Midway, Kentucky
| Midway, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 38°9′2″N 84°40′59″W / 38.15056°N 84.68306°WCoordinates: 38°9′2″N 84°40′59″W / 38.15056°N 84.68306°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Woodford |
| Established | January 31, 1835 |
| Incorporated | February 7, 1846[1] |
| Named for | its location relative to Frankfort and Lexington |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Tom Bozarth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.1 sq mi (3 km2) |
| • Land | 1.1 sq mi (3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 827 ft (252 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,641 |
| • Density | 1,484.3/sq mi (573.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 40347 |
| Area code(s) | 859 |
| FIPS code | 21-52140 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0498164 |
Midway is a 4th-class city in Woodford County, Kentucky, in the United States. Its population was 1,620 at the time of the year 2000 U.S. census. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The town is home to a major thoroughbred race horse breeding operation, the Three Chimneys Farm. In 2003, faced with a declining downtown, a major streetscape renovation project began as part of Main Street Kentucky. New period structures and lighting brought new life to the town.
History
Before its European exploration, the area around Midway was inhabited by the Mound Builders. Two large and several smaller American Indian mounds have been identified on nearby farms.[2]
The present city began as a small settlement known as Stevenson's at the time of its first post office in 1832.[3] On January 31, 1835, the local farmer John Francisco sold his 216.375-acre (87.564 ha) farm to the Lexington and Ohio Railroad for $6,491.25. The railroad then used the land to establish Kentucky's first railroad town, naming it Middleway for its location relative to Lexington and Frankfort, Kentucky.[3] (The town is also equidistant between Versailles and Georgetown.) The major streets of Midway were named in honor of the railroad's original officials.[2] It was renamed Midway in 1837.[3]
The town was home to the Midway Distilling Company, which continued legal operation during the Prohibition era. In 1920, during a robbery of the distillery, Benjamin Rodgers and Homer Nave were killed. A black man, Richard W. James, was arrested for the killings. He admitted to the robbery but denied shooting the men, and claimed that the facility's superintendent of bottling, Samuel Seay, had a deal with James and others to share the proceeds of the stolen liquor. James was convicted of murder, but one member of the jury refused to vote for his execution on religious grounds. On March 13, 1921, a mob took James from the county jail in Versailles, Kentucky and lynched him from a tree near Margaret College, about a half-mile from Versailles. No one from the mob was indicted and, when Gov. Edwin P. Morrow removed the sheriff from his post, local voters elected his wife to replace him.[4][5][6][7][8] The Rodgers, Nave, and Seay burial plots are at Midway Cemetery,[9][10][11] while the James grave is found in Midway Son's and Daughters of Relief Cemetery.[12]
Geography
Midway is located in the northern section of Woodford County in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, an area with farms that produce tobacco, corn, cattle, and horses. Midway is located at 38°9′2″N 84°40′59″W / 38.15056°N 84.68306°W (38.150484, -84.683014)[13]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), all land.
Demographics
As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 1,620 people, 623 households, and 409 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,484.3 per square mile (573.1 /km2). There were 672 housing units at an average density of 615.7 per square mile (237.7 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.81% White, 7.72% African American, 0.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.
There were 623 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.
21.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 75.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,909, and the median income for a family was $60,326. Males had a median income of $35,795 versus $32,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,528. About 2.0% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Annual events
- Francisco's Farm Arts Festival The focus of the event is the outdoor exhibition of juried fine art and fine craft, giving the opportunity to meet and purchase art from the creators themselves. Located at the beautiful campus of Equus Run Vineyards (1280 Moores Mill Road, Midway), this event promises to be a destination of artists and buyers for years to come.[15]
- Midway Fall Festival Nestled in the heart of Kentucky's bluegrass region, the Midway Fall Festival has been named one of Kentucky's top twenty festivals. The festival features crafts, food, demonstrators, entertainment and children's activities.[16]
- Midway Independence Day Celebration
Entertainment
- Thoroughbred Theater is 150-seat theater that is a venue for local talent and visiting artists. The facility is also available for public and private use for presentations, benefits, meetings, gatherings, birthday parties, and memorials. The Theater closed in 2011.
Education
Current Schools
- Northside Elementary serves Kindergarten-5th Grade (Founded 1992)
- Midway College is Kentucky's only college for women. (Founded 1847)
Defunct Schools
- Midway Elementary (Closed 1992, Succeeded by Northside Elementary)
- Midway High School (Closed 1964, Succeeded by Woodford County High School)
- Margaret College, a Catholic junior college for women.
Historic sites
Churches
- Forks of Elkorn Baptist Church
- Midway United Methodist Church
- Midway Christian Church
- Midway Presbyterian Church
- Midway Baptist Church
- New Life Assembly of God Church
- Pilgrim Baptist Church
- Second Christian Church
- St. Matthew A.M.E. Church
- Zion Hill Baptist Church
- Midway Nazerane
Historic district
Many homes and businesses in Midway are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Trivia
Zeralda James, mother of Frank and Jesse James, was born in the Black Horse Inn at the intersection of U.S. Route 62 and Old Frankfort Pike, where she lived with her father, who ran the tavern.[2]
Weisenberger Mill has been in the Weisenberger family for seven generations. It is the oldest continuously operating mill in Kentucky and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Midway has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[17]
Notable people
- Noah Mullins, American football player.
- Davey Whitney, College basketball coach
References
- ↑ Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office "Midway, Kentucky". Accessed 23 August 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Midway Kentucky: History". City of Midway. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rennick, Robert. Kentucky Place Names, p. 197. University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1987. Accessed 1 Aug 2013.
- ↑ Find a Grave: "Richard W. James". Accessed 5 July 2013.
- ↑ Officials Make Wide Search For Negro Killer Lexington Herald, Oct. 9, 1920. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ↑ Second Victim of Distillery Battle Dies In Hospital Lexington Herald, Oct. 10, 1920. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ↑ Woodford Sun: "Lynching Follows Hung Jury in Murder Trial". 17 March 1921. Accessed 11 August 2013.
- ↑ Alleged Slayer Taken From Jail Sunday Morning Lexington Herald, March 13, 1921. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ↑ Samuel W. Seay (1867-1931)
- ↑ Benjamin Thomas Rodgers (1880-1920)
- ↑ Homer L. Nave (1895-1920)
- ↑ Richard W. James (1881-1921)
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Francisco's Farm Arts Festival". Francisco's Farm. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
- ↑ "37th Annual Midway Fall Festival". Midway Fall Festival. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
- ↑ Climate Summary for Midway, Kentucky
External links
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