Bardstown, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bardstown, Kentucky
City
My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown
Nickname(s):  Bourbon Capital of the World
Location of Bardstown in Nelson County, Kentucky.
Bardstown, Kentucky Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Bardstown, Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States Bardstown, Kentucky Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Nelson
Settled	Salem, 1770s
Established	Bard's Town, 1780
Incorporated	Bardstown, 1790
Area
• Total	12.19 sq mi (31.57 km2)
• Land	12.11 sq mi (31.36 km2)
• Water	0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation	659 ft (201 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,567
• Estimate  (2022)	13,739
• Density	1,120.59/sq mi (432.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	40004
Area code(s)	502
FIPS code	21-03628
GNIS feature ID	2403156

Bardstown is a city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. It is known as the "Bourbon Capital of the World." In 2020, about 13,567 people lived there. Bardstown is also the main town, or county seat, of Nelson County.

The city is named after the Bard brothers, who were early settlers. David Bard received a large piece of land in 1785. His brother, William Bard, helped plan the town. It was first called Baird's Town in 1788. Over time, its name changed to Bardstown. Making bourbon whiskey is a very important business in the area.

History of Bardstown

Bardstown was first settled by European Americans in 1780. This makes it one of the oldest cities in Kentucky. In 1784, it became the county seat for the new Nelson County. The town was officially set up in 1788. Later, in 1838, the state assembly made it an official city.

Early Catholic Center

Bardstown was also important for the Catholic Church in early America. It became the first major Catholic center west of the Appalachian Mountains. In 1808, the Diocese of Bardstown was created. This diocese served all Catholics between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River. This was a very large area! Later, in 1841, the main church for the diocese moved to nearby Louisville, Kentucky. The main church in Bardstown is now called the Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral. The city also has a Catholic high school, Bethlehem High School.

Geography and Climate

Bardstown is located in the northern part of Nelson County. Important roads like US routes 31E, 62, and 150 meet here. The Bluegrass Parkway also runs nearby to the southeast.

Area of the City

The city covers a total area of about 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²). Almost all of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²), is water.

Bardstown's Climate

Bardstown has a climate with hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. It means the area gets plenty of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year.

People of Bardstown

Population in 2010

In 2010, Bardstown had 11,700 people living there. There were 4,712 households, which are groups of people living together. About 2,949 of these were families. The city had about 1,578 people per square mile.

Most people in Bardstown were White, making up about 82% of the population. About 12% were African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 3.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households, about 32.9%, had children under 18. About 37.3% were married couples. Some households had a female head (19.5%) or a male head (5.9%) without a spouse. About 31.5% of households were single individuals. The average age in Bardstown was 34 years old.

Population in 2000

In 2000, Bardstown's population was 10,374 people. There were 4,195 households. About 82% of the people were White, and 15% were African American. Other groups made up smaller parts of the population. About 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 34.6% of households had children under 18. The average age was 33 years old.

Arts and Culture in Bardstown

St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown

Bardstown has many interesting places to visit. The Old Talbott Tavern, built in 1779, is a very old inn. Famous people like Daniel Boone and Abraham Lincoln stayed there. Some stories say that the outlaw Jesse James even shot bullet holes in an upstairs wall! People also say the tavern might be haunted.

Bourbon Heritage

Bardstown is famous for making bourbon whiskey. Several distilleries operate here, including Heaven Hill and Barton 1792. The city celebrates this history with the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival. This festival is so important that Bardstown is officially called the "Bourbon Capital of the World."

Museums and Historic Sites

The Civil War Museum in Bardstown is one of the largest Civil War museums in the United States. It helps visitors learn about this important time in American history.

Other notable places include:

• The Bardstown Historic District: This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It protects many old and important buildings.
• The Bardstown Historical Museum: Here you can learn more about the city's past.
• The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey: This museum shows the history of whiskey making in Bardstown.
• Wickland: This historic private home was once home to three governors. You can take tours to see it.
• A memorial to John Fitch: In Courthouse Square, there's a memorial to this inventor. It includes a copy of his first steamboat.

Bardstown also has a public library, which is part of the Nelson County Public Library system.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

My Old Kentucky Home State Park is a beautiful park in Bardstown. It has a large mansion called Federal Hill. This mansion was built for Judge John Rowan and his wife. At the park, you can watch The Stephen Foster Story, an outdoor musical. It tells the story of Stephen Foster, who wrote the song "My Old Kentucky Home." This musical is Kentucky's official outdoor musical.

Education in Bardstown

Most students in Bardstown attend schools in the Bardstown City Schools district. This district includes an Early Childhood Education Center, a Primary School, an Elementary School, a Middle School, and a High School.

Some parts of the city are served by the Nelson County School District. Interestingly, one of the county's high schools, Nelson County High, is actually located within the Bardstown school district.

Bardstown is also home to two private Catholic schools: St. Joseph School and Bethlehem High School. Both schools have been open since 1819.

Media and Recognition

The local newspaper in Bardstown is called The Kentucky Standard.

In early 2023, Bardstown was named one of the "20 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America" by Travel and Leisure magazine. The magazine mentioned its historic buildings, cobblestone paths, and its role as a gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Getting Around Bardstown

Transportation

The Bluegrass Parkway is a major highway that runs just south of Bardstown. It used to be a toll road, but the tolls were removed in 1991.

For moving goods, railroad freight service is available. It is provided by the R.J. Corman Railroad Central Kentucky Lines. This railway uses the old Bardstown Branch of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

Notable People from Bardstown

Many interesting people have connections to Bardstown:

• J. C. W. Beckham: A U.S. Senator and former Governor of Kentucky, born at Wickland.
• William Pope Duval: The first civilian governor of the Florida Territory.
• Ephraim H. Foster: A U.S. Senator from Tennessee.
• Lucy Ann Kidd-Key: A college president.
• Candy Massaroni: A Kentucky state representative.
• Marie Mattingly Meloney: A journalist.
• Hal Moore: A retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and author.
• Leroy Augustus Stafford: A Confederate brigadier general who studied in Bardstown.
• Charles A. Wickliffe: A former Governor of Kentucky and Postmaster General, who built and lived in Wickland.
• Robert C. Wickliffe: Son of Charles A. Wickliffe, who became Governor of Louisiana, born in Wickland.
• Jessie Belle Smothers: A professional wrestler.

See also

In Spanish: Bardstown (Kentucky) para niños