Robards, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Robards is a city in Henderson County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The population was 564 at the 2000 census.
As far back as 1810 and through 1840, and even later, before Robards became a community, its site attracted daring horsemen who raced their steeds there on a race track
, which was a straight half mile section of road, congregating to bet, test the speed of their horses, drink liquor and otherwise indulge their depraved and uncultured appetites.
George Rudy's school house was built before 1840 and between the years of 1840 and 1848, the school had four teachers: Washington Sale, Dave Cowan, Frank Davis, and Joseph C. Norman. The Methodists built a church near the school and in 1853 it was dedicated as "McMullin's Chapel."
Although, the town of Robards did not officially exist, in the 1860s, two of the chief battles of the Civil War
in this county took place at Robards.
J.D. Robards for whom Robards was named after, built the first house in 1867. This was a frame store house which was also used as a dry goods, grocery and general merchandise store. In this store he carried on a business totaling from $25,000 to $40,000 per year. In addition to the store, he owned and operated a tobacco stemmery. The tobacco stemmery employed 50 men and shipped directly to Europe. In the twenty years, after the Civil War
, Robards doubled in population. The average price of land in the 1800s was $20–$25 per acre. While tobacco, corn and wheat were the chief cash crops, a number of farmers were engaged in cattle raising. In 1880, Robards supported: John W. Arnett and J.L. Burdon as physicians and surgeons. S.W. Spencer serving as manager of the Robard's Station Co-operative Grange Store. F.M. Eakins served as the druggist and also, was Express agent on the Henderson Branch of the L&N Railroad. Jasper Robards and John F. Schanebach accommodated the blacksmith
ing needs of the community. John W. Royster, Jr. was a buyer and dealer in leaf tobacco. J.D. Robards ran the dry goods store. J.T. Williams was the carpenter
. R.S. Triplett was also a merchant
in the area. A.B. Sugg supplied the areas stock needs. Mosco Cox was the local teacher. Population of 100 and daily mail delivery. There was one ample frame building used for the District Common School and for religious services. The Christian denomination had the only established church, with S.W. Cowan serving as pastor, in the 1880s. Three coal mines were opened during the 1880s and continued into the 1920s. In 1887, Starling reported that Robards had nine stores, a steam mill
, a school building, a church with a seating capacity of 400, a large livery stable and a good hotel
.
Lucy Furman, a fiction writer, told events of Robards Station as they related to the religious sect that flourished during the late 19th century. Her book, "Stories of a Sanctified town", was so true to life that the residents of Robards recognized her characters in spite of changed names and combination of locales. Present day when traveling Highway
U.S. 41 South, you will see the road sign calling "Robards the Sanctified Town".
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 564 people, 214 households, and 172 families residing in the city. The population density
was 183.5 people per square mile (70.9/km²). There were 226 housing units at an average density of 73.5 per square mile (28.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.87% White, 1.42% Black or African American
, 0.53% Native American, and 0.18% from two or more races.
There were 214 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,019, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $36,538 versus $21,324 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,706. About 4.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Henderson County, Kentucky
Henderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1799. As the latest census data update of 2010, the population was counted 46,250. The county seat is the City of Henderson. The county was named for Colonel Richard Henderson who originally purchased of land...
, 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 564 at the 2000 census.
History
The name of the precinct has gone through three changes. In 1868 it was officially "Robard's Station". In 1880 it became "Robard" and in 1924, the final change made it "Robards." Robards is pronounced Roberts. The early settlers of the area were: Reuben Moss, George Robards, George Eakins, Bennett Sandefur, Jordan Moss, Enoch Spencer, Thomas Reidout, Ben Wall, Nathan Smith, T. W. Royster, James McMullin, Samuel McMullin, Sr.As far back as 1810 and through 1840, and even later, before Robards became a community, its site attracted daring horsemen who raced their steeds there on a race track
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
, which was a straight half mile section of road, congregating to bet, test the speed of their horses, drink liquor and otherwise indulge their depraved and uncultured appetites.
George Rudy's school house was built before 1840 and between the years of 1840 and 1848, the school had four teachers: Washington Sale, Dave Cowan, Frank Davis, and Joseph C. Norman. The Methodists built a church near the school and in 1853 it was dedicated as "McMullin's Chapel."
Although, the town of Robards did not officially exist, in the 1860s, two of the chief battles of the Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
in this county took place at Robards.
J.D. Robards for whom Robards was named after, built the first house in 1867. This was a frame store house which was also used as a dry goods, grocery and general merchandise store. In this store he carried on a business totaling from $25,000 to $40,000 per year. In addition to the store, he owned and operated a tobacco stemmery. The tobacco stemmery employed 50 men and shipped directly to Europe. In the twenty years, after the Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
, Robards doubled in population. The average price of land in the 1800s was $20–$25 per acre. While tobacco, corn and wheat were the chief cash crops, a number of farmers were engaged in cattle raising. In 1880, Robards supported: John W. Arnett and J.L. Burdon as physicians and surgeons. S.W. Spencer serving as manager of the Robard's Station Co-operative Grange Store. F.M. Eakins served as the druggist and also, was Express agent on the Henderson Branch of the L&N Railroad. Jasper Robards and John F. Schanebach accommodated the blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
ing needs of the community. John W. Royster, Jr. was a buyer and dealer in leaf tobacco. J.D. Robards ran the dry goods store. J.T. Williams was the carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
. R.S. Triplett was also a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
in the area. A.B. Sugg supplied the areas stock needs. Mosco Cox was the local teacher. Population of 100 and daily mail delivery. There was one ample frame building used for the District Common School and for religious services. The Christian denomination had the only established church, with S.W. Cowan serving as pastor, in the 1880s. Three coal mines were opened during the 1880s and continued into the 1920s. In 1887, Starling reported that Robards had nine stores, a steam mill
Steam mill
A steam mill is a type of grinding mill using a stationary steam engine to power its mechanism.-Reference to Marx:For Karl Marx, what defined feudalism was that the power of the ruling class rested on their control of arable land, leading to a class society based upon the exploitation of the...
, a school building, a church with a seating capacity of 400, a large livery stable and a good hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
.
Lucy Furman, a fiction writer, told events of Robards Station as they related to the religious sect that flourished during the late 19th century. Her book, "Stories of a Sanctified town", was so true to life that the residents of Robards recognized her characters in spite of changed names and combination of locales. Present day when traveling Highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
U.S. 41 South, you will see the road sign calling "Robards the Sanctified Town".
Geography
Robards is located at 37°40′29"N 87°32′35"W (37.674669, -87.542918).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 3.1 square miles (8 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 564 people, 214 households, and 172 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 183.5 people per square mile (70.9/km²). There were 226 housing units at an average density of 73.5 per square mile (28.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.87% White, 1.42% Black or African American
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...
, 0.53% Native American, and 0.18% from two or more races.
There were 214 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% 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, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,019, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $36,538 versus $21,324 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 $18,706. About 4.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.