| Central City | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Motto: It's that friendly. | |
| Location of Central City within Kentucky. | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Muhlenberg |
| Established | Morehead's Horse Mill, 1826[1] |
| Incorporated | Stroud City, 1873[1] |
| Incorporated | Central City, 1882[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-City Administrator- City Council |
| • Mayor | Barry Shaver |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.2 sq mi (13.5 km2) |
| • Land | 5.2 sq mi (13.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 5,893 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP Code | 42330 |
| Area code(s) | 270 |
| FIPS code | 21-13978 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0489282 |
| Website | http://www.centralcitykytourism.com/ |
Central City is a city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,893 at the 2000 census. It is also the largest city in the county and the principal community in the Central City Micropolitan Statistical Area which includes all of Muhlenberg County and the communities within it. The city grew up around a junction of old wagon trails that went north and south. These trails soon become roads and with roads, railroads came as well. The city once had a full-fledged working train yard, complete with a Roundhouse and coal tipple. The city's elevated rail station (formally the ICRR) was in downtown and had passenger service between Paducah & Louisville. The city's street level rail station (formally the L&N) carried passengers toward Owensboro, KY to the north, and Russellville, KY towards the south. As time went by, the railroads were more focused on freight carriage, not passenger, and so Central City's importance along the rail lines lessened. The city still resides alongside the Mainline for Paducah and Louisville Railway, but also sits along a trunk-line for CSX Transportation. The trunk-line brings trains in from Wyoming and the mainline yard in Madisonville to the Paradise Fossil Plant just minutes south of the city along the Green River. Many longtime residents say that "As the coal industry goes, so goes Central City!" The two factors that played into the growth of Central City were the coal mines and the railroad.
Central City is the only city in Muhlenberg County that allows liquor to be sold by package stores and by the drink in restaurants seating at least 100 persons. Muhlenberg County is "Dry".
Contents |
Central City is located at (37.294989, -87.128622).[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km2), all land.
Terrain in Central City is rolling hills to steep bluffs along the northern boundaries of the city along the Green River. The city, along its northwestern border, is known for its swamps and lowland area that remain at or near the water table year-round.
Most of Central City has a sandstone bedrock with #9 bituminous coal underlying the bedrock. Central City has a number of old underground coal mine shafts that still crisscross the city. Most of these old shafts date back to the early 1900s. The majority of terrain around the city limits is reclaimed land where surface mining has taken place.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 5,893 people, 2,065 households, and 1,410 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,126.2 people per square mile (435.0/km2). There were 2,313 housing units at an average density of 442.0 per square mile (170.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.07% White, 10.67% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 2,065 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 116.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,371, and the median income for a family was $32,959. Males had a median income of $29,284 versus $18,265 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,637. About 18.4% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
Central City is home to Central City Elementary School (formerly Central City High School). Central City Elementary School is a feeder school for Muhlenberg North Middle School which, in turn, feeds Muhlenberg High School.
Central City is also home to the Muhlenberg Campus of Madisonville Community College, completed in 2001.
Major employers in Central City include:
On Labor Day Weekend 1988, Central City began hosting The Everly Brothers Homecoming event to raise money for a scholarship fund for Muhlenberg County students.[4] The Homecoming became a popular annual event for fourteen years, before ending in 2002.[5]
Not to be discouraged, the citizens reformed the event as a weekend long cruise-in and car show that is still held annually on Labor Day Weekend.
Sponsored by the Central City Business & Professional Women's Club, the Hall of Fame is located inside the Central City Public Library, 108 E. Broad Street and features a portrait and memorabilia gallery which includes former Governor Martha Layne Collins, Country & Western music giant Loretta Lynn, and local author, editorialist, historian, war correspondent for the Service Star and noted cultivator of roses Agnes S. Harralson. Central City Library hours are Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9 am - 7 pm; Wednesday & Friday 9 am - 5 pm ; Saturday 9 am - 1 pm. www.mcplib.org for more info; Central City BPW meets the second Tuesday of each month in the library meeting room at 6:00 pm - visitors are welcome.
The Muhlenberg County Rail Trail is a paved trail following an old Paducah and Louisville railway route between Central City and Greenville that is open to pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle traffic. Kentucky's most extensive rail trail conversion to date, the Muhlenberg Rail Trail opened October 20, 2000 and was named "Trail of the Month" by the Rails to Trails Conservancy in May 2004.[6] A viewing platform and birding guide are available where the trail passes through a local wetland.[7] The Muhlenberg County Rails to Trails Committee has railbanked an additional 3 miles of abandoned rail, possibly for a later extension into McLean County.[8]
|
||||||||||||||