Sacramento, Kentucky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sacramento is a city in McLean County, Kentucky, USA. The population was 517 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Owensboro, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
- 3.1 Naming the Town
- 3.2 The Battle of Sacramento
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Sacramento is located at 37°24′59″N, 87°16′4″W (37.416489, -87.267839)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 517 people, 219 households, and 150 families residing in the city. The population density was 475.3/km² (1,229.5/mi²). There were 238 housing units at an average density of 218.8/km² (566.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.81% White, 3.09% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.58% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.

There were 219 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,889, and the median income for a family was $27,344. Males had a median income of $22,045 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,811. About 19.1% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

[edit] Naming the Town

The town of Sacramento was originally named Cross Roads, but after returning from the California Gold Rush (presumably having spent time in Sacramento, CA), John Vickers suggested changing the name to Sacramento.^[1]

[edit] The Battle of Sacramento

Sacramento was the site of a American Civil War battle between Union Major Eli H. Murray and Confederate Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest. Nicknamed "Forrest's First Fight", the Battle of Sacramento took place on December 28, 1861.^[2] The battle began when a Confederate sympathizer informed Forrest that a Union force was watering their horses nearby. Forrest used the element of surprise to rout the Union troops, and thus began the military career of one of the South's most formidable leaders.^[3]

The town of Sacramento holds an annual reenactment of the battle in which local residents voluntarily participate.