Mount Vernon, Kentucky

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Mount Vernon, Kentucky
Location of Mount Vernon, Kentucky
Location of Mount Vernon, Kentucky
Coordinates: 37°22′1″N 84°20′15″W / 37.36694, -84.3375
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Rockcastle
Area
 - Total 3.7 sq mi (9.6 km²)
 - Land 3.2 sq mi (8.2 km²)
 - Water 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²)
Elevation 1,181 ft (360 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 2,592
 - Density 816.2/sq mi (315.1/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 40456
Area code(s) 606
FIPS code 21-54174
GNIS feature ID 0514113

Mount Vernon is a city in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,592 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rockcastle County. It is located at the junction of US 25 and US 150, two miles west of I-75.

Contents

[edit] History

The area was first settled in 1790 around a feature called Spout Springs. Much of the area was originally swampland. The settlement was named for George Washington's home, Mt. Vernon. The Wilderness Road was routed through in 1792, and was the principal settlement when Rockcastle County was created in 1810.

In 1883, a Louisville & Nashville railroad branch was built through the town, connecting it to Louisville and to Knoxville. The county's first newspaper, the Mount Vernon Signal, infamous for its continued use of typewriters into the 21st century, began publication in 1887. Although still a largely rural town and county, the construction of I-75 in the 1970s has drawn some industry to the area, and the population has increased about 50% from 1,639 in 1970.

[edit] Geography

Mount Vernon is located at 37°22′1″N, 84°20′15″W (37.367018, -84.337409)[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²) of it (14.56%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 2,592 people, 1,126 households, and 681 families residing in the city. The population density was 816.2 people per square mile (314.7/km²). There were 1,241 housing units at an average density of 390.8/sq mi (150.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100% White.

There were 1,126 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $6,747, and the median income for a family was $8,105. Males had a median income of $4,286 versus $2,571 for females. The per capita income for the city was $1,849. About 89.5% of families and 94.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 81.4% of those under age 18 and 66.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links