City in Kentucky, United States
Campbellsville
is a city in central
Kentucky
founded in 1817 by Andrew Campbell. It is known for
Campbellsville University
,
Taylor Regional Hospital
health care system, its historic downtown, and the proximity to
Green River Lake State Park
. Campbellsville is the
county seat
of
Taylor County
which has a geographic boundary shaped like a heart. Campbellsville celebrated its
bicentennial
on July 4, 2017.
History
[
edit
]
Founding
[
edit
]
The city was founded in 1817 and laid out by Andrew Campbell, who had moved from
Augusta County
,
Virginia
. Campbell owned a
gristmill
and a
tavern
and began selling lots in Campbellsville in 1814. Campbellsville was designated by the state legislature as the county seat in 1848
[3]
after Taylor County was separated from
Green County
. The city agreed to sell the public square to the county for one dollar so that a courthouse could be built.
Historic sites
[
edit
]
Campbellsville has several historic sites as listed under Taylor County in the
National Register of Historic Places listings in Kentucky
.
The
Campbellsville Historic Commercial District
includes several blocks of Main Street. The historic First Street Brewery one street over dates back to the prohibition. Which is due to open in 2021 for the first time since the 1930s.
The city's first courthouse was burned by
Confederate
cavalry in 1864 because the
Union Army
was using it for barracks. After the war, a second courthouse was built on the same site. The third courthouse was built in 1965 on a property adjoining the "old courthouse" (on the aptly named Court Street). A fourth courthouse referred to as the Justice Center building was built on Main Street (along with a new adjoining county jail) in 2008. The project removed several old commercial buildings from the 300 block of East Main Street.
Geography
[
edit
]
According to the
United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km
2
), of which 6.0 square miles (16 km
2
) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km
2
) (1.65%) is covered by water.
[4]
US 68
,
KY 55
,
KY 210
, and
KY 70
pass through Campbellsville.
Taylor County
has also claimed
[5]
to contain the geographic center of Kentucky, in Campbellsville. In addition to the City of Campbellsville motto meaning "city in the middle of the commonwealth", the city contains a station marker placed by the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
circa 1916 which has since been regarded by citizens as the fabled center marker of Kentucky. It is located in front of the Montgomery Library on the campus of
Campbellsville University
.
Climate
[
edit
]
The climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Koppen climate classification
system, Campbellsville has a
humid subtropical climate
,
Cfa
on climate maps.
[6]
Parks
[
edit
]
Miller Park is the main recreational park with softball fields, tennis courts, swimming pool, playgrounds, walking track gardens, and open space. It surrounds the Pitman Creek that flows through the park. About one mile to the west, Osborne Park (named after former Mayor
Paul E. Osborne
) is mostly open space and
soccer
fields. These two recreation parks are joined by the nature trail, the Pitman Creek Trail (a Trail Town project).
Demographics
[
edit
]
The population within city limits was 10,604 at the
2010 U.S. census
.
Historical population
Census
| Pop.
| Note
| %±
|
1860
| 446
| | ?
|
---|
1870
| 512
| | 14.8%
|
---|
1880
| 775
| | 51.4%
|
---|
1890
| 1,018
| | 31.4%
|
---|
1900
| 1,341
| | 31.7%
|
---|
1910
| 1,206
| | ?10.1%
|
---|
1920
| 1,535
| | 27.3%
|
---|
1930
| 1,923
| | 25.3%
|
---|
1940
| 2,488
| | 29.4%
|
---|
1950
| 3,477
| | 39.8%
|
---|
1960
| 6,966
| | 100.3%
|
---|
1970
| 7,598
| | 9.1%
|
---|
1980
| 8,715
| | 14.7%
|
---|
1990
| 9,577
| | 9.9%
|
---|
2000
| 10,498
| | 9.6%
|
---|
2010
| 9,108
| | ?13.2%
|
---|
2020
| 11,426
| | 25.5%
|
---|
2022 (est.)
| 11,599
| [7]
| 1.5%
|
---|
As of the
census
[9]
of 2010, 9,018 people, 3,764 households, and 2,160 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,760.9 inhabitants per square mile (679.9/km
2
). The 4,114 housing units averaged 817.9 per square mile (315.9/km
2
). The
racial makeup
of the city was 89.11% White, 8.74% African American, 0.14% Native American 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.17% of the population.
Of the 4,114 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were not families. About 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city, the population was distributed as 21.8% under the age of 18, 14.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,922, and for a family was $30,643. Males had a median income of $26,672 versus $19,736 for females. The
per capita income
for the city was $15,996. About 18.7% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the
poverty line
, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
[
edit
]
Present day
[
edit
]
Campbellsville University
(the local university),
Taylor Regional Hospital
(the regional health care system), and the
Amazon
fulfillment center are the top employers.
Campbellsville University (CU) published its 2016/2017 economic impact report showing an annual impact of $106,482,540. Of that, $42.9 million impact the local economy. The university's operations directly employ and support over 13.26% of all jobs in Taylor County, Kentucky.
[10]
Taylor Regional Hospital (TRH) - The expanding healthcare system serves the region of 110,000 people. TRH is one of the area's largest employers. In 2016, TRH served 98,900 patients.
[11]
Amazon's fulfillment center, known as SDF1, is located near the technology park.
Campbellsville is home to the Heartland Commerce and Technology Park (HCTP). The park's initial tenant is an automotive components manufacturer, the INFAC Corporation. In June 2017, HCTP received a "Build-Ready" certification to attract new companies.
[12]
Tourism
is also part of the local economy because of nearby
Green River Lake
and
Green River Lake State Park
.
Historical
[
edit
]
In the 20th century, Campbellsville was a regional center of industry (agriculture, lumber, textiles, milling, automotive, distribution, oil and gas, light manufacturing, education, healthcare, and tourism).
For decades, employment in the area was dominated by a large textile plant, formerly Union Underwear and since
Fruit of the Loom
. It closed in 1998. Shortly thereafter, another notable employer closed, the
Indiana
-based
Batesville Casket Company
.
[13]
In 1969, the booming
petroleum
business was shut down because of environmental concerns of excess
salt water
disposal. In 2008, attempts failed to revitalize oil reserves because of water infiltration.
Legacy
[
edit
]
The area is home to wood-milling companies that produce interior trim products (Cox Interior, Wholesale Hardwoods).
Campbellsville Industries (CI), "The Steeple People (tm)," is the oldest and largest steeple and tower manufacturer in the United States.
[14]
CI has more than 15,000 installations located throughout the United States and Canada. CI claims the record for the world's largest prefabricated church steeple at 229 ft at the First Baptist Church in
Huntsville, Alabama
.
[15]
Campbellsville is home to the last
Druther's
(
Burger Queen
) restaurant in operation.
Media
[
edit
]
Local print, radio, and TV:
- The local weekly newspaper,
Central Kentucky News-Journal
,
[16]
has been published since 1910.
- WVLC
99.9 FM
country music
, Campbellsville
- WCKQ 104.1 FM Adult contemporary music, Campbellsville
- WGRK 103.1 Country, Greensburg
- WTCO 1450 AM Rock, Campbellsville
- WLCU TV, Campbellsville University
Law and government
[
edit
]
Campbellsville is a
home rule-class city
in and the county seat of Taylor County, Kentucky, United States.
[17]
The Campbellsville City Council is made up of twelve elected members. During city council meetings held monthly, the mayor presides and all thirteen members have voting rights.
Education
[
edit
]
Campbellsville is home to
Campbellsville University
, founded in 1906 as an academy.
School districts with portions of Campbellsville include:
[18]
Campbellsville has two local public schools,
Campbellsville High School
and
Taylor County High School
, for each district.
Campbellsville has a
lending library
, the Taylor County Public Library.
[19]
Transportation
[
edit
]
Public transportation is limited. RTEC provides public transit service that serves a 13-county area in southeast Kentucky.
[20]
Airports
[
edit
]
Campbellsville does have a local airport, the Taylor County Airport (FAA Identifier: AAS). It is 2.5 miles from downtown Campbellsville.
Roadways
[
edit
]
Campbellsville is accessible by two-lane roadways. The closest four-lane roadway is the
Bluegrass Parkway
.
Notable people
[
edit
]
- Sandra Blanton
, former member of the
Indiana House of Representatives
; raised in Campbellsville
- Nancy Cox
, 1990 Miss Kentucky; Lexington television reporter; born and raised in Campbellsville
- Zack Cox
, former Arkansas Razorback baseball player, Current professional baseball player
- Clem Haskins
, former college and professional basketball player and college basketball coach at University of Minnesota
- J. B. Holmes
, professional golfer
- Russ Mobley
, state representative from 2001 to 2009
- Max Wise
(born 1975), former FBI agent, serving as a member of the Kentucky Senate
Sister cities
[
edit
]
Campbellsville is twinned with
Buncrana
in
County Donegal
,
Republic of Ireland
.
References
- ^
"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files"
. United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
March 18,
2022
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
"Campbellsville | Small Town, Historic Sites, Civil War | Britannica"
.
www.britannica.com
. February 29, 2024
. Retrieved
March 26,
2024
.
- ^
"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990"
.
United States Census Bureau
. February 12, 2011
. Retrieved
April 23,
2011
.
- ^
"Geographic Center of Kentucky"
.
www.kyatlas.com
. Retrieved
May 2,
2024
.
- ^
"Campbellsville, Kentucky Koppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)"
.
Weatherbase
. Retrieved
April 8,
2018
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
"Census of Population and Housing"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
June 4,
2015
.
- ^
"U.S. Census website"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
January 31,
2008
.
- ^
"Campbellsville University Economic Impact 2016/2017"
. Campbellsville.edu
. Retrieved
December 1,
2017
.
- ^
"Taylor Regional Hospital Annual Report 2016"
(PDF)
. Taylor Regional Hospital
. Retrieved
December 1,
2016
.
- ^
"Heartland Commerce and Technology Park in Campbellsville, Kentucky, Receives Certification - Area Development"
.
areadevelopment.com
. Retrieved
April 8,
2018
.
- ^
"Company News; Fruit of Loom to Cut 800 Jobs in Another Plant Closing"
.
New York Times
. April 16, 1998.
- ^
"CI Example - The Hoboken Clock Tower"
. Cvilleindustries.com
. Retrieved
April 9,
2013
.
- ^
"CI's Largest Pre-Fab Steeple"
. Cvilleindustries.com
. Retrieved
April 9,
2013
.
- ^
"CKNJ.com"
. CKNJ.com
. Retrieved
April 9,
2013
.
- ^
"Find a County"
. National Association of Counties. Archived from
the original
on May 31, 2011
. Retrieved
June 7,
2011
.
- ^
"2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Taylor County, KY"
(PDF)
.
U.S. Census Bureau
. Retrieved
July 25,
2022
.
-
Text list
- For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see:
"Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries ? Campbellsville ISD"
(PDF)
.
Research Report No. 415 ? Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer
. Frankfort, KY: Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission. September 15, 2015. p. 96 (PDF p. 110/174).
- ^
"Kentucky Public Library Directory"
. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from
the original
on January 11, 2019
. Retrieved
June 7,
2019
.
- ^
"RTEC web"
.
RTEC
. Retrieved
January 30,
2018
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
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|
City
| | |
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Unincorporated
communities
| |
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Footnotes
| ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
|
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International
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National
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Geographic
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