Okolona, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Okolona is a former census-designated place
(CDP) in southern Jefferson County
, Kentucky
, United States
. It is centered around the intersection of Preston Highway and the Outer Loop. The population was 17,807 at the 2000 census. When the government of Jefferson County merged with the city of Louisville, Kentucky
in 2003, residents of Okolona also became citizens of Louisville Metro. As a result, Okolona is now a neighborhood within the city limits of Louisville
.
It was first settled by farmers from Pennsylvania
and Virginia
in the late 18th century. It was called Lone Oak in the late 19th century. However, a town near Paducah, Kentucky
already claimed that name for its post office, so the town rearranged the words into Okolona. Farming, as well as logging and charcoal production were important industries around this time.
An interurban
line was extended to the area in 1905, but residential development did not pick up until General Electric
Appliance Park
was opened nearby in 1953.
Okolona sits at exactly the same elevation as Downtown Louisville
despite being 10 miles (16.1 km) from the Ohio River
, making it one of the city's most flood prone areas. Several square miles of wetlands had to be drained in the area to make development possible.
It is home to one the city's largest shopping area on the South End, with many stores centered around Jefferson Mall
. It is home to the largest Assembly of God congregation known as the Evangel Tabernacle Church with Rev. Bob and First Lady Margaret Rogers as pastors.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 17.9 km² (6.9 mi²), all land.
of 2000, there were 17,807 people, 7,256 households, and 4,955 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 993.5/km² (2,573.7/mi²). There were 7,500 housing units at an average density of 418.5/km² (1,084.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.26% White, 7.25% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races
, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.18% of the population.
There were 7,256 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples
living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,950, and the median income for a family was $42,711. Males had a median income of $31,267 versus $24,338 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $17,639. About 7.4% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in southern Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 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...
. It is centered around the intersection of Preston Highway and the Outer Loop. The population was 17,807 at the 2000 census. When the government of Jefferson County merged with the city of 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...
in 2003, residents of Okolona also became citizens of Louisville Metro. As a result, Okolona is now a neighborhood within the city limits of 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...
.
It was first settled by farmers from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the late 18th century. It was called Lone Oak in the late 19th century. However, a town near Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
already claimed that name for its post office, so the town rearranged the words into Okolona. Farming, as well as logging and charcoal production were important industries around this time.
An interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
line was extended to the area in 1905, but residential development did not pick up until 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...
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...
was opened nearby in 1953.
Okolona sits at exactly the same elevation as Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. Its boundaries are the Ohio River to the north, Hancock Street to the east, York and Jacob Streets to the south, and 9th Street to the west...
despite being 10 miles (16.1 km) from the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, making it one of the city's most flood prone areas. Several square miles of wetlands had to be drained in the area to make development possible.
It is home to one the city's largest shopping area on the South End, with many stores centered around Jefferson Mall
Jefferson Mall
Jefferson Mall is a Louisville, Kentucky, shopping mall located near the intersection of Interstate 65 and Outer Loop in southern Louisville. It is the only major mall in southern Jefferson County, and the only of Louisville's six regional shopping centers serving the south and west county; the...
. It is home to the largest Assembly of God congregation known as the Evangel Tabernacle Church with Rev. Bob and First Lady Margaret Rogers as pastors.
Geography
Okolona is located at 38°8′28"N 85°41′16"W (38.137035, -85.681597).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 CDP has a total area of 17.9 km² (6.9 mi²), all 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 17,807 people, 7,256 households, and 4,955 families residing in the CDP. 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 993.5/km² (2,573.7/mi²). There were 7,500 housing units at an average density of 418.5/km² (1,084.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.26% White, 7.25% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.15% 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 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.18% of the population.
There were 7,256 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% 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, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,950, and the median income for a family was $42,711. Males had a median income of $31,267 versus $24,338 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 CDP was $17,639. About 7.4% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- "Okolona: Early Travelers Found Big Oak a Sign of Safety; Motherhead's Was the Place to be for Fun in the '40s" — Article by Beth Ahonen of The Courier-JournalThe Courier-JournalThe Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...