Wickliffe, Kentucky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wickliffe is a city in Ballard County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 794 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ballard County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Wickliffe is located at 36°57′60″N, 89°5′13″W (36.966600, -89.086822)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²), all land.

The city sits on the Mississippi River, about two miles south of the confluence of the Ohio River and Mississippi River.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 794 people, 327 households, and 216 families residing in the city. The population density was 223.8/km² (578.3/mi²). There were 384 housing units at an average density of 108.2/km² (279.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.33% White, 1.76% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, and 2.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.

There were 327 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 112.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $35,417. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $16,477 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,273. About 10.1% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

The modern day city of Wickliffe is home to a Mississippian culture village now known only as Wickliffe mounds. Wickliffe mounds was occupied from around 1100-1300 CE. Today, Wickliffe mounds is the 11th state historic site of Kentucky, and home to a research center and museum.

In 1780 during the Revolutionary War, General George Rogers Clark established Fort Jefferson on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River one mile south of present-day Wickliffe. The fort was intended to protect what was then the western boundary of the infant United States from raids by the British Army and Native Americans. It was abandoned in 1781 after a siege by the Chickasaw.

The site later served as a Union Army post during the American Civil War. General Ulysses S. Grant directed a demonstration against the Confederate-held position at Columbus, Kentucky, in January 1862. Troops from the post joined in capturing Fort Henry in February 1862. It served as a Union supply post for operations in the western theater of the war.

A 90-foot tall cross, the Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross at the Confluence, was completed in 2000 on Fort Jefferson hill.