Jamestown, Kentucky Explained

Official Name:Jamestown, Kentucky
Settlement Type:City
Named For:James Wooldridge, a local landowner
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kentucky
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Russell
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:1826
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:3.65
Area Land Sq Mi:3.52
Area Water Sq Mi:0.14
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:1867
Population Density Sq Mi:530.70
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:978
Coordinates:36.9908°N -85.0669°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:42629
Area Code:270 & 364
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:21-40114
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2404788
Pop Est As Of:2022
Pop Est Footnotes:[2]
Population Est:1869
Area Total Km2:9.46
Area Land Km2:9.11
Area Water Km2:0.35
Population Density Km2:204.91

Jamestown is a home rule-class city[3] in Russell County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county.[4] The population was 1,794 at the 2010 U.S. census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2sqmi, all land.

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, Jamestown has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[5]

History

The community was established in 1826 to be the seat of the newly formed Russell County. It was briefly known as Jacksonville in honor of General Andrew Jackson, who had just won a plurality of the popular vote during the 1824 presidential election but lost the runoff in the House of Representatives, largely because of the "corrupt bargain" struck by Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams. However, an anti-Jacksonian party loyal to Clay came into power the same year[6] and the post office was established in November as Jamestown after local landowner James Wooldridge, who (together with his brother John) had donated 110 acres of land for the town. The act of the state legislature incorporating the city in December[7] continued this name, which the city has used since.[8]

Demographics

At the 2000 census there were 1,624 people in 662 households, including 421 families, in the city. The population density was 722.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 755 housing units at an average density of 335.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 94.89% White, 3.51% African American, 0.43% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86%.[9]

Of the 662 households 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 34.1% of households were one person and 15.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.

The median household income was $18,587 and the median family income was $25,234. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $20,380 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,140. About 25.8% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.5% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Jamestown has a lending library, a branch of the Russell County Public Library.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 18, 2022.
  2. Web site: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022. United States Census Bureau. May 26, 2023.
  3. Web site: Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform . Kentucky League of Cities . December 30, 2014.
  4. Web site: Find a County . 2011-06-07 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . 2011-05-31 .
  5. Web site: Jamestown, Kentucky – Köppen Climate Classification . Weatherbase.
  6. The Kentucky Encyclopedia, p. 463. "Jamestown". University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1992. Accessed 1 August 2013.
  7. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Jamestown, Kentucky". Accessed 1 August 2013.
  8. Book: Kentucky Place Names . University Press of Kentucky . 1987 . 26 July 2013 . Rennick, Robert M. . 152.
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  10. Web site: Kentucky Public Library Directory . https://web.archive.org/web/20190111202017/https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx . dead . 11 January 2019 . Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives . 7 June 2019.