Earlington, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Earlington is a city in Hopkins County
, Kentucky
, United States
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 1,649. It was founded by European Americans in 1870 around the area coal
fields, and was named for John Baylis Earl, a lawyer
who was central in developing the coal industry in the region.
Until the mid-1970s, the City of Earlington operated an independent school system. The system served students from primary until graduation and was known regionally for an exceptionally strong academic program that produced strong students. The athletic programs at Earlington were also very strong. In 1967, the Earlington Yellowjackets won the state "Sweet 16" basketball tournament. During the 1960s, the champions of the Sweet 16 were typically from Jefferson County (Louisville) or Fayette County (Lexington), since school boundaries were being redefined to conform to school desegregation orders. Earlington remains one of the smallest schools to ever win the "Sweet 16" in the modern era.
When the city school board decided to merge with the Hopkins County School System, the school and community were split into two. Half of the student population was enrolled at South Hopkins High School approximately 3 miles to the South and half at West Hopkins High School, located approximately 8 miles to the West. The areas were divided by the railroad line that bisects the town.
The City of Earlington also had a private school that operated until the 1970s. Immaculate Conception, the only Roman Catholic parish in Earlington and the oldest parish in Hopkins County, operated a school periodically from the 1890s until the school was condemned in the 1970s due to poor building conditions. The school was a kindergarten through sixth grade. Located across the street from the parish building, it was demolished after the school closed.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (6.16%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,649 people, 681 households, and 439 families residing in the city. The population density
was 493.1 people per square mile (190.6/km²). There were 798 housing units at an average density of 238.6 per square mile (92.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.80% White, 23.29% Black or African American
, 0.18% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 681 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples
living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 78.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,696, and the median income for a family was $24,167. Males had a median income of $27,344 versus $20,341 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,088. About 25.7% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 54.8% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, 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...
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 1,649. It was founded by European Americans in 1870 around the area coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
fields, and was named for John Baylis Earl, a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who was central in developing the coal industry in the region.
Until the mid-1970s, the City of Earlington operated an independent school system. The system served students from primary until graduation and was known regionally for an exceptionally strong academic program that produced strong students. The athletic programs at Earlington were also very strong. In 1967, the Earlington Yellowjackets won the state "Sweet 16" basketball tournament. During the 1960s, the champions of the Sweet 16 were typically from Jefferson County (Louisville) or Fayette County (Lexington), since school boundaries were being redefined to conform to school desegregation orders. Earlington remains one of the smallest schools to ever win the "Sweet 16" in the modern era.
When the city school board decided to merge with the Hopkins County School System, the school and community were split into two. Half of the student population was enrolled at South Hopkins High School approximately 3 miles to the South and half at West Hopkins High School, located approximately 8 miles to the West. The areas were divided by the railroad line that bisects the town.
The City of Earlington also had a private school that operated until the 1970s. Immaculate Conception, the only Roman Catholic parish in Earlington and the oldest parish in Hopkins County, operated a school periodically from the 1890s until the school was condemned in the 1970s due to poor building conditions. The school was a kindergarten through sixth grade. Located across the street from the parish building, it was demolished after the school closed.
Geography
Earlington is located at 37°16′27"N 87°30′41"W (37.274050, -87.511388).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 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (6.16%) 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 1,649 people, 681 households, and 439 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 493.1 people per square mile (190.6/km²). There were 798 housing units at an average density of 238.6 per square mile (92.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.80% White, 23.29% 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...
, 0.18% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.06% 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 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 681 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% 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, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 78.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,696, and the median income for a family was $24,167. Males had a median income of $27,344 versus $20,341 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 $12,088. About 25.7% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 54.8% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.