Winchester, Kentucky
Location of Winchester, Kentucky
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyClark
Area
 • Total7.7 sq mi (19.9 km2)
 • Land7.6 sq mi (19.8 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
994 ft (303 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total16,724
 • Density2,187.6/sq mi (844.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
40391-40392
Area code859
FIPS code21-83676
GNIS feature ID0506924
Main Street in Winchester

Winchester is a small town in the county seat of Clark County, Kentucky, United States.Template:GR The population was 16,724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Winchester is located at 37°59′41″N 84°11′3″W / 37.99472°N 84.18417°W / 37.99472; -84.18417Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (37.994774, -84.184289)Template:GR. There are 3 main highways in the county. 1958 (Bypass Rd.) is an outer loop of the town. 627(Boonesborough Rd.) is connected to downtown. This road also leads to Richmond, although I-75 does run on the southern part of the county. US 60 (Winchester-Lexington Rd.)runs right through the middle of downtown Winchester. It is also home to the Mountain Parkway and I-64.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²).Of this, 7.6 square miles (19.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.52%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 16,724 people, 6,907 households, and 4,620 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,187.6 people per square mile (845.2/km²). There were 7,400 housing units at an average density of 968.0/sq mi (374.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.94% White, 8.83% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.60% of the population.

There were 6,907 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,254, and the median income for a family was $36,797. Males had a median income of $31,295 versus $21,747 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,611. About 13.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

A view of a historical building in downtown Winchester from Kentucky Route 627
A view of Kentucky Route 627 while traveling south through Winchester

Education

Higher Education

Winchester has been the home of several higher education establishments. Kentucky Wesleyan College was located in the city from 1890 to 1954. When Kentucky Wesleyan left, the local Churches of Christ organized Southeastern Christian College on the former Kentucky Wesleyan campus. After SCC folded in the 1970s, the campus was preserved as a public park. Today, Clark County is home to the Winchester Campus of Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

George Rogers Clark High School


The city's only public high school, George Rogers Clark High School opened in the fall of 1963, consolidating the Clark County High School and Winchester High School locally referred to as county high and city high respectively. The school has a strong record in athletics, celebrating state championships in numerous sports. The boy's basketball team (County) won the 1951 Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) state title under head coach Letcher Norton. In 1991, the football team won the KHSAA Class AAAA state championship, while the girl's track and field team won the KHSAA Class AAA state title. In 1999, the boy's golf team finished as runner-up in the state tournament, and continues to make noise in the golf community, with several of its 1999 team members moving on to college golf and semi-pro golf. The most recent addition to GRC Athletics is the boys and girls swim team, which competed in its first season during the 2005-2006 school year.

Another very successful team is the Red and White Varsity Cheerleadering Squad. The team has been very successful, winning Eleven State Titles in: 2009, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, and 1995. The squad also typically attends the NCA competition in Dallas, TX, where they have placed numerous times as well. In 2008 the GRC cheerleader's no longer have a Red or White Varsity, they now have a "Super Varsity", which means there is no longer two teams, there is only one big one. Their motto is "We Are One". In 2009 they attended the UFC competition in Orlando and was ranked 14th in the nation.

The schools' band program is also very successful. The George Rogers Clark High School Marching Band is regarded as one of the region’s top marching bands and has enjoyed a tradition of excellence since the school’s opening in the mid 1960’s. The band currently has an enrollment of more than 100 members. GRC is known as a formidable competitor in such venues as Bands of America, The Contest of Champions, and Kentucky Music Educators Association Sanctioned Contests. The following list highlights some of the band’s more notable accomplishments:

  • Kentucky State Marching Champion - 1986, 2002
  • Kentucky State Marching Band Finalist - 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
  • Bands of America Grand National Finalist - 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2007
  • Bands of America Midwest Regional Champion - 1992
  • Bands of America Midwest & Mideast Regional Champions - 1991
  • Murfreesboro Contest of Champions Winner - 1973, 1974, 1977
  • Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - 1987
  • Orange Bowl Parade - 1980

The central focus of the George Rogers Clark High School Band Program is its outstanding symphonic/concert bands. Students are taught fundamental musicianship and are exposed to both standard and modern repertoire. Master Classes are offered during the school day once a week for each instrument. Private lessons, chamber music, and solo opportunities are also offered. The GRC Symphonic Band has consistently earned distinguished ratings at KMEA sanctioned Concert Festivals. The GRC Symphonic Band has performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois (1977) and has competed in Bands of America and National Adjudicators Invitational Concert Festivals. Accomplishments include:

Distinguished Ratings, K.M.E.A. Concert Band Assessment, University of Ky - 1998, 2001, 2002, and 2003 First Place, Six Flags Over St. Louis Concert Band Festival - 1997 First Place, Dixie Classic Concert Band Festival - 1996 Midwest Band Clinic Performance, Chicago - 1977 Mideast Band Clinic Performance, Pittsburgh - 1974

While it is not a sport recognized by the KHSAA, cheerleading is popular and very competitive at George Rogers Clark. In 2006, the cheerleading team captured its fourth straight Kentucky Association of Prep Organization Sponsors (KAPOS) state championship. The squad has won 11 of the last 12 state championships in the traditional at-large category.

Notable residents

Winchester has been home to several notable historical figures, including:

Historical & Political

Artists & Writers

Actors, Actresses, & Directors

  • Joan Mann, Broadway stage actress, choreographer, and director, circa 1938-1952. Radio City Music Hall Rockette, New York, 1942.
  • Matt Long, actor who starred in the TV show Jack & Bobby as Jack McCallister. Most recently appeared on the big screen as young Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider.
  • Timothy S. Reed, director of motion picture screen advertising, New York. National work seen theatrically, as well as Fox Television's That 70s Show.
  • Joseph Jackson, director.
  • Jason Epperson, film and music video director, placed 2nd in the Fox reality show On The Lot.
  • Lark Watts, singer/songwriter and music video director

Sports

Historic sites

Sister city

Winchester has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:

c

See also

References

  1. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.

External links

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

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