Fort Thomas, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Thomas
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Fort Thomas Avenue
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| Motto(s):
City of Beautiful Homes
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Location of Fort Thomas in Campbell County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Kentucky | ||
| County | Campbell | ||
| Established | February 27, 1867 | ||
| Incorporated | October 6, 1914 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 5.69 sq mi (14.74 km2) | ||
| • Land | 5.67 sq mi (14.69 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 781 ft (238 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,438 | ||
| • Estimate
(2022)
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17,133 | ||
| • Density | 3,073.32/sq mi (1,186.69/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP |
41075
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| Area code(s) | 859 | ||
| FIPS code | 21-28594 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2403648 | ||
Fort Thomas is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States. It sits on the southern bank of the Ohio River. The city is known for being the site of a US Army post built in 1890. In 2020, about 17,438 people lived there, making it the largest city in Campbell County. Fort Thomas is part of the larger Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Fort Thomas
Long before Europeans settled here, around 1749, a big battle likely happened in this area. It was fought between Cherokee Native Americans and the winning Miami tribe and Shawnee tribe Native Americans. Archeologists have found many graves of warriors from this battle.
Why was Fort Thomas Army Post built?
In 1887, the U.S. Army needed a new place for its post. The old post, Newport Barracks, in nearby Newport, Kentucky, often flooded. General Philip Sheridan chose this higher ground for the new post. He called it the "Highlands" and thought it could become a "West Point of the West." The new post was named Fort Thomas to honor General George Henry Thomas.
What are some landmarks from the army post?
You can still see parts of the old army post today. A tall stone water tower, about 102 feet high, stands at the entrance to Tower Park. It was built in 1890 to provide water for the military base. In front of the tower, you can see cannons captured from Cuba's Havana Harbor during the Spanish–American War. These cannons were made in Spain in 1768 and 1769.
What happened at Fort Thomas during the Spanish-American War?
The U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment was stationed at Fort Thomas. They left in June 1898 to fight in the Spanish–American War. Another group, the 8th Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "8th Immunes," was stationed here. These soldiers were African Americans. At the time, some people believed that African Americans were better suited for serving in tropical places like the Caribbean. This led to many African American soldiers joining the conflict.
Fort Thomas was used as a supply center, a place for new soldiers to join, and a military hospital. Most of the military activities ended in 1946, and the fort officially closed in 1964.
Geography and Climate
Fort Thomas covers about 5.7 square miles of land. A small part, about 0.8 square miles, is water.
What is the climate like?
Fort Thomas is in a special climate zone. It's a mix of warm, humid weather from the south and cooler weather from the north. This means you can find different "micro-climates" here. Some spots are warmer, where you might see lizards or Southern magnolia trees. Other spots are cooler and shaded, where you might find Blue spruce trees or Salamanders. The nearby Ohio River and the hills and valleys also affect the weather.
Population Information
In 2010, there were 16,325 people living in Fort Thomas. Most residents were White (96.1%). About 1.3% were African American, and 0.9% were Asian. About 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The city has many families. About 30.1% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average age of people in Fort Thomas was about 39.8 years old.
Education in Fort Thomas
Fort Thomas has its own public school system. It includes three elementary schools: Robert D. Johnson, Ruth Moyer, and Samuel Woodfill. There is also Highlands Middle School and Highlands High School. These schools are often ranked among the best in the country. Highlands High School is the only public high school in Kentucky with a Cum Laude Society chapter, which recognizes academic excellence.
The city also has a public library, which is a branch of the Campbell County Public Library.
Notable People from Fort Thomas
Many interesting people have come from Fort Thomas, including:
- Jim Bunning, a former Republican Senator
- Cris Collinsworth, a sportscaster and former football player for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Jac Collinsworth, a sportscaster
- Harlan Hubbard, an artist
- Lucien Hubbard, an Oscar-winning film producer
- Jerome P. Keuper, who founded and was president of Florida Institute of Technology
- Jared Lorenzen, a former quarterback for the New York Giants
- Mike Mitchell, a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- John Schlarman, a former football player and coach for Kentucky
- Jeff Walz, the head coach for the University of Louisville women's basketball team
- Samuel Woodfill, a highly decorated soldier from World War I
See also
In Spanish: Fort Thomas (Kentucky) para niños
