Greenville, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Greenville is a city in and the county seat
of Muhlenberg County
, Kentucky
, United States
. It is named for Revolutionary War
General Nathan Greene. The population was 4,398 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.21% is water.
of 2000, there were 4,398 people, 1,859 households, and 1,217 families residing in the city. The population density
was 921.7 people per square mile (356.0/km²). There were 2,047 housing units at an average density of 429.0 per square mile (165.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.88% White, 8.75% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% from other races
, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 1,859 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 77.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,521, and the median income for a family was $35,571. Males had a median income of $37,454 versus $18,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,708. About 14.2% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
and dark tobacco
.
Today, the Center displays a number of artifacts related to the history and culture of Muhlenberg County
, including a coal museum. It is also available for rent to host parties and other special events.
is a paved trail following an old Paducah and Louisville railway route between Central City, Kentucky
and Greenville that is open to pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle traffic. Kentucky's most extensive rail trail conversion to date, the Muhlenberg Rail Trail opened October 20, 2000 and was named "Trail of the Month" by the Rails to Trails Conservancy in May 2004. A viewing platform and birding guide are available where the trail passes through a local wetland. The Muhlenberg County Rails to Trails Committee has railbanked an additional 3 miles (4.8 km) of abandoned rail, possibly for a later extension into McLean County
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Muhlenberg County
Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Muhlenberg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 31,499. The county is named for Peter Muhlenberg. Its county seat is Greenville....
, 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...
. It is named for Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
General Nathan Greene. The population was 4,398 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Greenville is located at 37°12′26"N 87°10′35"W (37.207158, -87.176499).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 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.21% is water.
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 4,398 people, 1,859 households, and 1,217 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 921.7 people per square mile (356.0/km²). There were 2,047 housing units at an average density of 429.0 per square mile (165.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.88% White, 8.75% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% 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...
, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 1,859 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 77.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,521, and the median income for a family was $35,571. Males had a median income of $37,454 versus $18,375 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 $19,708. About 14.2% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The 1987 Encyclopedia of Kentucky refers to Greenville as "the unofficial capital of the Black Belt", a reference to the area's production of coalCoal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and dark tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
.
Duncan Cultural Center
The Duncan Cultural Center occupies the former home of William Graham Duncan on Cherry Street in Greenville. Constructed in 1912, the home was donated to the city of Greenville by Hamilton Richardson Duncan, Sr., the last of the Duncan family to reside there, in 1986. It became the Duncan Cultural Center a year later, but did not open to the public until 1989.Today, the Center displays a number of artifacts related to the history and culture of Muhlenberg County
Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Muhlenberg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 31,499. The county is named for Peter Muhlenberg. Its county seat is Greenville....
, including a coal museum. It is also available for rent to host parties and other special events.
Muhlenberg County Rail Trail
The Muhlenberg County Rail TrailRail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
is a paved trail following an old Paducah and Louisville railway route between Central City, Kentucky
Central City, Kentucky
Central City is a city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,893 at the 2000 census. It is also the largest city in the county and the principal community in the Central City Micropolitan Statistical Area which includes all of Muhlenberg County and the communities...
and Greenville that is open to pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle traffic. Kentucky's most extensive rail trail conversion to date, the Muhlenberg Rail Trail opened October 20, 2000 and was named "Trail of the Month" by the Rails to Trails Conservancy in May 2004. A viewing platform and birding guide are available where the trail passes through a local wetland. The Muhlenberg County Rails to Trails Committee has railbanked an additional 3 miles (4.8 km) of abandoned rail, possibly for a later extension into McLean County
McLean County, Kentucky
McLean County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky; its population was 9,938 in the 2000 Census. McLean County's county seat is at Calhoun....
.
Notable natives and residents
- Actor Warren OatesWarren OatesWarren Mercer Oates was an American actor best known for his performances in several films directed by Sam Peckinpah including The Wild Bunch and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia...
was born in Depoy, just outside of Greenville - Alney McLeanAlney McLeanAlney McLean was a United States Representative from Kentucky. McLean County, Kentucky is named in his honor.-Early life:...
(1779–1841) was a United States Representative from Kentucky. - Edward RumseyEdward RumseyEdward Rumsey was a United States Representative from Kentucky.Rumsey was born to Dr. Edward Rumsey in Botetourt County, Virginia. When the younger Rumsey was still a child, Dr. Rumsey moved the family to Christian County, Kentucky. Studying under Daniel Barry, he completed preparatory studies in...
(1796–1868) was a United States Representative from Kentucky. - Vernard Eugene BivinVernard Eugene Bivin-Awarded the Navy Cross:Bivin was killed in action on board Salt Lake City on 12 October 1942 during the Battle of Cape Esperance, Seaman First Class. He received a posthumous Navy Cross.-Namesake:...
(1921–1942) was a recipient of the Navy CrossNavy CrossThe Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
and was the namesake of the destroyer escortDestroyer escortA destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Bivin (DE-536)USS Bivin (DE-536)USS Bivin was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket.Bivin was named after Vernard Eugene... - Actor Miles HeizerMiles HeizerMiles Heizer is an American actor. His most notable film appearance was in Rails & Ties, playing Davey Danner when he was 12 years old. He also played the recurring character Joshua Lipnicki on the television series ER. He also stars in the 2010 show Parenthood as Drew Holt, Sarah Braverman's ...
born 1994, well known for his role in Rails & Ties with Kevin Bacon. - Musician Jim Walker (musician), world-renowned flute soloist—orchestral and film soundtracks.
- Ephraim McLean BrankEphraim McLean BrankEphraim McLean Brank was a soldier in the War of 1812, noted for his exceptional marksmanship at the Battle of New Orleans.-Early life and family:...
, soldier and lawyer - Danny MorrisDanny MorrisDanny Walker Morris is a retired American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in six Major League games for the – Minnesota Twins. He stood tall and weighed during his active career....
, baseball player - Gordon B Ford (1913–2005) was a successful accountant. The business school at Western Kentucky University is named the "Gordon Ford College of Business"