Gratz, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Gratz is a city in Owen County
, Kentucky
, United States
. Founded in 1847, it was named for B. Gratz Brown
, who later became Governor of Missouri http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyAtlas/ky-gratz.html. The population was 89 at the 2000 census.
, Gratz was one of the most prosperous towns in the area due to the business of portaging goods around an unnavigable part of the river (Lock #2 is just up river at Lockport). Goods were also ferried across the river and transported up KY 22
to Pleasureville
, which had a railroad depot.
The town's streets are laid out in a grid pattern. There is a local bank, and many large, well-built houses.
Before public electric service was available, a diesel powered generator fed street lights (and some homes?) from dusk until about 10pm. A former operator of this plant reported that he learned how much fuel to put into the engine so that it would run out at the desired time (saved him a trip down the hill).
It is home to the only bridge between Frankfort and Carrollton along the kentucky river. The Gratz Bridge is a historic iron steel bridge built back in the 1930s. Work on a newer concrete bridge was set in 2009, with it being finished by late 2010. Demolition of the old bridge is set to follow after in 2011. The Gratz Bridge is on the National Register of historic landmarks.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 89 people, 35 households, and 24 families residing in the city. The population density
was 255.8 people per square mile (98.2/km²). There were 43 housing units at an average density of 123.6 per square mile (47.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.38% White, 5.62% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.62% of the population.
There were 35 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples
living together, 2.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% 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 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 154.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $14,167, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $16,250 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,217. There were 12.5% of families and 28.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 40.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Owen County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,547 people, 4,086 households, and 2,995 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 5,345 housing units at an average density of...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1847, it was named for B. Gratz Brown
B. Gratz Brown
Benjamin Gratz Brown was an American politician. He was a Senator, the 20th Governor of Missouri, and the Liberal Republican and Democratic Party Vice presidential candidate in the presidential election of 1872.-Early life:...
, who later became Governor of Missouri http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyAtlas/ky-gratz.html. The population was 89 at the 2000 census.
History
Before the lock and dam system was built on the Kentucky RiverKentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the...
, Gratz was one of the most prosperous towns in the area due to the business of portaging goods around an unnavigable part of the river (Lock #2 is just up river at Lockport). Goods were also ferried across the river and transported up KY 22
Kentucky Route 22
Kentucky Route 22 is a east–west highway running from the eastern suburbs of Louisville to an unincorporated place called Willow in Bracken County in Northern Kentucky....
to Pleasureville
Pleasureville, Kentucky
Pleasureville is a city in Henry and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 869 at the 2000 census and estimated at 890 in 2009.Pleasureville is in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky....
, which had a railroad depot.
The town's streets are laid out in a grid pattern. There is a local bank, and many large, well-built houses.
Before public electric service was available, a diesel powered generator fed street lights (and some homes?) from dusk until about 10pm. A former operator of this plant reported that he learned how much fuel to put into the engine so that it would run out at the desired time (saved him a trip down the hill).
It is home to the only bridge between Frankfort and Carrollton along the kentucky river. The Gratz Bridge is a historic iron steel bridge built back in the 1930s. Work on a newer concrete bridge was set in 2009, with it being finished by late 2010. Demolition of the old bridge is set to follow after in 2011. The Gratz Bridge is on the National Register of historic landmarks.
Geography
Gratz is located at 38°28′28"N 84°57′10"W (38.474448, -84.952653).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 89 people, 35 households, and 24 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 255.8 people per square mile (98.2/km²). There were 43 housing units at an average density of 123.6 per square mile (47.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.38% White, 5.62% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.62% of the population.
There were 35 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 2.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% 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 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 154.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $14,167, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $16,250 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $9,217. There were 12.5% of families and 28.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 40.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Further reading
- Kentucky State Route 22 Kentucky River Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels