Nicholasville, Kentucky Explained

Official Name:Nicholasville, Kentucky
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kentucky
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Jessamine
Government Footnotes:[1]
Government Type:City commission
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Alex Carter[2]
Leader Title1:Commissioners
Leader Name1:Doug Blackford
Betty Black
Alex Carter, Mayor Pro Tempore
Patty Teater
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:February 13, 1837[3]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[4]
Area Total Km2:38.45
Area Land Km2:38.27
Area Water Km2:0.18
Area Total Sq Mi:14.85
Area Land Sq Mi:14.78
Area Water Sq Mi:0.07
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:31093
Population Density Km2:812.47
Population Density Sq Mi:2104.29
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:994
Coordinates:37.8906°N -84.5672°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Codes
Postal Code:40340, 40356
Area Code:859
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2404379
Pop Est As Of:2022
Pop Est Footnotes:[5]
Population Est:31955

Nicholasville is a home rule city[6] in and the county seat of Jessamine County, Kentucky.[7] The population was 31,490 during the 2020 U.S. census, making Nicholasville the 10th-largest settlement in the state.

Since the late 20th century, Nicholasville has undergone rapid growth; the population increased 440.23% between 1970 and 2020. The city serves as both a residential area for Lexington-area commuters and as an employment and shopping center for central Kentucky.[8]

History

Nicholasville was founded by European Americans in 1798, after the American Revolutionary War, and incorporated in 1837.[9] [3] The town was named in honor of Colonel George Nicholas, a father of the Kentucky Constitution in 1792.[10] The Young House in Nicholasville is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city has grown rapidly since the late 20th century and is working to accommodate new highways and transportation needs. Many residents commute to Lexington for work. Others are part of building Nicholasville as a center of retail services for the county.

Geography

Downtown Nicholasville is approximately south of Fayette County. The city serves as a logistics and commuter hub between Lexington and Nicholasville's neighboring counties, especially Garrard County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.52%, is water. Some artificial ponds, including Lake Mingo (named after the Native American Mingo people), are present in the city.[11] Town Fork, a partially channelized stream, runs south and passes underneath downtown, eventually draining into Jessamine Creek.[12]

Climate

Nicholasville is in the northern periphery of the humid subtropical climate zone,[13] with hot and humid summers, cool winters, and occasional mild periods, especially in autumn. The city and the surrounding Bluegrass region have four distinct seasons that include cool plateau breezes, moderate nights in the summer, and no prolonged periods of rain, snow, or other severe weather.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census,[14] there were 31,490 people, 11,244 households, and 7,503 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 11,405 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90% White (87.5% non-Hispanic), 5.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 11,244 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 27.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

According to Census Bureau data for 2011 from the American Community Survey's five-year estimates, the median income for a household in the city was $43,453, and the median income for a family was $52,419. Full-time male workers had a median income of $37,954 versus $33,330 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,526. About 14.5% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The city is home to the Kentucky Wine and Vine Fest.[15] The annual festival showcases wines from commercial vineyards and amateur winemakers from across Kentucky and the surrounding region. In 2014, it was named as the "Official Wine Festival of Kentucky" by the Kentucky General Assembly.[16] [17] Nicholasville is near Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument and Camp Nelson National Cemetery.

Government

The Nicholasville government operates under a non-partisan city commission, which exercises both executive and legislative powers. The commission is composed of a mayor and four commissioners; all are elected at-large, requiring each candidate to gain the support of the majority of the electorate. In addition, the four commissioners are elected to manage particular city departments. They serve two-year terms; the mayor is elected to a four-year term.[1] The commission wields all executive, legislative, and administrative powers.

In 2012, there was a proposal on the ballot to change the form of city government to that of a mayor–council government, in order to separate the legislative and executive functions, but the proposal was defeated.[18] [19]

Commissioners draft and pass laws and, by managing their respective departments, ensure the laws are carried out efficiently. The mayor administers oaths, signs documents on the city's behalf, and conducts commission meetings. As a member of the commission, the mayor has legislative powers equal to that of the commissioners. Commission meetings take place twice monthly.[1]

Education

Jessamine County Schools provides public education.[20] Nicholasville Elementary School is located in the city.[21] Students go to schools in the county for middle and high school grades.

The Hattie C. Warner Elementary School on Wilmore Road is named after local teacher Hattie Catherine Warner (1886–1963) who taught for 46 years in Jessamine County. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1913 and is buried in the Maple Grove cemetery.[22]

Nicholasville has a lending library, the Jessamine County Public Library.[23]

Infrastructure

Transportation

U.S. highways

State routes

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Government: City Commission . www.nicholasville.org . 12 October 2014 . October 15, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141015025450/http://nicholasville.org/government/city-commission.php . dead .
  2. Web site: Government. Nicholasville.org. 2024-03-10.
  3. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Nicholasville, Kentucky". Accessed 15 September 2013.
  4. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 18, 2022.
  5. 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.
  6. Web site: Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform . Kentucky League of Cities . December 30, 2014.
  7. Web site: Find a County. 2011-06-07. National Association of Counties.
  8. 2009 Report to the community . City of Nicholasville . 5 . 2009 . 3 October 2014 . January 13, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160113201232/http://www.nicholasville.org/pdfs/nicholasville_report.pdf#page=5 . dead .
  9. Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 1320. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1952).
  10. Book: The WPA Guide to Kentucky . University Press of Kentucky . 1996 . 24 November 2013 . Federal Writers' Project . 254. 0813108659 .
  11. Web site: NJCPR: Parks & Pictures . Nicholasville/Jessamine County Parks & Recreation . 13 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140815110409/http://njcpr.org/parks-and-pictures.html . 15 August 2014 .
  12. Web site: Kentucky River Basin Assessment Report: Jessamine Creek . Kentucky Water Research Institute - University of Kentucky . August 2000 . 13 October 2014.
  13. Web site: Map of American climate zones . https://web.archive.org/web/20071210172624/http://maps.howstuffworks.com/united-states-climate-map.htm . dead . 10 December 2007 . 13 October 2014 .
  14. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2011-05-14.
  15. Web site: Kentucky Wine and Vine homepage . www.kywineandvine.com . 3 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083719/http://www.kywineandvine.com/index.htm . October 6, 2014 . dead .
  16. 2014 Press Release . www.kywineandvine.com . 23 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160113161647/http://www.kywineandvine.com/images/pdf/2014/2014_Press_Release.pdf . dead . 13 January 2016 . 3 October 2014 .
  17. Web site: Nicholasville NOW!: Kentucky Wine & Vine Fest named a Top 10 Festival . www.nicholasvillenow.org . 3 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110916/http://www.nicholasvillenow.org/news.htm . 6 October 2014 .
  18. http://www.icma.org "Form of Government Change Campaigns, 2003–2012"
  19. http://www.centralkynews.com/jessaminejournal/news/election_2014/nicholasville-city-commission-betty-black/article_deedfd62-b4f7-11e3-aeb0-001a4bcf6878.html "Nicholasville City Commission: Betty Black"
  20. Web site: Jessamine County Schools . www.jessamine.k12.ky.us . 2016-02-28 . March 6, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306031132/http://www.jessamine.k12.ky.us/Schools . dead .
  21. Web site: Nicholasville Elementary School . Jessamine County Schools . September 30, 2017 .
  22. Web site: School history . Warner Elementary School . 8 July 2020 . June 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609211436/https://www.jessamine.kyschools.us/war/Content2/188 . dead .
  23. 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 . 5 June 2019.
  24. Web site: The ballad of Richard Jay Corman.