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Richmond, Kentucky

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Richmond, Kentucky
City
Madison County courthouse in Richmond
Madison County courthouse in Richmond
Nickname: 
Home Of Kentucky's Finest
Motto: 
"The City That Works"
Location of Richmond, Kentucky
Location of Richmond, Kentucky
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyMadison
Government
 • TypeCity Mayor/Manager
 • MayorConnie Lawson
 • ManagerDavid Evans
Area
 • Total19.3 sq mi (49.9 km2)
 • Land19.1 sq mi (49.5 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation
948 ft (289 m)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total32,895
 • Density1,420.4/sq mi (548.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
40475-40476
Area code859
FIPS code21-65226
GNIS feature ID0501827

Richmond is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, United States.Template:GR It is named after Richmond, Virginia, and is the home of Eastern Kentucky University. The population of Richmond, Kentucky was 32,895 in 2008 and is expected to be 35,000 by 2010. Richmond is Kentucky's 6th largest city and the second largest city in the Bluegrass region. Richmond serves as a center for work and shopping for south central Kentucky.

Richmond is a principal city of the Richmond–Berea Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Madison and Rockcastle counties.

History

The City of Richmond was founded in the year of 1798, by Colonel John Miller, who was active in the Revolutionary War as a soldier. According to local lore, Colonel Miller was attracted to the area by the uncommonly good spring water and friendly local Indian tribes. That same year, the Kentucky legislature approved moving the county seat from Milford to land that was owned by the Colonel Miller. The residents of Milford,adamantly opposed the move, and the county and residents of Richmond. This eventually led to a fight between Dave Kennedy (representing Milford) and William Kearly (represented Richmond). The results of this battle was never recorded, but the county approved the move in March 1798. On 4 July 1798, the new town was officially Richmond in honor of Miller's birthplace in Virginia.[1]

During the Civil War, the Union and Confederate Armies waged a pitched battle near Richmond on August 30, 1862. Troops under Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith routed soldiers commanded by Union General William Nelson. Of Wright's 6,500 men, only 1,200 escaped the battle and almost 4,500 were captured.[2] Some historians call this battle "the nearest thing to a Cannae ever scored by any general, North or South, in the course of the whole war." [3]

In 1906, Eastern Kentucky State Normal School was founded in Richmond to train teachers. There were 11 members of first graduating class in 1909. The college became a four-year school in 1922 and added graduate programs in 1935. In 1965, the institution was renamed Eastern Kentucky University.[4]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Richmond was the fastest growing city in Kentucky and one of the fastest growing cities in the south. [citation needed] Richmond is Kentucky's 6th largest city although it ranked 11th largest in the 2000 census.[citation needed]

Transportation

Richmond is served by Interstate 75 .

The Richmond Transit Service is a public transit system for the City of Richmond.[citation needed] Bus routes run throughout the city and make stops from 6am to Midnight on weekdays and Saturdays. There is also a public bus line that connects Richmond and Berea.[citation needed]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.9 km²), of which, 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²)(0.73%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1800110—
1810366232.7%
1830947—
1840822−13.2%
1850411−50.0%
1860845105.6%
18701,62992.8%
18802,90978.6%
18905,07374.4%
19004,653−8.3%
19105,34014.8%
19205,6225.3%
19306,49515.5%
19407,33512.9%
195010,26840.0%
196012,16818.5%
197016,86138.6%
198021,70528.7%
199021,183−2.4%
200027,25728.7%
2008 (est.)32,895
U.S. Census[5]

There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.78.

The age distribution, influenced strongly by the presence of Eastern Kentucky University, is: 17.5% under the age of 18, 31.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 13.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,533, and the median income for a family was $36,222. Males had a median income of $30,817 versus $22,053 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,815. About 16.6% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 19.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Richmond is served by the Madison County Schools.[6] Schools located in Richmond include:

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High schools

Private Schools

  • St. Mark Catholic School (grades PreK to 8)
  • Bluegrass Christian School

Post-Secondary Education

Law and Government

Richmond operates under a City Manager form of government. The citizens elect a mayor and four city commissioners which form the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners is the legislative body of the city government and represents the interests of the citizens when applicable. The Board of Commissioners appoints a city manager who administers the day-to-day operations of the city.

The mayor is elected for a term of four years. Each city commissioner is elected for a term of two years. The term of the city manager is indefinite.

Cityscape

The city has numerous parks, the most prominent being Lake Reba Recreational Complex. Paradise Cove, the city's aquatic center, is located in the complex along with a horse shoe pit, putt-putt golf course, football field, soccer field, baseball and softball fields, and a playground.

The downtown business district consists mostly of Victorian Style Structures. The only high rise in downtown is Madison Towers.

The majority of the city's high rises are located on the campus of EKU which include 20 stories (Commonwealth Hall), 16 stories (Keene Hall), 13 stories (Telford Hall), along with two 12 story high rises (Todd and Dupree Halls).

Developers Michael Eaves and Ed Worley have announced plans to rebuild five historic buildings on North First Street facing the Madison County Courthouse.

Media

Newspaper

The Richmond Register- daily (owned by Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc)[7]

Radio Stations

  • WEKY (1340 AM)
  • WCBR (1110 AM)
  • WEKU (88.9 FM)
  • WLRO (101.5 FM)

Notable Residents

References

  1. ^ Chamber of Commerce website, "City History", retrieved August 28, 2009.
  2. ^ The History Channel website. "This Day in Hisotry- August 30, 1862- The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky," retrieved August 28, 2009.
  3. ^ Foote, Shelby, The Civil War, A Narrative: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Random House, 1958, ISBN 0-394-49517-9
  4. ^ Eastern Kentucky University website, "About Eastern Kentucky University", retrieved August 28, 2009
  5. ^ http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/ Retrieved on 2009-1-8
  6. ^ Madison County Schools website, retrieved August 28,2 009.
  7. ^ Community Newspaper Holdings website

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richmond,_Kentucky&oldid=342236370"