Gilbertsville, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gilbertsville, Kentucky
Census-designated place
Gilbertsville, Kentucky Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Gilbertsville, Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Marshall
Area
• Total	1.04 sq mi (2.70 km2)
• Land	1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	345 ft (105 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	332
• Density	327.74/sq mi (126.57/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CST)
ZIP codes	42044 (Gilbertsville) 42029 (Calvert City)
FIPS code	21-30880
GNIS feature ID	2629621

Gilbertsville is a small community in Marshall County, Kentucky, United States. It is known as a census-designated place, which means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. Gilbertsville is very close to the famous Kentucky Dam.

The original town of Gilbertsville had to move to its current spot. This happened when the Kentucky Dam and the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park were built. In 2020, about 332 people lived in Gilbertsville.

History of Gilbertsville

Learn about how Gilbertsville started and how it changed over time.

The Original Gilbertsville Community

The first Gilbertsville was founded in 1871. It was located near the Tennessee River and was first called "Clear Pond" because of a nearby lake. In 1874, the town officially became a town and was renamed "Gilbertsville." This new name honored Jesse C. Gilbert, who was a state senator in Kentucky.

The original town grew to have a bank, several stores, a jail, and a school. The school taught all grades from 1 to 12. By 1930, about 300 people lived there. The town was successful because it had good farmland, easy access to the river for travel and fishing, and a railroad for transportation.

How Modern Gilbertsville Was Formed

The building of the Kentucky Dam between 1938 and 1944 changed everything for old Gilbertsville. The entire town had to be moved to a new location. This new spot was first called "West Gilbertsville." The move happened before Kentucky Lake was filled with water in the early 1940s.

A big event in the town's history was the dedication of Kentucky Dam. On October 10, 1945, President Harry Truman visited Gilbertsville and gave a speech to celebrate the dam. From 1956 to 1976, Gilbertsville was officially a "6th class city." This means it had its own local government. However, in 1976, the people voted to stop being an official city. Before this, the town had a small budget to pay for things like street lights and repairs.

Tourism and Local Economy

Since the 1940s, tourism has been very important to Gilbertsville. People visit because of the dams and lakes created by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The town has many fun things to do, including:

• An airport
• An 18-hole golf course
• A large marina for boats
• A car racing track
• Fishing tournaments, especially for bass

For many years, Gilbertsville has also been home to the Kentucky Sheriff's Boys and Girls Ranch. This ranch offers a free week-long summer camp for children aged 8 to 11. By 2008, over 30,000 children had attended this camp.

Geography and Location

Gilbertsville is located in the northern part of Marshall County, Kentucky. It sits on the south side of the Tennessee River valley.

Nearby Landmarks and Roads

The town is less than 2 miles (3.2 km) downstream from the Kentucky Dam, which creates Kentucky Lake. Right between Gilbertsville and the dam is the Kentucky Dam Village State Park, a popular place for visitors.

Major roads pass near Gilbertsville:

• Interstate 24 and Interstate 69 run past the southeast edge of the community. You can get to Gilbertsville from Exit 27, which connects to U.S. Route 62.
• Kentucky Route 282, also known as Gilbertsville Highway, goes through the center of town. It leads south to US 62 and U.S. Route 641 near Kentucky Dam. It also goes west to Calvert City, Kentucky.

Area and Water Features

The Gilbertsville area, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, covers about 1.05 square miles (2.72 square kilometers). A small part of this area, about 0.03 square miles (0.08 square kilometers), is water.

Population Data

As of the 2020 census, the population of Gilbertsville was 332 people.

Climate Information

The weather in Gilbertsville has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Gilbertsville has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets plenty of rain throughout the year, and the temperatures are generally warm.

Annual Events in Gilbertsville

Gilbertsville hosts a couple of fun events each year:

• Arts and Crafts Festival: This festival happens every Memorial Day Weekend at the Old Beach Area. It features handmade items created by artists from Kentucky and nearby states.
• Earth Day Celebration: This event takes place at the Kentucky Dam Village Resort. It includes various activities to celebrate Earth Day and learn about protecting our planet.

See also

In Spanish: Gilbertsville (Kentucky) para niños