Providence, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Providence is a city in Webster County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The population was 3,611 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Providence, Rhode Island
.
It is located in the southwestern part of the county, east of the Tradewater River. The town was founded by Richard B. Savage, who arrived in the vicinity from Virginia in 1820 with his eldest sister, Mary (Savage) Settler.
On February 18, 1840, when the town of Providence was officially sanctioned, it had a population of 150, including three physicians, as well as five stores, two hotels, a school, a Baptist church, a Masonic hall and three tobacco stemmeries. In the heart of the state's Black Patch tobacco-growing region, Providence eventually became the third largest stemming market in America.
Providence was incorporated in 1860. The onset of the Civil War slowed economic growth in the city, although no major battles took place there. A Confederate reconnaissance and foraging force commanded by General Nathan Bedford Forrest passed through between November and December 1861.
Commercial coal mining began in 1888, and by 1930 Providence residents numbered 4,742. In the 1930s depressed conditions in the coal fields resulted in a loss of population that continued through the 1960s.
Providence' economy remains tied to coal and agriculture.
The Tradewater River
flows past the city.
Providence is located aprox. 17 miles northwest of Madisonville, KY.
of 2000, there were 3,611 people, 1,487 households, and 1,029 families residing in the city. The population density
was 587.2 people per square mile (226.7/km²). There were 1,754 housing units at an average density of 285.2 per square mile (110.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.92% White, 16.53% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 1,487 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,400, and the median income for a family was $31,125. Males had a median income of $28,716 versus $23,438 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,209. About 19.4% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
Webster County, Kentucky
Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Webster County was formed in 1860 from parts of the counties of Henderson, Hopkins, and Union. As of 2000, the population is 14,120. Its county seat is Dixon. The county was named for American statesman Daniel Webster...
, 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...
. The population was 3,611 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
It is located in the southwestern part of the county, east of the Tradewater River. The town was founded by Richard B. Savage, who arrived in the vicinity from Virginia in 1820 with his eldest sister, Mary (Savage) Settler.
On February 18, 1840, when the town of Providence was officially sanctioned, it had a population of 150, including three physicians, as well as five stores, two hotels, a school, a Baptist church, a Masonic hall and three tobacco stemmeries. In the heart of the state's Black Patch tobacco-growing region, Providence eventually became the third largest stemming market in America.
Providence was incorporated in 1860. The onset of the Civil War slowed economic growth in the city, although no major battles took place there. A Confederate reconnaissance and foraging force commanded by General Nathan Bedford Forrest passed through between November and December 1861.
Commercial coal mining began in 1888, and by 1930 Providence residents numbered 4,742. In the 1930s depressed conditions in the coal fields resulted in a loss of population that continued through the 1960s.
Providence' economy remains tied to coal and agriculture.
Geography
Providence is located at 37°23′54"N 87°45′25"W (37.398389, -87.757077).The Tradewater River
Tradewater River
The Tradewater River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in western Kentucky in the United States. It drains an area of in the limestone hills south of Evansville, Indiana, between the basins of the Cumberland River on the west and the Green River on the east.-Description:It...
flows past the city.
Providence is located aprox. 17 miles northwest of Madisonville, KY.
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 3,611 people, 1,487 households, and 1,029 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 587.2 people per square mile (226.7/km²). There were 1,754 housing units at an average density of 285.2 per square mile (110.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.92% White, 16.53% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.28% 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 0.86% of the population.
There were 1,487 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% 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 30.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,400, and the median income for a family was $31,125. Males had a median income of $28,716 versus $23,438 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 $14,209. About 19.4% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.