Drakesboro, Kentucky Explained

Official Name:Drakesboro, Kentucky
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kentucky
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Muhlenberg
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Mike Jones
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:1.45
Area Land Km2:1.43
Area Water Km2:0.02
Area Total Sq Mi:0.56
Area Land Sq Mi:0.55
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:481
Population Density Km2:336.45
Population Density Sq Mi:871.38
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:135
Elevation Ft:443
Coordinates:37.2172°N -87.0503°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:42337
Area Code:270
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:21-22348
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0491099

Drakesboro is a home rule-class city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 481 at the 2020 census.[2] Incorporated in 1888, the city was named for early pioneer William Drake.[3] [4]

Geography

Drakesboro is located in eastern Muhlenberg County at 37.2172°N -87.0503°W (37.217274, -87.050169).[5] The city is situated along Kentucky Route 176 (Mose Rager Boulevard) east of Greenville, the county seat. Its municipal boundaries extend eastward to KY 176's intersection with U.S. Route 431. Greenville is 7miles to the west, while Central City is 7miles to the northwest via US 431, and Russellville is to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Drakesboro has a total area of 0.56sqmi, of which 0.01sqmi, or 1.78%, are water.[1] Plum Creek runs along the eastern edge of the city, flowing north to Pond Creek, which continues north to the Green River south of Rockport.

Demographics

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 627 people, 247 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was 1296.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 281 housing units at an average density of 580.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 89.47% White, 9.73% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.48% of the population.

There were 247 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $17,875, and the median income for a family was $25,417. Males had a median income of $21,094 versus $16,458 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,508. About 28.4% of families and 32.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.4% of those under age 18 and 24.1% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

The Four Legends Fountain

Constructed in 1992, the Four Legends Fountain honors four pioneers of the "thumb picking" style of guitar playing often associated with bluegrass music: Kennedy Jones, Ike Everly, Mose Rager, and Merle Travis.[7] All four have close ties to Muhlenberg County.

John Prine Highway

The section of Hwy 431 through Drakesboro is named for John Prine.

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Kentucky . United States Census Bureau . May 23, 2023.
  2. Web site: P1. Race – Drakesboro city, Kentucky: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171). U.S. Census Bureau. May 23, 2023.
  3. Book: Encyclopedia of Kentucky . Dictionary of Places: Drakesboro . Somerset Publishers . . 1987 . 0-403-09981-1.
  4. Book: Kentucky Place Names . University Press of Kentucky . 1987 . 2013-04-28 . Rennick, Robert M. . 84. 0813126312 .
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  7. Web site: Attractions Open to the Public . Central City Tourism Commission . 2007-02-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070206040425/http://www.centralcitykytourism.com/attractionspublic.html . 2007-02-06 . dead .