Calvert City, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calvert City, Kentucky
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City Hall, located on 5th Avenue
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Location in Marshall County, Kentucky
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Kentucky | ||
| County | Marshall | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 18.51 sq mi (47.94 km2) | ||
| • Land | 17.88 sq mi (46.30 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.63 sq mi (1.64 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 381 ft (116 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,514 | ||
| • Estimate
(2022)
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2,517 | ||
| • Density | 140.63/sq mi (54.30/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
42029 (Calvert City), 42044 (Gilbertsville)
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| Area code(s) | 270 & 364 | ||
| FIPS code | 21-12016 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2403972 | ||
Calvert City is a city in Marshall County, Kentucky, United States. It's known as a "home rule-class city," which means it has the power to manage its own local affairs. In 2020, about 2,514 people lived there.
Contents
History of Calvert City
Calvert City got its name from Potilla Willis Calvert. He built his home, called Oak Hill, in 1860. About ten years later, he gave some of his land to a new railroad company. He asked them to build a train station near his house. This station became the starting point for the town.
The town officially became a city on March 18, 1871. For a long time, the train station and post office just used the shorter name "Calvert." But in 1957, the Board on Geographic Names decided to use the full name, "Calvert City."
By 1896, Calvert City was known as a "sundown town." This meant that African Americans were not allowed to live there. By 1908, this rule also applied to the rest of Marshall County.
In 1937, a big flood on the Ohio River caused a lot of damage. The main business area and many homes in Calvert City were badly hit by the floodwaters.
In the 1940s, something important happened. The Tennessee Valley Authority built Kentucky Dam nearby. This dam provided a lot of electricity. Because of this cheap power, many factories, especially chemical companies, decided to build their plants between the city and the Tennessee River. A local businessman named Luther Draffen helped a lot to bring these factories and the dam to the area.
Where is Calvert City?
Calvert City is located in the northern part of Marshall County. It sits on the south bank of the Tennessee River. It's about 13 miles (21 km) upstream from where the Tennessee River flows into the Ohio River.
The city is about 18 miles (29 km) east of Paducah. It's also 13 miles (21 km) north of Benton, which is the main town of Marshall County. The city limits stretch southeast to the western shore of Kentucky Lake, which is part of the Tennessee River.
The United States Census Bureau says that Calvert City covers a total area of 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²). Most of this, about 17.9 square miles (46.3 km²), is land. The rest, about 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), is water.
People in Calvert City
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 85 | — | |
| 1890 | 142 | 67.1% | |
| 1900 | 127 | −10.6% | |
| 1910 | 124 | −2.4% | |
| 1920 | 226 | 82.3% | |
| 1930 | 319 | 41.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,505 | — | |
| 1970 | 2,104 | 39.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,388 | 13.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,531 | 6.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,701 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,566 | −5.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,514 | −2.0% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,517 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the census in 2000, there were 2,701 people living in Calvert City. There were 1,141 households, and 787 families. The population density was about 194.5 people per square mile (75.1/km²).
About 21% of the people were under 18 years old. About 20.2% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 43 years.
Calvert City's Economy
Calvert City is home to 16 industrial plants. These factories are a very important source of jobs for people in Western Kentucky. Most of them are companies that make chemicals. There are also some steel and metal processing plants, and companies that provide industrial services.
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Wacker Chemical Corporation | 380 |
| Arkema Chemicals | 264 |
| Carbide Graphite | 104 |
| B. F. Goodrich Company | 130 |
| Westlake Monomers/CA&O | 295 |
| Westlake PVC Corporation | 77 |
| Ashland Inc. | 563 |
| Gerdau Ameristeel, Inc. | 205 |
| CC Metals and Alloys, Inc. | 210 |
| LWD | 225 |
| Estron Chemicals, Inc. | 32 |
| Rail Services | 31 |
| Ibex Industries, Inc. | 65 |
| Jexco | 35 |
| Degussa Corporation International Catalyst Technology | 67 |
| Metal Fab, Inc. | 45 |
Fun Things to Do
- Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park: This park is just outside the eastern edge of the city. It's a great place for outdoor activities.
- Calvert Drive-In Theater: You can find this movie theater about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the city.
Media
Newspaper
The Lake News is a weekly newspaper in Calvert City. Loyd W. Ford owns and runs it. It started in 1984 and is the official newspaper for Calvert City. About 2,800 copies of The Lake News are printed each week. It is given out in Marshall and Livingston counties in Kentucky.
Radio
- WCCK-FM — 95.7 is a local radio station.
Education
Calvert City has a lending library. It is a branch of the Marshall County Public Library system.
Getting Around
Calvert City is a key place for transportation. Many roads and routes meet here. The city is the northern end of the Julian M. Carroll Purchase Parkway. This road connects Calvert City to Memphis, Tennessee.
Interstate 24 runs just south of the city. This highway links Calvert City to Nashville and St. Louis. Through I-69 and the Western Kentucky Parkway, you can also reach Louisville and Lexington.
The city also has access to trains through the Paducah and Louisville Railway main line. Plus, it's a busy port on the Tennessee River, which means goods can be shipped by water. There is no public bus service or other mass transit in the city.
See also
In Spanish: Calvert City (Kentucky) para niños
