Versailles, Kentucky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Versailles is a city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 7,511 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Woodford County^GR6. The city's name is pronounced differently from the French city of the same name: /vɚˈseɪlz/ (help·info) ("ver-sails").

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Notable residents
5 External links

[edit] History

Versailles was founded on June 23, 1792, on land of eighty acres owned by Hezekiah Briscoe, at the time only a child. His guardian Marquis Calmes named the town after Versailles, France, in honor of General Lafayette. The city was officially incorporated on February 13, 1837. It was briefly occupied during the Civil War by Confederate and Union forces.

The area is home to Ashford Stud, an important part of the Coolmore Stud international Thoroughbred horse breeding operation.

[edit] Geography

Versailles is located at 38°3′17″N, 84°43′51″W (38.054651, -84.730909)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 km² (2.8 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,032.0/km² (2,668.7/mi²). There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of 457.6/km² (1,183.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.34% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.29% of the population.

There were 3,160 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,052, and the median income for a family was $41,567. Males had a median income of $31,056 versus $24,488 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,489. About 11.1% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.