Muhlenberg County, Kentucky

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Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Map
Location in the state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	1798
Seat	Greenville
Area - Total - Land - Water	479 sq mi (1,242 km²) 475 sq mi (1,230 km²) 5 sq mi (12 km²), 0.98%
Population - (2000) - Density	31,839 67/sq mi (26/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website: www.muhlenbergchamber.org
Named for: John Peter Muhlenberg (1746–1807), American Revolutionary War general.

Muhlenberg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 31,839. The county is named for Peter Muhlenberg. Its county seat is Greenville, Kentucky

[edit] Geography

Muhlenberg County is part of the Western Coal Fields region of Kentucky. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 479 square miles (1,242 km²), of which, 475 square miles (1,230 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (12 km²) of it (0.98%) is water.

[edit] Geographic features

The two primary geographic features of Muhlenberg County are the Green River and Lake Malone.

[edit] Green River

The 300-mile-long Green River is a tributary of the Ohio River. It provides a commercial outlet for goods (primarily coal) to be shipped from the county to the major trade centers along the Mississippi River. Muhlenberg County and the Green River will forever be linked in the minds of many by the John Prine song "Paradise", made popular by John Denver, about a (now defunct) coal-mining town in Muhlenberg County.^[1] ^[2]

[edit] Lake Malone

Spanning 788 acres near the small town of Dunmor in southern Muhlenberg County, Lake Malone provides a locale for water recreation such as swimming, boating, and fishing. Lake Malone and the surrounding hardwood forest form Lake Malone State Park.

[edit] Adjacent counties

McLean County (north)
Ohio County (northeast)
Butler County (east)
Logan County (southeast)
Todd County (south)
Christian County (southwest)
Hopkins County (west)

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	20,741	—
1910	28,598	37.9%
1920	33,353	16.6%
1930	37,784	13.3%
1940	37,554	-0.6%
1950	32,501	-13.5%
1960	27,791	-14.5%
1970	27,537	-0.9%
1980	32,238	17.1%
1990	31,318	-2.9%
2000	31,839	1.7%
Kentucky Census Data 1900-1990

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 31,839 people, 12,357 households, and 9,057 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile (26/km²). There were 13,675 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.19% White, 4.65% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,357 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,566, and the median income for a family was $33,513. Males had a median income of $29,952 versus $18,485 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,798. About 15.50% of families and 19.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.00% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Cities and towns

[edit] Economy

Muhlenberg County has been a major coal-producing region for many years, and although the use of coal for energy generation has waned in recent years, the coal-mining industry continues to provide a significant number of jobs in the region. Other major employers in Muhlenberg County include:

The Tennessee Valley Authority Paradise Fossil Plant in Drakesboro
Dyno Nobel in Graham
EBA&D in Graham
Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville
Muhlenberg County Board of Education in Powderly
The Department of the Army, Kentucky National Guard Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center & Kentucky UTES

[edit] Chamber of commerce

In January 2006, the chambers of commerce from Central City and Greenville merged to form the Greater Muhlenberg Chamber of Commerce. The new, unified chamber consists of over 155 local businesses.^[4]

[edit] Incoming industries

Peabody Energy's new Thoroughbred Energy Plant, a coal-burning power generation facility expected to bring 450 permanent jobs to the area, is to be located in Central City.^[5] The plant was projected to begin electricity generation sometime in 2007,^[6] but a dispute over Peabody's air quality permit has halted construction plans.^[7]

On April 25, 2006, frozen food company Gourmet Express announced plans to locate a facility in Greenville. The company will renovate the facility vacated by food distribution company SuperValu in 2001, and is expected to create 200 permanent jobs by 2008.^[8]

[edit] Education

[edit] Schools

Public schools in Muhlenberg County are under the purview of the Muhlenberg County Board of Education. They include:

[edit] Elementary (K-5)

Bremen Elementary School in Bremen
Central City Elementary School in Central City
Greenville Elementary School in Greenville
Longest Elementary School in Powderly
Muhlenberg South Elementary School in Belton

[edit] Middle (6-8)

Muhlenberg North Middle School in Powderly
Muhlenberg South Middle School in Greenville

[edit] High (9-12)

Muhlenberg North High School in Greenville
Muhlenberg South High School in Greenville

[edit] Postsecondary

The Muhlenberg Campus of Madisonville Community College is located in Central City.

[edit] Libraries

There are two public libraries in Muhlenberg County: Harbin Memorial Library in Greenville and Central City Library in Central City. Both locations provide residents with free access to high speed Internet service.

[edit] History

There were once eight schools in Muhlenberg County, however in 1990, the school board consolidated the middle and high school students into just two middle and two high schools. Bremen High School, Central City High School, Graham High School, and half of Muhlenberg Central High School became Muhlenberg North Middle School and Muhlenberg North High School, while the other half of Muhlenberg Central High School, Drakesboro High School, Hughes-Kirkpatrick High School, Greenville High School, and Lake Malone School (which housed some middle school students) became Muhlenberg South Middle School and Muhlenberg South High School. The eight distinct schools continued to house elementary school students.

In 2004, the school board began consolidating the badly-deteriorating elementary schools, closing Graham Elementary School and transferring students to Longest Elementary School and the expanded Greenville Elementary School, and closing Lake Malone School transferring those students to Hughes-Kirkpatrick Elementary School. Consolidation continued in 2005 with the closure of Drakesboro Elementary School. Students from Drakesboro spent a year at Hughes-Kirkpatrick Elementary School until the opening of the newly-constructed Muhlenberg South Elementary School in 2006 (and subsequent closing of Hughes-Kirkpatrick.)

On February 5, 2008, three communities in Muhlenberg County received major damage during the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. These communities were Greenville, Powderly, and Central City. Three residents were killed outside Greenville when the EF-3 tornado struck.

[edit] Media

WMTA AM 1380 Radio established in 1955, Central City
WNES AM 1050 Radio established in 1955, Central City
Times Argus established in 1909, Central City
Leader-News established in Greenville now located in Central City
WKYA FM 105.5 radio station in Greenville
WQXQ FM 101.9 100,000 watts studios in Central City and Owensboro with tower and transmitter at Pleasant Ridge, Kentucky in Ohio County

[edit] Sites and events of interest

Muhlenberg County Courthouse

Lake Malone State Park in Dunmor
Muhlenberg County Rail to Trails, 6 mile converted railroad track running between Central City and Greenville
Brewco Motorsports shop in Central City
Duncan Cultural Center museum in Greenville
Four Legends Fountain in Drakesboro
Labor Day Cruise-In in Central City
Muhlenberg County Agriculture and Convention Center in Powderly
Paradise Park in Powderly, includes:
- Coal Mines Shotgun House
- Merle Travis Birthplace
- Paradise Park Museum
- Springridge School