Leitchfield, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 6,139 people, 2,485 households, and 1,615 families residing in the city. The population density
was 700.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,797 housing units at an average density of 319 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.63% White, 1.56% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
There were 2,485 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,108, and the median income for a family was $32,398. Males had a median income of $27,958 versus $18,958 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,033. About 17.5% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
, features a demolition derby
, rides, truck and tractor pulls, field crop contests, and a beauty pageant. The County Fair officially ends on Labor Day with the traditional Labor Day parade.
What started as an ice cream
social on the county square in 1992 has turned into a weekend-long festival. Every July, the Ice Cream Festival, now planned and operated by K105, features a beauty pageant, rides, games, a mixed doubles tennis
tournament and the largest fireworks show in the area. At 6pm on the Saturday of the festival, free cups of ice cream are given to festival attendees. Each year, the fireworks show is given a theme. Recent themes include "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "Television Classics". In 2009, the event was replaced by Freedom Fest, which was hyped by the newspapers.
Each July, the Grayson County Agricultural Recreation Park in Leitchfield hosts the Grayson County 4-H
and FFA
Ag Fair. The event features farm and youth events and exhibits such as tractor driving contests, homemaker exhibits, and sheep, hog, horse, dairy and beef shows.
A Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony is held each year on the Saturday before Memorial Day. Hundreds march from the Leitchfield firehouse to the county square holding signs of local veterans who died in various conflicts. The ceremony consists of several speeches, the roll call of local veterans who died in the previous year, and the singing of the National Anthem and Amazing Grace. A cookout is held after the ceremony.
Census
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 6,139 people, 2,485 households, and 1,615 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 700.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,797 housing units at an average density of 319 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.63% White, 1.56% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% 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 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
There were 2,485 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% 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, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,108, and the median income for a family was $32,398. Males had a median income of $27,958 versus $18,958 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 $15,033. About 17.5% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
Festivals and Events
Every year, Leitchfield plays host to the Grayson County Fair. The County Fair, which begins the week before Labor DayLabor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
, features a demolition derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
, rides, truck and tractor pulls, field crop contests, and a beauty pageant. The County Fair officially ends on Labor Day with the traditional Labor Day parade.
What started as an ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
social on the county square in 1992 has turned into a weekend-long festival. Every July, the Ice Cream Festival, now planned and operated by K105, features a beauty pageant, rides, games, a mixed doubles tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
tournament and the largest fireworks show in the area. At 6pm on the Saturday of the festival, free cups of ice cream are given to festival attendees. Each year, the fireworks show is given a theme. Recent themes include "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "Television Classics". In 2009, the event was replaced by Freedom Fest, which was hyped by the newspapers.
Each July, the Grayson County Agricultural Recreation Park in Leitchfield hosts the Grayson County 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
and FFA
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
Ag Fair. The event features farm and youth events and exhibits such as tractor driving contests, homemaker exhibits, and sheep, hog, horse, dairy and beef shows.
A Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony is held each year on the Saturday before Memorial Day. Hundreds march from the Leitchfield firehouse to the county square holding signs of local veterans who died in various conflicts. The ceremony consists of several speeches, the roll call of local veterans who died in the previous year, and the singing of the National Anthem and Amazing Grace. A cookout is held after the ceremony.