Harrodsburg, Kentucky

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Harrodsburg's city hall.

Harrodsburg, in Mercer County, Kentucky, is the oldest city in Kentucky. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mercer County^GR6.

Harrodsburg was founded in 1774 by James Harrod, and was initially known as Harrod's Town or Harrodstown. The settlement was abandoned as a result of attacks by Native Americans in Dunmore's War that same year, but was resettled in 1775, nominally part of the proposed Transylvania colony. Transylvania was invalidated when Kentucky became a county of Virginia in 1776. Harrodsburg was the scene of much fighting with Native Americans during the American Revolutionary War.

[edit] Geography

Harrodsburg is located at 37°45′50″N, 84°50′46″W (37.764019, -84.845974)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.8 km² (5.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 8,014 people, 3,449 households, and 2,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 582.7/km² (1,510.5/mi²). There were 3,709 housing units at an average density of 269.7/km² (699.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.92% White, 7.52% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.

There were 3,449 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $34,503. Males had a median income of $31,214 versus $21,216 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,327. About 14.2% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.