Mount Washington, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Mount Washington is a city in northeast Bullitt County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The population was 8,485 at the 2000 census
. The estimated population as of 2006 was 11,761. It is located at what was once the crossroads of two stagecoach routes, which spurred early population growth and the incorporation in 1822 of a town called Mt. Vernon, after George Washington
's home. The name was changed to Mount Washington in 1833 to avoid confusion with Mount Vernon
in Rockcastle County.
The city is one of several surrounding Louisville, Kentucky
that have experienced a sharp rise in population in the past two decades, becoming a commuter town
.
Mount Washington became the economic center of Bullitt County by the 1850s. In the Autumn of 1862, the town was held by John Wharton
's Confederate cavalry, who skirmished with Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden's men north of Mount Washington along Floyds Fork on October 1. A defeat the following day lead to a Confederate retreat from the area.
Through the nineteenth century a two room school building stood on the southern end of Highway 31E, but in 1916, a new building consisting of four classrooms was built. Where the four room classroom building once stood, now stands Mt. Washington Middle School. Mt. Washington Middle School (MWMS) was built in the early 1940s and at that time was the High School. MWMS had to expand and remodel in 1995 because the population was growing tremendously, and now supports over 200 classrooms and offices. So much, that another middle school had to be built on the other side of the city. That project was completed in 2006.
Mount Washington's industries aged and by the 1930s it was no longer the most prominent town in the county. The decline continued when fire burned much of the business district on November 18, 1940. Mount Washington enjoyed an influx of new residents starting in the late 1960s with the opening of General Electric
's Appliance Park
nearby. The population grew from 2,020 in 1970 to over 8,000 by the 2000 census. This trend continues today despite a downturn at the Appliance Park, and the area is commonly recognized as a commuter town
in regards to Louisville
.
The events of the final call of the Strip search prank call scam
took place in Mt. Washington in 2004. The local police department charged David Stewart with the crime, however he was acquitted in 2006.
The previous Mayor of Mt. Washington was a contestant on The Price is Right
, playing the Money Game and winning $185 (but losing a PT Cruiser). Before the game, the mayor presented the key to the city to Bob Barker
.
. Of particular note is the Lloyd House, which is in the care of the Mount Washington Historical Society and is currently being renovated to become a historical museum
of the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 8,485 people, 3,111 households, and 2,445 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,588.8 people per square mile (613.5/km²). There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 616.8 per square mile (238.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% White
, 0.32% African American
, 0.32% Native American
, 0.15% Asian
, 0.27% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races
. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 0.58% of the population.
There were 3,111 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.03.
The age distribution was 29.0% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,813, and the median income for a family was $46,507. Males had a median income of $35,439 versus $23,600 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,495. About 5.9% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
. There are four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school
within the city limits. A new elementary school is currently under construction.
There are no colleges or universities in Mt. Washington.
. Formerly named The Crossroads, Kentucky Route 44 and US Route 31E intersect in the heart of the city. A bypass
on the east end of the town creates a second north-south route through the town.
Bullitt County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,236 people, 22,171 households, and 17,736 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 23,160 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...
. The population was 8,485 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The estimated population as of 2006 was 11,761. It is located at what was once the crossroads of two stagecoach routes, which spurred early population growth and the incorporation in 1822 of a town called Mt. Vernon, after George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's home. The name was changed to Mount Washington in 1833 to avoid confusion with Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Kentucky
Mount Vernon is a city in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,592 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rockcastle County. It is located at the junction of U.S...
in Rockcastle County.
The city is one of several surrounding 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...
that have experienced a sharp rise in population in the past two decades, becoming a commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
.
History
Mount Washington was founded in the early nineteenth century and was known then as The Cross Roads. It was officially chartered in 1822 as Mount Vernon, but when a post office was applied for, it was discovered that a city in Rockcastle County was already using the name. In 1822 the city of Mt. Washington contained three churches, two schools, six stores and groceries, five doctors, two taverns and twelve mechanical trades. The population at that time was aprox. 700.Mount Washington became the economic center of Bullitt County by the 1850s. In the Autumn of 1862, the town was held by John Wharton
John A. Wharton
John Austin Wharton was a lawyer, plantation owner, and Confederate general during the American Civil War. He is considered one of the Confederacy's best tactical cavalry commanders.-Early life:...
's Confederate cavalry, who skirmished with Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden's men north of Mount Washington along Floyds Fork on October 1. A defeat the following day lead to a Confederate retreat from the area.
Through the nineteenth century a two room school building stood on the southern end of Highway 31E, but in 1916, a new building consisting of four classrooms was built. Where the four room classroom building once stood, now stands Mt. Washington Middle School. Mt. Washington Middle School (MWMS) was built in the early 1940s and at that time was the High School. MWMS had to expand and remodel in 1995 because the population was growing tremendously, and now supports over 200 classrooms and offices. So much, that another middle school had to be built on the other side of the city. That project was completed in 2006.
Mount Washington's industries aged and by the 1930s it was no longer the most prominent town in the county. The decline continued when fire burned much of the business district on November 18, 1940. Mount Washington enjoyed an influx of new residents starting in the late 1960s with the opening of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
's Appliance Park
GE Consumer & Industrial
GE Consumer & Industrial is a subsidiary of General Electric headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky at Appliance Park. GE Consumer & Industrial is one of the largest suppliers of appliances in the world. It was created in January 2004 when GE Consumer Products merged with GE Industrial Systems...
nearby. The population grew from 2,020 in 1970 to over 8,000 by the 2000 census. This trend continues today despite a downturn at the Appliance Park, and the area is commonly recognized as a commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
in regards to Louisville
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...
.
The events of the final call of the Strip search prank call scam
Strip Search Prank Call Scam
The McDonald's strip search scam was a series of incidents occurring for roughly a decade before an arrest was made in 2004. These incidents involved a man calling a restaurant or grocery store, claiming to be a police detective, and convincing managers to conduct strip searches of female...
took place in Mt. Washington in 2004. The local police department charged David Stewart with the crime, however he was acquitted in 2006.
The previous Mayor of Mt. Washington was a contestant on The Price is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
, playing the Money Game and winning $185 (but losing a PT Cruiser). Before the game, the mayor presented the key to the city to Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
.
Historic Homes
Three homes in Mt. Washington are listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Of particular note is the Lloyd House, which is in the care of the Mount Washington Historical Society and is currently being renovated to become a historical museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
of the city.
- James M. Lloyd HouseJames M. Lloyd HouseJames M. Lloyd House is a historic home located at the intersection of U.S. Route 31E and East Street/Dooley Drive in Mount Washington, Kentucky. The home was built by Lloyd, a carpenter, around 1880. The Lloyd House replaced a home that was previously on the site, and had been destroyed by...
- Henry J. Barnes House
- Zack Stansbury House
Geography
Mount Washington is located at 38°2′46"N 85°33′17"W (38.045982, -85.554676).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 5.3 square miles (13.8 km²), all of it land.
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 8,485 people, 3,111 households, and 2,445 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 1,588.8 people per square mile (613.5/km²). There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 616.8 per square mile (238.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% 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...
, 0.32% 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...
, 0.32% 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...
, 0.15% 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,...
, 0.27% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races
Multiracial American
Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
. 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 0.58% of the population.
There were 3,111 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% 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, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.03.
The age distribution was 29.0% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,813, and the median income for a family was $46,507. Males had a median income of $35,439 versus $23,600 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 $18,495. About 5.9% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Mount Washington is served by the Bullitt County Public SchoolsBullitt County Public Schools
Bullitt County Public Schools is a school district serving students residing in Bullitt County, Kentucky. Cities served by district include Shepherdsville, Lebanon Junction, Mount Washington, West Point and some small sections of Bullitt County with a Louisville postal address...
. There are four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
within the city limits. A new elementary school is currently under construction.
There are no colleges or universities in Mt. Washington.
Elementary Schools
- Old Mill Elementary School
- Mount Washington Elementary School
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Crossroads Elementary School
Transportation
The primary method of transportation in Mt. Washington is by roadRoad
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
. Formerly named The Crossroads, Kentucky Route 44 and US Route 31E intersect in the heart of the city. A bypass
Bypass
Bypass may refer to:* Bypass , in effects units, a switch that allows sound* Bypass , in computing, circumventing security features in hacking, or taking a different approach to an issue in troubleshooting* Bypass * Bypass surgery...
on the east end of the town creates a second north-south route through the town.