Russellville is a home rule-class city in Logan County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. As of the 2020 census, Russellville had a population of 7,164.

History

Local historian Alex C. Finley has claimed the area was first settled by Gasper Butcher, as a frontier settlement of the Transylvania Colony of Virginia, around 1780, but others have questioned this claim. Also known as "Cook's Station", the community was located about east of the present city. It was formally established by the state legislature on January 15, 1810. The city is set among small hills in the valley of the Town Branch, a north-flowing tributary of the Mud River and part of the Green River watershed flowing to the Ohio River.

Russellville is served by U.S. Routes 68, 79 and 431. The nearest limited-access highway is the Natcher Parkway (I-165), to the northeast.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Russellville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Russellville had a population of 7,164. The median age was 41.1 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.1 males age 18 and over.

89.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 10.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,079 households in Russellville, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.0% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 78.64% White, 18.62% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of the population.

There were 3,064 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,647, and the median income for a family was $31,448. Males had a median income of $27,529 versus $20,032 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,654. About 17.1% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.0% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Amid a largely agricultural area, Russellville is home to manufacturers of a number of products from pet food to plastics. The area's largest employer, Logan Aluminum, employs over 1,300 people.

Education

Russellville has a lending library, a branch of the Logan County Public Library.

Notable people

  • Philip Alston, counterfeiter and early settler near Russellville
  • Pedro Bradshaw, NBA player
  • Athena Cage, recording artist, producer, and songwriter
  • Ann Mary Butler Crittenden Coleman (1813–1891), author, translator
  • George B. Crittenden (1812–80), Confederate Army major general during the Civil War
  • John J. Crittenden (1787–1863), U.S. attorney general, Kentucky governor, U.S. senator, and U.S. representative
  • Thomas L. Crittenden (1819–93), Union Army major general during the Civil War
  • Alice Allison Dunnigan, first female African American correspondent for Congress and the White House
  • William Jefferson Hardin, black legislator
  • Elijah Hise, congressman from Kentucky
  • Joseph Jefferson, NFL player
  • Holly Goddard Jones, novelist
  • John LittleJohn, protector of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence during the burning of Washington
  • Finis McLean, congressman from Kentucky
  • Andre Morris, former world record holder in track and field
  • Elijah Hise Norton, congressman from Missouri
  • Presley O'Bannon, United States Marine Corps officer and hero of the First Barbary War; resided in Russellville
  • Kelley Paul, writer and wife of current U.S. Senator Rand Paul
  • Jim Price, former NBA player
  • Mike Price, basketball player
  • Green Pinckney Russell, American teacher, principal, school district supervisor, and college president
  • Fletcher Stockdale, a governor of Texas
  • Mark Thompson (pitcher), MLB player
  • David S. Walker, governor of Florida
  • Bubba Wells, former NBA player
  • Terrence W. Wilcutt, NASA astronaut

See also

  • News Democrat & Leader

References

  • City of Russellville official website