Danville, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Danville is a city in and the county seat
of Boyle County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.
Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln
counties.
In 2001, Danville received a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
. In 2011, Money Magazine
placed Danville as the fourth best place to retire in the United States. Danville was twice chosen to host U.S. Vice-Presidential debates.
Danville was part of the Great Settlement Area around Harrod's Fort (now Harrodsburg
), which was first settled in 1774. Walker Daniel, Kentucky's first District Attorney, bought 76 acres (30.8 ha) from settler John Crow on the Wilderness Road
and had it surveyed for a town in 1783-1784. The city was probably named for Daniel. The Virginia legislature officially established Danville on December 4, 1787.
Between 1784 and 1792, ten conventions were held in Danville to petition for better governance and ultimately to secure independence from Virginia. In 1786 the Danville Political Club
was organized. It met each Saturday night at Grayson’s Tavern to discuss the political, economic, and social concerns. After a state constitution was adopted and separation was confirmed in 1792, the town ceased to be of statewide importance and its leading citizens moved elsewhere.
Transylvania University
was founded in Danville in 1783. It moved to Lexington, Kentucky
in 1789. Centre College was founded in 1819. Danville Theological Seminary was founded in 1853; in 1901 it became part of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
. The Caldwell Institute for Young Ladies was founded in 1860. It became Caldwell Female College in 1876, Caldwell College in 1904, Kentucky College for Women in 1913, and merged into Centre College
in 1926.
In November 1806, Meriwether Lewis
, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
, visited Danville while traveling the Wilderness Road to Washington DC to report on the expedition. In December 1806, William Clark visited his nephews in school in Danville before following Lewis to Washington.
In 1842, Boyle County
was formed from southern Mercer County
and northern Lincoln County
. Danville became its county seat.
In 1850, Danville and Boyle County backed construction of the Lexington and Danville Railroad. Money ran out when the railroad reached Nicholasville, Kentucky
and John A. Roebling
had built towers for a suspension bridge over the Kentucky River
(Roebling lived in Danville during the construction). Despite the lack of a railroad to Danville, the county still owed $150,000; it completed payment on time in 1884.
In 1860, a fire devastated the city, destroying 64 buildings and causing over $300,000 in damages. Boyle County's courthouse was among the destroyed buildings; its replacement was completed in 1862. After the Battle of Perryville
in the American Civil War
on October 8, 1862, many Danville buildings, including the courthouse, were appropriated by Union forces for use as a hospital. On October 11, a Union force drove Confederate forces from the county fairgrounds through Danville.
In 1775, Archibald McNeill planted Kentucky's first recorded hemp
crop at Clark's Run Creek near Danville. Boyle County became one of ten Kentucky counties which together produced over 90% of the US yield in 1889. It was the state's largest cash crop until 1915 when it lost its market to imported jute
.
On October 5, 2000, Dick Cheney
and Senator Joe Lieberman
, candidates for Vice President of the United States
, debated at Centre College during the 2000 presidential election
. On October 11, 2012, Centre College will again host Vice-Presidential debates.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 15.8 square miles (40.9 km²), of which, 15.65 square miles (40.5 km²) of it is land.
Dan Tran provides bus service inside Danville.
Other bus lines connect Danville with Lexington
, Stanford
, Junction City
, and Lancaster
.
Road
Air -
Stuart Powell Field
(DVK), 3 miles (4.8 km) from downtown, serves as Danville's general aviation airport.
Blue Grass Airport
(LEX) in Lexington, Kentucky
, 35 miles (56.3 km) away, provides the closest commercial service. More extensive commercial service is available from
Louisville International Airport
(SDF) in Louisville, Kentucky
, 82 miles (132 km) away, and
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
(CVG) near Cincinnati, Ohio, 127 miles (204.4 km) away.
Rail -
Norfolk Southern Railway
operates a freight rail yard and crew-change station in Danville; the crew-change station is moving to Somerset, Kentucky
. Its Louisville-Chattanooga line meets its Cincinnati-Chattanooga line in Danville.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 15,477 people, 6,223 households, and 4,013 families residing in the city. The population density
was 378.4 /sqkm. There were 6,734 housing units at an average density of 164.7 /sqkm. The racial makeup of the city was 83.67% White
, 13.02% African American
, 0.25% Native American
, 0.83% Asian
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 0.82% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 1.48% of the population.
Of the 6,223 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% 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 2.82.
22.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household was US $32,938, and the median income for a family was $40,528. Males had a median income of $35,327 versus $24,542 for females. The per capita income
was $18,906. About 9.4% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
Danville Schools
operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school for the city of Danville.
Boyle County Schools
operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school for portions of Danville and the remainder of Boyle County.
Kentucky School for the Deaf
provides education to Kentucky's deaf and hard-of-hearing children from elementary through high school
Private schools -
Two private schools operate in Danville:
Danville Christian Academy and
Danville Montessori School.
Colleges and universities -
Centre College
, a nationally-recognized liberal arts college is located in Danville.
Four other colleges and universities have campuses in Danville:
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
,
Eastern Kentucky University
,
Midway College
, and
National College
.
Pioneer Playhouse
is the oldest outdoor theater in Kentucky, and the first theater officially designated as Kentucky's state theater. It features summer-stock productions using local and nationally-known artists.
West T. Hill Community Theatre is a community theater with an acclaimed company of actors.
, a daily (except Saturday) newspaper, serves Danville and surrounding counties. Local radio stations include three AM stations:
WDFB-AM
(1170),
WHBN
(1420),
WHIR
(1230)
and three FM stations:
WDFB-FM
(88.1),
WLAI (107.1),
WRNZ
(105.1).
:
Carrickfergus
, Northern Ireland
, United Kingdom
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Boyle County
Boyle County, Kentucky
Boyle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Its county seat is Danville. In 2000, its population was 28,432. It was formed in 1842 and named for John Boyle , a U.S...
, 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 16,218 at the 2010 census.
Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln
Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 24,742 in the 2010 Cesus. Its county seat is Stanford. Lincoln is a prohibition or "dry county" and is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
counties.
In 2001, Danville received a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
. In 2011, Money Magazine
Money (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
placed Danville as the fourth best place to retire in the United States. Danville was twice chosen to host U.S. Vice-Presidential debates.
History
Danville is called the "City of Firsts".- It housed the first courthouseCourthouseA courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
in Kentucky. - It had the first U.S. Post Office west of the Allegheny MountainsAllegheny MountainsThe Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. - It hosts the first state-supported school for the deafKentucky School for the DeafThe Kentucky School for the Deaf , located in Danville, Kentucky, provides education to deaf and hard-of-hearing children from elementary through high school levels.-History:...
. - In it, Ephraim McDowellEphraim McDowellEphraim McDowell was an American physician. He was the first to successfully remove an ovarian tumor.-Biography:...
became the first physician in the world to successfully remove an ovarian tumor. - It is home to the oldest college administration building and campus west of the Allegheny Mountains at Centre CollegeCentre CollegeCentre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
.
Danville was part of the Great Settlement Area around Harrod's Fort (now Harrodsburg
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the oldest city in Kentucky.-History:...
), which was first settled in 1774. Walker Daniel, Kentucky's first District Attorney, bought 76 acres (30.8 ha) from settler John Crow on the Wilderness Road
Wilderness Road
The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by settlers for more than fifty years to reach Kentucky from the East. In 1775, Daniel Boone blazed a trail for the Transylvania Company from Fort Chiswell in Virginia through the Cumberland Gap into central Kentucky. It was later lengthened,...
and had it surveyed for a town in 1783-1784. The city was probably named for Daniel. The Virginia legislature officially established Danville on December 4, 1787.
Between 1784 and 1792, ten conventions were held in Danville to petition for better governance and ultimately to secure independence from Virginia. In 1786 the Danville Political Club
Danville Political Club
The Danville Political Club was a debating society based in Danville, Kentucky from 1786 to 1790.-Discovery:There are very few extant contemporary references to the Political Club. A U.S...
was organized. It met each Saturday night at Grayson’s Tavern to discuss the political, economic, and social concerns. After a state constitution was adopted and separation was confirmed in 1792, the town ceased to be of statewide importance and its leading citizens moved elsewhere.
Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
was founded in Danville in 1783. It moved to Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 1789. Centre College was founded in 1819. Danville Theological Seminary was founded in 1853; in 1901 it became part of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary affiliated with the Presbyterian Church , located in Louisville, Kentucky. It is one of ten official PC seminaries....
. The Caldwell Institute for Young Ladies was founded in 1860. It became Caldwell Female College in 1876, Caldwell College in 1904, Kentucky College for Women in 1913, and merged into Centre College
Centre College
Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
in 1926.
In November 1806, Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
, visited Danville while traveling the Wilderness Road to Washington DC to report on the expedition. In December 1806, William Clark visited his nephews in school in Danville before following Lewis to Washington.
In 1842, Boyle County
Boyle County, Kentucky
Boyle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Its county seat is Danville. In 2000, its population was 28,432. It was formed in 1842 and named for John Boyle , a U.S...
was formed from southern Mercer County
Mercer County, Kentucky
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 20,817. Its county seat is Harrodsburg. The county is named for General Hugh Mercer...
and northern Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 24,742 in the 2010 Cesus. Its county seat is Stanford. Lincoln is a prohibition or "dry county" and is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. Danville became its county seat.
In 1850, Danville and Boyle County backed construction of the Lexington and Danville Railroad. Money ran out when the railroad reached Nicholasville, Kentucky
Nicholasville, Kentucky
Nicholasville is the 11th largest city in state of Kentucky and the county seat of Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 19,680 at the 2000 census...
and John A. Roebling
John A. Roebling
John Augustus Roebling was a German-born American civil engineer. He is famous for his wire rope suspension bridge designs, in particular, the design of the Brooklyn Bridge.-Early life:...
had built towers for a suspension bridge over the Kentucky River
Kentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the...
(Roebling lived in Danville during the construction). Despite the lack of a railroad to Danville, the county still owed $150,000; it completed payment on time in 1884.
In 1860, a fire devastated the city, destroying 64 buildings and causing over $300,000 in damages. Boyle County's courthouse was among the destroyed buildings; its replacement was completed in 1862. After the Battle of Perryville
Battle of Perryville
The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive during the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi won a...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
on October 8, 1862, many Danville buildings, including the courthouse, were appropriated by Union forces for use as a hospital. On October 11, a Union force drove Confederate forces from the county fairgrounds through Danville.
In 1775, Archibald McNeill planted Kentucky's first recorded hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
crop at Clark's Run Creek near Danville. Boyle County became one of ten Kentucky counties which together produced over 90% of the US yield in 1889. It was the state's largest cash crop until 1915 when it lost its market to imported jute
Jute
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, which has been classified in the family Tiliaceae, or more recently in Malvaceae....
.
On October 5, 2000, Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
and Senator Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
, candidates for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, debated at Centre College during the 2000 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
. On October 11, 2012, Centre College will again host Vice-Presidential debates.
Geography
Danville is located at 37.6456°N 84.7698°W.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 15.8 square miles (40.9 km²), of which, 15.65 square miles (40.5 km²) of it is land.
Transportation
Bus -Dan Tran provides bus service inside Danville.
Other bus lines connect Danville with Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, Stanford
Stanford, Kentucky
Stanford is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. It is one of the oldest settlements in Kentucky, having been founded in 1775. Its population was 3,430 at the 2000 census...
, Junction City
Junction City, Kentucky
Junction City is a city in Boyle County, Kentucky on the border with Lincoln County in the United States. Its population was 2,184 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and Lancaster
Lancaster, Kentucky
Lancaster is a city in Garrard County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,734. It is the county seat of Garrard County. Located south of Lexington, it is the site of the Kennedy House, said to have been used in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The controversial...
.
Road
-
U.S. Route 127U.S. Route 127U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
bisects Danville northwest (HarrodsburgHarrodsburg, KentuckyHarrodsburg is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the oldest city in Kentucky.-History:...
) to south (LibertyLiberty, KentuckyLiberty is a city in and the county seat of Casey County, Kentucky, United States. It was established in 1806 by several Revolutionary War veterans and named for one of the values of their new country...
). -
U.S. Route 150U.S. Route 150U.S. Route 150 is a 571 mile long northwest-southeast United States highway, signed as east–west. It runs from U.S. Route 6 outside of Moline, Illinois to U.S. Route 25 in Mount Vernon, Kentucky .-Illinois:In the state of Illinois, U.S. 150 runs from the Quad City International Airport at U.S...
bisects Danville west (PerryvillePerryville, KentuckyPerryville is a historical city in western Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 763 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, SpringfieldSpringfield, KentuckySpringfield is a city in and county seat of Washington County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census. It was established in 1793 and probably named for springs in the area.-Geography:...
) to southeast (StanfordStanford, KentuckyStanford is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. It is one of the oldest settlements in Kentucky, having been founded in 1775. Its population was 3,430 at the 2000 census...
). - U.S. Route 127 and U.S. Route 150 also bypass Danville on the west and south.
-
Kentucky Route 33Kentucky Route 33Kentucky Route 33 is a long, two-lane, north–south state highway in Kentucky managed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet....
enters Danville from north (BurginBurgin, KentuckyBurgin is a city in Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. Its population was 874 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Burgin is located at...
, VersaillesVersailles, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
). -
Kentucky Route 34Kentucky Route 34Kentucky Route 34 is a long, east–west, 2-lane, state highway in Kentucky managed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet....
connects Danville northeast to U.S. Route 27U.S. Route 27U.S. Route 27 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana...
and on to Lexington. -
Kentucky Route 52 connects Danville east to LancasterLancaster, KentuckyLancaster is a city in Garrard County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,734. It is the county seat of Garrard County. Located south of Lexington, it is the site of the Kennedy House, said to have been used in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The controversial...
.
Air -
Stuart Powell Field
Stuart Powell Field
Stuart Powell Field is a public-use airport located south of the central business district of Danville, a city in Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. It is owned by the City of Danville and Boyle County.Although most U.S...
(DVK), 3 miles (4.8 km) from downtown, serves as Danville's general aviation airport.
Blue Grass Airport
Blue Grass Airport
Blue Grass Airport is a public airport located in Fayette County, Kentucky, United States, 4 miles west of the central business district of the city of Lexington. The main terminal building was opened in 1977. The airport covers an area of and has two runways. It is also home to the Aviation...
(LEX) in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, 35 miles (56.3 km) away, provides the closest commercial service. More extensive commercial service is available from
Louisville International Airport
Louisville International Airport
Louisville International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport centrally located in the city of Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. The airport covers 1,200 acres and has three runways. Its IATA airport code SDF is based on the airport's former name, Standiford Field...
(SDF) in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, 82 miles (132 km) away, and
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport , sometimes called the Greater Cincinnati Airport is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Despite being located in Boone County, the airport operations are...
(CVG) near Cincinnati, Ohio, 127 miles (204.4 km) away.
Rail -
Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
operates a freight rail yard and crew-change station in Danville; the crew-change station is moving to Somerset, Kentucky
Somerset, Kentucky
The major demographic differences between the city and the micropolitan area relate to income, housing composition and age. The micropolitan area, as compared to the incorporated city, is more suburban in flavor and has a significantly younger housing stock, a higher income, and contains most of...
. Its Louisville-Chattanooga line meets its Cincinnati-Chattanooga line in Danville.
Climate
Demographics
| Historical Populations | |||
| 1790 | 150 | 1910 | 5,420 |
| 1810 | 432 | 1920 | 5,099 |
| 1820 | 654 | 1930 | 6,729 |
| 1840 | 1,223 | 1940 | 6,734 |
| 1850 | 2,850 | 1950 | 8,686 |
| 1860 | 4,962 | 1960 | 8,855 |
| 1870 | 2,542 | 1970 | 11,542 |
| 1880 | 3,074 | 1980 | 12,942 |
| 1890 | 3,766 | 1990 | 12,420 |
| 1900 | 4,285 | 2000 | 15,477 |
As of the census
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 15,477 people, 6,223 households, and 4,013 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 378.4 /sqkm. There were 6,734 housing units at an average density of 164.7 /sqkm. The racial makeup of the city was 83.67% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 13.02% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.25% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.83% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 0.82% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race were 1.48% of the population.
Of the 6,223 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% 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, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% 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 2.82.
22.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household was US $32,938, and the median income for a family was $40,528. Males had a median income of $35,327 versus $24,542 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...
was $18,906. About 9.4% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
Crime
FBI crime statistics for 2009 list the crime rate (per 100,000 population) for Danville as follows:| Crime | Danville | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 258 | 260 | 429 |
| Murder | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Forcible rape | 32 | 35 | 29 |
| Robbery | 84 | 84 | 133 |
| Aggravated assault | 142 | 135 | 269 |
| Property crime | 3,587 | 2,513 | 3,061 |
| Burglary | 876 | 689 | 716 |
| Larceny-theft | 2,627 | 1,683 | 2,061 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 84 | 141 | 259 |
Education
Public schools -Danville Schools
Danville Schools
Danville Schools is a school district located in Danville, Kentucky. The district is roughly coterminous with the boundaries of the city of Danville, about in size...
operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school for the city of Danville.
Boyle County Schools
Boyle County Schools
Boyle County Schools is a school district located in Boyle County, Kentucky. The district is coterminous with the boundaries of the Boyle County except for the city of Danville, which has its own school district . The district is about in size...
operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school for portions of Danville and the remainder of Boyle County.
Kentucky School for the Deaf
Kentucky School for the Deaf
The Kentucky School for the Deaf , located in Danville, Kentucky, provides education to deaf and hard-of-hearing children from elementary through high school levels.-History:...
provides education to Kentucky's deaf and hard-of-hearing children from elementary through high school
Private schools -
Two private schools operate in Danville:
Danville Christian Academy and
Danville Montessori School.
Colleges and universities -
Centre College
Centre College
Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
, a nationally-recognized liberal arts college is located in Danville.
Four other colleges and universities have campuses in Danville:
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College , located in Lexington, Kentucky, is one of 16 two-year, open-admissions colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System . It was formed from the consolidation of two separate institutions: Lexington Community College and Central Kentucky...
,
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
,
Midway College
Midway College
Midway College is an independent, liberal arts college with approximately 1,800 students located in Midway, Kentucky. Related by covenant to the Christian Church , it currently offers two and four-year degrees. Midway is the only women's college in Kentucky...
, and
National College
National College of Business & Technology
National College, formerly National College of Business & Technology and also formerly National Business College, is a for-profit career college operating in the southeastern and east-central United States...
.
Culture
On March 2, 2010, Danville voted to go "wet" (to permit sale of packaged alcohol and sale of alcohol by the drink without restriction by premises size).Places of interest
- Centre CollegeCentre CollegeCentre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
is a top liberal arts college; it was host to the 2000 Vice Presidential debates. - Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge is a 500 acres (202.3 ha) nature preserve.
- Community Arts Center is an historic Beaux Arts building that is a hub for local artist activity.
- Confederate MonumentConfederate Monument in DanvilleThe Confederate Monument in Danville, located between Centre College and the First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Main and College Streets in Danville, Kentucky's McDowell Park, is a monument dedicated to the Confederate States of America that is on the National Register of Historic Places...
is an early 20th century statue dedicated to Kentucky's Civil War veterans. - Constitution SquareConstitution Square State Historic SiteConstitution Square State Historic Site is a park in Danville, Kentucky in Boyle County. It houses the courthouse that was the site of ten constitutional conventions that eventually produced the Constitution of Kentucky...
is a park containing restored and recreated frontier buildings; the first Kentucky constitution was written and signed here. - Crow-Barbee House is the oldest stone structure west of the Allegheny Mountains.
- Jones Visual Arts CenterCentre CollegeCentre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
is a gallery and primary studio for internationally known glass artist Stephen Rolfe PowellStephen Rolfe PowellStephen Rolfe Powell was born in 1951 in Birmingham, Alabama. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Painting and Ceramics at Centre College, Powell went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Louisiana State University. It was while at LSU, between 1980 and 1983, that Powell had his first...
. - Danville National CemeteryDanville National Cemetery (Kentucky)Danville National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Danville, in Boyle County, Kentucky. It has 394 interments and is currently closed to new interments.-Description:...
contains dead from the Battle of PerryvilleBattle of PerryvilleThe Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive during the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi won a...
. - Ephraim McDowell House MuseumEphraim McDowell HouseThe Dr. Ephraim McDowell House, also known as McDowell House, was a home of medical doctor Ephraim McDowell.The home was declared a U.S...
is the house where Ephraim McDowell's groundbreaking ovariotomy took place. - Great American Dollhouse Museum is a 6000 square feet (557.4 m²) social history museum in miniature.
- Perryville BattlefieldPerryville Battlefield State Historic SitePerryville Battlefield State Historic Site is a park near Perryville, Kentucky, in Boyle County, Kentucky. An interpretive museum is located near the site where many Confederate soldiers killed in the Battle of Perryville were buried. Additionally, monuments, interpretive signage, and cannons mark...
is a park that preserves a significant Civil War battlefield.
Theater
Three venues for theatrical productions live in Danville. The Norton Center for the Arts is a state-of-the-art host for performing and visual arts events throughout the year.Pioneer Playhouse
Pioneer Playhouse
The Pioneer Playhouse, located in Danville, Kentucky, is the oldest outdoor theater in the state of Kentucky.-History:The Pioneer Playhouse was built by Col. Eben C. Henson who established the outdoor theater in 1950. Notable alumni actors include John Travolta, Lee Majors, then known as Harvey...
is the oldest outdoor theater in Kentucky, and the first theater officially designated as Kentucky's state theater. It features summer-stock productions using local and nationally-known artists.
West T. Hill Community Theatre is a community theater with an acclaimed company of actors.
Annual events
- Great American Brass Band FestivalGreat American Brass Band FestivalThe Great American Brass Band Festival is a music festival held annually in Danville, Kentucky since 1990. The open-air festival features a wide variety of brass bands, a hot air balloon race, a picnic, and other activities...
(June) is a free, three-day outdoor festival that features performances from brass bands from throughout the country. Other events have joined the festival like picnics, wine festivals, bourbon tastings, and the Great American Balloon Race. - Boyle County Fair (June) is a fun-filled county fair.
- Constitution Square Arts Fest (September) hosts local and regional arts and crafts.
- Forkland Heritage Festival (October) celebrates the culture of an historic community.
- Perryville Battle Reenactment (October) is an authentic reliving of one of Kentucky's most significant Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battles. - Kentucky BBQ Festival (November) provides good music and good food from some of the country's best BBQ chefs.
Media
The Advocate-MessengerThe Advocate-Messenger
The Advocate-Messenger is a newspaper published daily in Danville, Kentucky. On Sundays, The Advocate-Messenger is called The Kentucky Advocate.The newspaper serves central Kentucky, with distribution primarily inBoyle,Lincoln,...
, a daily (except Saturday) newspaper, serves Danville and surrounding counties. Local radio stations include three AM stations:
WDFB-AM
WDFB (AM)
WDFB is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format. Licensed to Junction City, Kentucky, USA, the station serves the Daytime Only area. The station is currently owned by Alum Springs Vision & Outreach Corp....
(1170),
WHBN
WHBN
WHBN is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Harrodsburg, Kentucky, USA. The station is currently owned by Hometown Broadcasting of Harrodsburg Inc and features programing from AP Radio and Jones Radio Network.WHBN features longtime on air personality Bob Martin from...
(1420),
WHIR
WHIR
WHIR is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Danville, Kentucky, USA. The station is currently owned by Hometown Broadcastng of Danville Inc.WHIR features The Charlie Perry Show which can be heard Monday through Friday from 6-9 am...
(1230)
and three FM stations:
WDFB-FM
WDFB-FM
WDFB-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Danville, Kentucky, USA. The station is currently owned by Alum Springs Educational Corporation....
(88.1),
WLAI (107.1),
WRNZ
WRNZ
WRNZ is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Lancaster, Kentucky, USA, the station serves the Lexington area. The station is currently owned by Hometown Broadcasting of Lancaster, Inc..-History:...
(105.1).
Films Shot in Danville
- Raintree CountyRaintree County (film)Raintree County is a 1957 Technicolor film drama about the American Civil War. It was directed by Edward Dmytryk. The film stars Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Marie Saint, and Lee Marvin....
(1957) is a big-budget, epic film set during the Civil War. A short film, Operation Raintree, was shot to promote Raintree County. - Treasure of MatecumbeTreasure of MatecumbeTreasure of Matecumbe is a Walt Disney Productions family adventure film released in 1976, directed by Vincent McEveety. It was based on the novel by Robert Lewis Taylor. The plot involves a boy and his companion who run away from home to hunt for treasure. The filming locations were in Kentucky...
(1976) is a Walt Disney Productions family adventure film. - Child of GlassChild of GlassChild of Glass is a TV movie based upon a novel by Richard Peck . Child of Glass was updated to the present when it was created for Disney's TV series in 1978, had been aired on NBC.-Plot:...
(1978) is a made-for-TV movie distributed by Walt Disney PicturesWalt Disney PicturesWalt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
. - Lawn DogsLawn DogsLawn Dogs is a 1997 drama film released by Rank Organisation, which is their last film, directed by John Duigan and screenwritten by Naomi Wallace. It stars Sam Rockwell and Mischa Barton. Although filmed in Louisville and Danville, Kentucky in the U.S., Lawn Dogs is a British film produced by...
(1997) is a drama film released by Rank OrganisationRank OrganisationThe Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities.... - Summerstock (2002), by Robby HensonRobby Henson-Biography:Robby Henson began his directing career at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Henson is now a skilled film and documentary maker. He writes and directs all his films, which are known for being character-driven. His work has attracted such acclaimed actors Billy Bob...
, chronicled a year in the busy, eccentric life of Pioneer Playhouse.
Sister cities
Danville has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
:
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Notable residents
The following are highly noted people from Danville. For a more complete list see List of people from Danville, Kentucky- John BoyleJohn Boyle (congressman)John Boyle was a United States federal judge and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives....
(1774–1834) U.S. federal judge and U.S. Representative. Boyle County, KentuckyBoyle County, KentuckyBoyle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Its county seat is Danville. In 2000, its population was 28,432. It was formed in 1842 and named for John Boyle , a U.S...
was named after him - John C. BreckinridgeJohn C. BreckinridgeJohn Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky and was the 14th Vice President of the United States , to date the youngest vice president in U.S...
(1821–1875) U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky, Vice President of the United StatesVice President of the United StatesThe Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, U.S. presidential candidate, Confederate States Secretary of WarConfederate States Secretary of WarThe Confederate States Secretary of War was a member of the Confederate States President's Cabinet during the Civil War. The Secretary of War led the Confederate States Department of War. The position ended in May 1865 when the Confederacy crumbled during John C. Breckinridge's tenure of the... - John Marshall HarlanJohn Marshall HarlanJohn Marshall Harlan was a Kentucky lawyer and politician who served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court. He is most notable as the lone dissenter in the Civil Rights Cases , and Plessy v...
(1833–1911) U.S. Supreme Court Justice. "The Great Dissenter" - Ephraim McDowellEphraim McDowellEphraim McDowell was an American physician. He was the first to successfully remove an ovarian tumor.-Biography:...
(1771–1830) American physician, first to successfully remove an ovarian tumor. - Theodore O'HaraTheodore O'HaraTheodore O'Hara was a poet and an officer for the United States Army in the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate colonel in the American Civil War...
(1820–1867) Poet and soldier. - Hugh L. ScottHugh L. ScottHugh Lenox Scott was a post-Civil War West Point graduate who served as superintendent of West Point from 1906 to 1910, and Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1914 to 1917, including the first few months of American involvement in World War I.-Biography:Born September 22, 1853 in...
(1853–1934) Superintendent of West Point, Chief of Staff of the U.S, Army in World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Major employers
Major employers include- AdMart International (Custom-made signs)
- The Advocate-MessengerThe Advocate-MessengerThe Advocate-Messenger is a newspaper published daily in Danville, Kentucky. On Sundays, The Advocate-Messenger is called The Kentucky Advocate.The newspaper serves central Kentucky, with distribution primarily inBoyle,Lincoln,...
(Newspaper publishing and printing) - The Allen Co. (Mixed asphalt)
- American GreetingsAmerican GreetingsAmerican Greetings Corporation, Inc. is the world's largest publicly-traded greeting card company. It is based in Brooklyn, Ohio and sells paper greeting cards, electronic greeting cards, party products , and electronic expressive content...
(Distribution and packaging) - Berry PlasticsBerry PlasticsIn September 2006, Apollo Management, L.P. and Graham Partners completed acquisition of BPC Holding Corporation from Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan.-Mergers & Acquisitions:...
formerly Pliant Corporation - Burkmann Feeds (Feed manufacturing)
- Caterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
(Tractor parts) - Centre CollegeCentre CollegeCentre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
(Education) - Dana CorporationDana Corp.The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
(Engine gaskets) - Denyo Manufacturing Corp. (Generators)
- Ephraim McDowell Health (Health care)
- Hobart CorporationHobart CorporationThe Hobart Corporation is a manufacturer of commercial equipment used in the foodservice and grocery industry. The company manufactures food preparation machines for cutting, slicing and mixing, cooking equipment, refrigeration units, warewashing and waste disposal systems, and weighing, wrapping...
(Commercial dishwashers)
- Intelligrated formerly FKI Logistex (Conveyor equipment)
- National DanvilleKimball InternationalKimball International is a manufacturer of furniture and electronic assemblies, serving customers around the world. Kimball International consists of two groups: the Furniture Segment and the Contract Electronics Segment. It is the successor to W.W...
(Furniture) - MeggittMeggittMeggitt PLC is a leading British-based engineering business specialising in aerospace equipment. It has its headquarters at Bournemouth Airport in Dorset. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
(Aircraft braking systems) - PanasonicPanasonicPanasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
(Vacuum cleaners) - Perfection Components (Plastics injection)
- PhilipsPhilipsKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
(Glass products) - Pioneer Vocational Industrial Services (Sheltered workshop)
- Red Wing ShoesRed Wing ShoesRed Wing Shoes is a footwear company based in Red Wing, Minnesota that was founded by Charles H. Beckman in 1905.Within 10 years of its inception, Red Wing Shoes was producing more than 200,000 pairs of boots per year and was the primary company manufacturing footwear for American soldiers...
(Leather boots) - RR Donnelley (Offset printing)
- Self Refind (Drug treatment clinics)
- Sellers Engineering Co. (Industrial boilers)
- The Timberland CompanyThe Timberland CompanyThe Timberland Company is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoors wear with a focus on footwear. Its three key locations are in Stratham, New Hampshire; Danville, Kentucky; and Ontario, California....
(Distribution center)