Hodgenville, Kentucky
City
Town Square
Town Square
Location in LaRue County, Kentucky
Location in LaRue County, Kentucky
Coordinates: 37°34′16″N 85°44′19″W / 37.57111°N 85.73861°W / 37.57111; -85.73861
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyLaRue
Incorporated1839
Named forRobert Hodgen, a local miller
Area
[1]
 • Total2.19 sq mi (5.67 km2)
 • Land2.18 sq mi (5.65 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
728 ft (222 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,235
 • Estimate 
(2022)[2]
3,283
 • Density1,481.91/sq mi (572.24/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
42748
Area code(s)270 & 364
FIPS code21-37396
GNIS feature ID0494334
Websitehodgenville.ky.gov

Hodgenville is a home rule-class city[3] in LaRue County, Kentucky, United States. It is the seat of its county.[4] Hodgenville sits along the North Fork of the Nolin River. The population was 3,206 at the 2010 census.[5] It is included in the Elizabethtown metropolitan area.

History

Hodgenville, 1904

Robert Hodgen, a Pennsylvania native who moved to Virginia, purchased 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of land in the vicinity. In 1789, after the Revolutionary War, when settlers started moving west into Kentucky, he built a mill at the site. After his death, the community that developed around it was called "Hodgenville" upon the petition of his widow and children. The United States post office at the site, however, was known as "Hodgensville" from 1826 to 1904.[6]

The city was formally incorporated by the state assembly on February 18, 1836.[7]

Abraham Lincoln was born in a small cabin on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville on February 12, 1809.[8] About two years later, the family moved to another farm in the Hodgenville area.[9] Despite claims made later, the cabin Lincoln was born in was likely destroyed by the time of his assassination.

The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park labels the replica cabin, which was built thirty years after his death, the "Traditional Lincoln Birthplace Cabin". The significance of the two Hodgenville sites (birthplace and boyhood home) are found in the setting. Preservation of these two national sites allows visitors to see the landscape of the earliest period of Abraham Lincoln's life. The Lincoln Museum is opened for visitors downtown, and two bronze Abraham Lincoln statues stand at the town square, one of Lincoln as a child, the other as an adult.[10]

Geography

Hodgenville is in central LaRue County, in the valley of the North Fork of the Nolin River, a west- and south-flowing tributary of the Green River. It is 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Elizabethtown via Kentucky Route 61. U.S. Route 31E passes through the center of Hodgenville, leading northeast 24 miles (39 km) to Bardstown and south 43 miles (69 km) to Glasgow.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Hodgenville has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km2), of which 2.15 acres (8,687 m2), or 0.16%, are water.[11]

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, Hodgenville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870404—
1880382−5.4%
189054241.9%
190082552.2%
1910744−9.8%
19201,10047.8%
19301,1040.4%
19401,34822.1%
19501,69525.7%
19601,98517.1%
19702,56229.1%
19802,531−1.2%
19902,7217.5%
20002,8745.6%
20103,20611.6%
20203,2350.9%
2022 (est.)3,283[13]1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
LaRue County Courthouse

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 2,874 people, 1,235 households, and 781 families living in the city. The population density was 1,667.7 inhabitants per square mile (643.9/km2). There were 1,349 housing units at an average density of 782.8 per square mile (302.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.64% White, 11.27% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 1,235 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.76.

The age distribution was 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,132, and the median income for a family was $37,125. Males had a median income of $30,678 versus $18,095 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,794. About 16.9% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 21.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Hodgenville has a lending library, the LaRue County Public Library.[16]

Notable people

These are people who were born, raised, or lived in Hodgenville.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Hodgenville city, Kentucky". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  6. ↑ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 143. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Hodgenville, Kentucky". Accessed 29 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Abraham Lincoln 16th President, 1861-1865". presidentialavenue.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Abraham Lincoln 16th President, 1861-1865". presidentialavenue.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ Day, Teresa (January 30, 2005). Fun With the Family Kentucky: Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids. Globe Pequot. p. 34. ISBN 9780762734900. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Kentucky". U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Hodgenville, Kentucky Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
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