| Official Name: | London, Kentucky |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Named For: | London, England |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kentucky |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Laurel |
| Government Type: | Mayor-Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Randall Weddle |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | February 11, 1836 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 30.07 |
| Area Land Km2: | 29.96 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.12 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 11.61 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 11.57 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.04 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 8053 |
| Population Density Km2: | 252.76 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 654.62 |
| Population Metro: | 126565 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1178 |
| Coordinates: | 37.1361°N -84.0861°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 40741-40745 |
| Area Code: | 606 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 21-47476 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2404950 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2022 |
| Pop Est Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Est: | 7578 |
London is a home rule-class city[3] in Laurel County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county.[4] The population was 8,053 at the time of the 2020 census.[5] It is the second-largest city named "London" in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. It is part of the London, Kentucky micropolitan area. Of the seventeen micropolitan areas in Kentucky, London is the largest; the London micropolitan area's 2010 Census population was 126,368. London is also home to the annual World Chicken Festival that celebrates the life of Colonel Sanders and features the world's largest skillet.
Upon the establishment of Laurel County in 1825, a vote was held to provide for the new area's seat of government. The land offered by John Jackson and his son Jarvis Jackson was selected, along with their suggested name of London, honoring their English heritage.[6] [7] The town was founded the next year, its post office established in 1831,[6] and its city rights granted in 1836.[8]
One of John Jackson's sons was Hancock Lee Jackson, 13th governor of Missouri. His second cousin was Claiborne Fox Jackson, 15th governor of Missouri.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, London served as a central collection agency for books donated to the Pack Horse Library Project.[9] It also had a pack horse library which delivered books to rural residents in the mountains.[10]
London is located in central Laurel County. U.S. Route 25 passes through London as its Main Street. Route 25 leads northwest to Mount Vernon and south to Corbin. Interstate 75, running parallel to US 25, passes along the western edge of London, with access from Exits 38 and 41. I-75 leads north to Lexington and south to Knoxville, Tennessee. The Hal Rogers Parkway runs along the northern edge of London, leading east to Garrard and west to Somerset.
According to the United States Census Bureau, London has a total area of 30.1km2, of which 0.1km2, or 0.39%, are water.[11] Between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, the city annexed a significant portion of land.[12]
London has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) with continental influences. Summers are hot and humid with frequent storms. July is the warmest month, with an average high of 86F and an average low of 66F. Winters are cold with a few mild periods. January is the coldest month with an average high of 44F and an average low of 26F. The highest recorded temperature was 105F on June 29, 2012, and the lowest recorded temperature was -25F on January 19, 1994. May has the highest average rainfall of 4.92inches and October has the lowest average rainfall of 3.01inches.
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 5,692 people, 2,400 households, and 1,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 738.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,676 housing units at an average density of 347sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 96.03% White, 1.83% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 2,400 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,283, and the median income for a family was $34,340. Males had a median income of $32,355 versus $19,873 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,046. About 19.4% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
Public schools are administered by Laurel County Public Schools.[14] The district has two comprehensive high schools: North Laurel High School and South Laurel High School.
There is a private school, London Christian Academy.
London has a lending library, the Laurel County Public Library.[15]
Major employers in London include:[16]
Greyhound Lines provides service to London on its route serving Atlanta, Knoxville, and Detroit.[17] Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated provides on-demand public transportation to Laurel County and surrounding counties.[18] Daniel Boone Transit and Harlan County Community Action Agency provide connecting services from other counties to Greyhound in London.[19] [20]