Glasgow, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glasgow, Kentucky
City
South Green Street in Glasgow, KY
Location of Glasgow in Barren County, Kentucky.
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Barren
Established	1799
Named for	Glasgow, Scotland
Area
• Total	15.95 sq mi (41.30 km2)
• Land	15.86 sq mi (41.07 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation	755 ft (230 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	15,014
• Estimate  (2022)	15,282
• Density	946.72/sq mi (365.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	42141, 42142, 42156
Area code(s)	270 & 364
FIPS code	21-31114
GNIS feature ID	0492876

Glasgow is a city in Barren County, Kentucky, United States. It is the main city of its county. Glasgow is also the center of the Glasgow micropolitan area. This area includes Barren and Metcalfe counties. In 2020, about 15,014 people lived here.

The city is famous for its yearly Scottish Highland Games. In 2007, The Progressive Farmer magazine called Barren County the best rural place to live.

Geography

Glasgow is located in the middle of Barren County. You can find it at 37°0′1″N 85°55′13″W / 37.00028°N 85.92028°W / 37.00028; -85.92028. Major roads like U.S. Route 31E and U.S. Route 68 meet north of the city. The Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway runs south of downtown. You can get to it from four exits.

Glasgow is about 32 miles (51 km) west of Bowling Green. Mammoth Cave National Park is 21 miles (34 km) to the northwest. Elizabethtown is 55 miles (89 km) north.

The United States Census Bureau says Glasgow covers about 15.95 square miles (41.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.09 square miles (0.23 square kilometers), is water.

History

The city of Glasgow was created by the state assembly in 1799. It was chosen as the county seat that same year. This was because of its central spot and a large natural spring. Also, a local man named John Gorin gave 50 acres of land for public buildings. The city was named after Glasgow, Scotland. This was the hometown of the father of William Logan, who helped choose the county seat.

A post office opened in Glasgow in 1803. The town officially became a city in 1809.

Historic Homes and Buildings

Historic Plaza Theatre in downtown Glasgow

Glasgow has many old homes that date back to the early 1800s. South Green Street is a popular area to see these houses. They show different building styles. These include Colonial, Federal, and Victorian styles.

The historic Plaza Theatre is also in downtown Glasgow. It is a beautiful old building.

Civil War Era

The American Civil War affected many small towns like Glasgow. Some places in Glasgow were part of the Underground Railroad. This was a network of secret routes and safe houses. It helped enslaved people find freedom. For example, Big Spring Bottom was used for horses. The Spotswood House on North Race Street helped hide people.

The Old Glasgow Seminary Home on East Main Street also played a role. It had hidden rooms and tunnels. These were used to keep enslaved people safe.

Western Kentucky University Campus

Western Kentucky University first started in Glasgow in 1875. Ten years later, it moved to Bowling Green. That is where its main campus is today. Since 1998, Western Kentucky University has had a campus in Glasgow. This allows more students to study closer to home.

People and Community

In 2010, Glasgow had 14,208 people living in 5,994 homes. About 26.4% of homes had children under 18. The average age in the city was 40 years old.

Education

Glasgow has its own public school system called Glasgow Independent Schools. This district has two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The schools are South Green Elementary, Highland Elementary, Glasgow Middle School, and Glasgow High School.

The Barren County School System also has schools within Glasgow. These include Barren County High School, Trojan Academy, Red Cross Elementary, North Jackson Elementary, and Barren County Middle School.

Glasgow also has a public library. It is called the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library.

Climate

Glasgow has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of climate is common in the southeastern United States.

Economy

Glasgow has several important employers. These companies provide many jobs for the people living in the city. Some of the major employers include:

• Akebono Brake Industry
• Walmart
• Nemak
• ACK Controls (a company that makes parts for cars)

Other important employers are South Central Rural Telephone Cooperative and Glasgow Independent Schools.

Transportation

Glasgow Transit offers bus service in the city. You can use the bus to get around Glasgow on weekdays.

Notable People

Many interesting people have come from Glasgow. Here are a few:

• Kelly Craft (born 1962): She was a United States Ambassador to the United Nations. She also served as the United States Ambassador to Canada.
• Denny Doyle (born 1944): He used to play Major League Baseball.
• Diane Sawyer (born 1945): A famous journalist. She was a host of ABC World News.
• Willa Brown (1906–1992): She was the first black woman to run for Congress in 1946. She was also the first black woman in the U.S. to get a commercial pilot's license.
• Richard E. Bush (1924–2004): A brave soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his service in World War II.
• Julian Goodman (1922–2012): He was a former president of NBC, a major television network.
• Louie Nunn (1924–2004): He was a former governor of Kentucky.
• The Kentucky Headhunters: An award-winning country rock band. Several members are from Glasgow.
• Luska Twyman (1913–1988): He was the mayor of Glasgow. He was also the first black mayor in Kentucky.

See also

In Spanish: Glasgow (Kentucky) para niños