Dawson Springs, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Dawson Springs is a city in Caldwell
and Hopkins
counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The population was 2,980 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace of current governor of Kentucky, Steve L. Beshear
. From the late 1800s to the 1930s, Dawson Springs was well known as a spa and resort town. It is still popular as a tourist destination because of the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
and nearby lakes. There is a large and prominent presence of the Ku Klux Klan
in Dawson Springs, including the headquarters of the Imperial Klans of America
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²), of which 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²) is land and 0.25% is water.
of 2000, there were 2,980 people, 1,214 households, and 801 families residing in the city. The population density
was 755.8 people per square mile (292.0/km²). There were 1,353 housing units at an average density of 343.2 per square mile (132.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.72% White, 0.94% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.27% of the population.
There were 1,214 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples
living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,670, and the median income for a family was $27,872. Males had a median income of $29,545versus $18,875 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,649. About 25.5% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Caldwell County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,984 people, with 6,292 households in the county.-Communities:*Bakers*Baldwin Ford*Black Hawk*The Bluff*Cedar Bluff*Claxton*Cobb*Cresswell*Crider*Crowtown*Enon*Farmersville*Flat Rock*Friendship*Fryer...
and Hopkins
Hopkins County, Kentucky
Hopkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1807. As of 2000, the population was 46,519. Its county seat is Madisonville. The county is named for General Samuel Hopkins, an officer in both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, and later a Kentucky legislator...
counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The population was 2,980 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace of current governor of Kentucky, Steve L. Beshear
Steve Beshear
Steven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
. From the late 1800s to the 1930s, Dawson Springs was well known as a spa and resort town. It is still popular as a tourist destination because of the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is a park located near Dawson Springs, Kentucky in Hopkins County. The park encompasses , and takes its name from a colloquial form of the word pennyroyal, a small flowering plant native to the area....
and nearby lakes. There is a large and prominent presence of the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
in Dawson Springs, including the headquarters of the Imperial Klans of America
Imperial Klans of America
The Imperial Klans of America, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is a white supremacist organization styled after the original Ku Klux Klan . In 2008, it was reported that the IKA had the second largest KKK membership....
.
Geography
Dawson Springs is located at 37°10′18"N 87°41′21"W (37.171799, -87.689190).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 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²), of which 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²) is land and 0.25% 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 2,980 people, 1,214 households, and 801 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 755.8 people per square mile (292.0/km²). There were 1,353 housing units at an average density of 343.2 per square mile (132.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.72% White, 0.94% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.07% 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 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.27% of the population.
There were 1,214 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% 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, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,670, and the median income for a family was $27,872. Males had a median income of $29,545versus $18,875 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 $14,649. About 25.5% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Dottie RamboDottie RamboDottie Rambo was an American gospel singer and songwriter. She was a Grammy and multiple Dove Award-winning artist. Rambo, along with husband Buck and daughter Reba, formed the award-winning southern Gospel group, The Rambos...
, gospel music artist - Mila MasonMila MasonMila Mason is an American country music artist. She made her debut on the country music scene in 1996 with the release of her debut album That's Enough of That, which produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including its title track...
, country music artist - Steve BeshearSteve BeshearSteven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
, Governor of Kentucky - Richard Ford, lead singer of christian rock group "Pillar of Fire"
Sports teams
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
: Tradewater PiratesTradewater PiratesThe Tradewater Pirates are a summer collegiate baseball team based in Dawson Springs, Kentucky. The team, a member of the Ohio Valley Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games in Riverside Park, a reconstruction of an entirely wooden stadium used by several major league teams in the early...
, playing in Riverside ParkRiverside Park, Dawson SpringsDawson Springs' Riverside Park, sometimes called Tradewater Park, was originally built in 1914 to serve as a spring training park for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1914 to 1917. This is the only known baseball park in Kentucky to have hosted a major league team since the Louisville Colonels folded in...