Vanceburg, Kentucky

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Coordinates: 38°35′45″N 83°19′11″W / 38.59583, -83.31972
Vanceburg, Kentucky
Location of Vanceburg, Kentucky
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Lewis
Area
- Total	1.2 sq mi (3.0 km²)
- Land	1.2 sq mi (3.0 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	538 ft (164 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,731
- Density	1,502.4/sq mi (580.1/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	41179
Area code(s)	606
FIPS code	21-79068
GNIS feature ID	0505972

Vanceburg is a city in Lewis County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County^[1].

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Small City In Turmoil
4 Miscellaneous
5 Public services
6 Notable individuals from Vanceburg
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Vanceburg is located at 38°35′45″N, 83°19′11″W (38.595802, -83.319725)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (3.0 km²), all of it land. The official website for Vanceburg is: www.visitvanceburg.com.

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,731 people, 672 households, and 411 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,502.4 people per square mile (581.2/km²). There were 752 housing units at an average density of 652.7/sq mi (252.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.38% White, 0.64% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

[edit] Demographics

There were 672 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 35.9% 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 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $15,938, and the median income for a family was $20,000. Males had a median income of $18,409 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,275. About 32.9% of families and 37.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.4% of those under age 18 and 27.8% of those age 65 or over.

The county has been riven with controversy as one of its larger towns, Tollesboro, attempted to shift to bordering Mason County. Also in the mid-1990's, Tollesboro saw its own high school shut down, with the facility later emerging as a private, Christian school. Tollesboro residents of high school age are currently allowed to attend Fleming and Mason County school systems without the usual tuition required of out-of-county students because of the controversy surrounding the high school.

[edit] Small City In Turmoil

Currently there is no major industry in Vanceburg. A large number of people scratch out a meager existence from state welfare programs and Social Security disability. A thriving drug subculture and related underworld is also a source of income for many. Thefts and residential burglaries have risen exponentially in recent years. There is a thin, and often blurred line between law enforcement officals and various unsavory elements that thrive on the illicit drug trade and drug related prostitution that exists. It would appear that one hand washes the other. A major source of income for the city is the court system and jail which is the city's largest employer. Allegations of severe political corruption [1] have swarmed the city for many years. Open kleptocracy is more often the norm rather than the exception. Though the remainder of Lewis County is a dry county, alcohol sales are permitted in the city of Vanceburg.

Vanceburg Police Chief Joe Billman was arrested for allegedly driving drunk early morning of Sunday, March 13, 2008, but he says he did nothing illegal. After admitting to drinking six or seven beers, Kentucky State Police gave Billman a PBT (Preliminary Breath Test) after he performed poorly on roadside sobriety tests outside the Super Quik convience store in Vanceburg around 2 a.m. The trooper said it showed alcohol was in Billman's system. As a result, Billman was arrested and booked into his own jail.

Subsequently, all charges against Police Chief Joe Billman (who serves at the pleasure of the mayor) were dismissed.