Cloverport, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Cloverport is a city in Breckinridge County
, Kentucky
, United States
, on the banks of the Ohio River
. The population was 1,256 at the 2000 census. Under Kentucky state law, it is a fifth class city.
, Cloverport's past has seen greater economic importance as a port city.
According to John E. Kleber "A pioneer community, Joe's Landing, was established by Joe Huston in 1798 and renamed Cloverport in 1828."
In 1816, Cloverport ferryman Jacob Weatherholt piloted the family of Abraham Lincoln
, then a lad of seven, along with his parents, Thomas
and Nancy
, across the Ohio River as the family left Kentucky to move to a newly-acquired farm
in Spencer County, Indiana
.
Cloverport was also the site of a button factory, which made use of mussel shells from the Ohio River.
In the nineteenth century, the Victoria Coal Mines, named in honor of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, produced coal oil
, made from cannel coal
, which was later used to light Buckingham Palace
.
Former United States Supreme Court Justice Wiley Blount Rutledge
was born at nearby Tar Springs on July 20, 1894. Rutledge was the son of the pastor of Cloverport Baptist
Church.
of 2000, there were 1,256 people, 536 households, and 351 families residing in the city. The population density
was 779.1 people per square mile (301.2/km²). There were 620 housing units at an average density of 384.6 per square mile (148.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.42% White, 2.47% African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.
There were 536 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $30,917. Males had a median income of $30,156 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,990. About 14.1% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.
Breckinridge County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,648 people, 7,324 households, and 5,309 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,890 housing units at an average density of...
, 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...
, on the banks of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The population was 1,256 at the 2000 census. Under Kentucky state law, it is a fifth class city.
History
The town was once known as "Joesville," named after its founder, Joe Huston. Founded in 1808 and situated along the Ohio RiverOhio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, Cloverport's past has seen greater economic importance as a port city.
According to John E. Kleber "A pioneer community, Joe's Landing, was established by Joe Huston in 1798 and renamed Cloverport in 1828."
In 1816, Cloverport ferryman Jacob Weatherholt piloted the family of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, then a lad of seven, along with his parents, Thomas
Thomas Lincoln
Thomas Lincoln was an American farmer and father of President Abraham Lincoln.-Ancestors:Thomas Lincoln was descended from Samuel Lincoln, a Puritan from East Anglia who landed in Massachusetts in 1637...
and Nancy
Nancy Hanks
Nancy Hanks Lincoln was the mother of Abraham Lincoln and of Sarah Lincoln after her marriage to Thomas Lincoln. After the family moved from Kentucky to Spencer County, Indiana, Nancy Lincoln died of milk sickness at the Little Pigeon Creek settlement...
, across the Ohio River as the family left Kentucky to move to a newly-acquired farm
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is a United States Presidential Memorial, a National Historic Landmark District in present-day Lincoln City, Indiana. It preserves the farm site where Abraham Lincoln lived with his family from 1816 to 1830. During that time, he grew from a 7-year-old boy to a...
in Spencer County, Indiana
Spencer County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,391 people, 7,569 households, and 5,752 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 8,333 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
.
Cloverport was also the site of a button factory, which made use of mussel shells from the Ohio River.
In the nineteenth century, the Victoria Coal Mines, named in honor of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, produced coal oil
Coal oil
Coal oil is a term once used for a specific shale oil used for illuminating purposes. Coal oil is obtained from the destructive distillation of cannel coal, mineral wax, and bituminous shale, while kerosene is obtained by the distillation of petroleum...
, made from cannel coal
Cannel coal
Cannel coal, also known as candle coal, is a type of coal, also classified as terrestrial type oil shale, with a large amount of hydrogen, which burns easily with a bright light and leaves little ash....
, which was later used to light Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
Former United States Supreme Court Justice Wiley Blount Rutledge
Wiley Blount Rutledge
Wiley Blount Rutledge, Jr. was an American educator, lawyer, and justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.-Early life:...
was born at nearby Tar Springs on July 20, 1894. Rutledge was the son of the pastor of Cloverport Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church.
Geography
According to the U.S Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.41%) 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 1,256 people, 536 households, and 351 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 779.1 people per square mile (301.2/km²). There were 620 housing units at an average density of 384.6 per square mile (148.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.42% White, 2.47% African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% 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 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.
There were 536 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% 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, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $30,917. Males had a median income of $30,156 versus $18,750 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 $14,990. About 14.1% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Joseph HoltJoseph HoltGeneral Joseph Holt was a leading member of the Buchanan administration and was Judge Advocate General of the United States Army, most notably during the Lincoln assassination trials.-Early life:...
- Commissioner of Patents, Postmaster General and Secretary of War in President Buchanan's Administration, 1857-1861 - Wiley Blount RutledgeWiley Blount RutledgeWiley Blount Rutledge, Jr. was an American educator, lawyer, and justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.-Early life:...
- former United States Supreme Court justice - Benjamin Franklin MudgeBenjamin Franklin MudgeBenjamin Franklin Mudge was an American lawyer, geologist and teacher. Briefly the mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts, he later moved to Kansas where he was appointed the first State Geologist. He led the first geological survey of the state in 1864, and published the first book on the geology of Kansas...