Junction City, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Junction City, Kentucky
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City
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Junction City
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Location of Junction City in Boyle County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| Counties | Boyle |
| Incorporated | April 8, 1882 |
| Named for | the L&N and Cincinnati Southern railroads |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.01 sq mi (5.21 km2) |
| • Land | 2.01 sq mi (5.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 984 ft (300 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,268 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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2,290 |
| • Density | 1,130.61/sq mi (436.54/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
40440
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| Area code(s) | 859 |
| FIPS code | 21-41338 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404815 |
Junction City is a small city in Kentucky, USA. It is located in Boyle County, right on the border with Lincoln County. In 2020, about 2,268 people lived there. The city got its name because two important railroads met there a long time ago. It is part of the larger area around Danville.
Contents
History of Junction City
Junction City began because of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. This railroad reached the area first. The place was originally called "Goresburg." It was named after the Gore Hotel, which was owned by the Gore family. A post office opened there in 1880. It was renamed Goresburg in 1882.
Later that same year, the Cincinnati Southern Railway reached the town. Its tracks crossed the L&N tracks. Because these two important railroads met, or "joined," the town was renamed "Junction City." The state assembly officially made it a city on April 8, 1882. The L&N train station in Junction City was sometimes called "Danville Junction." This was because it was close to the bigger city of Danville.
Shelby City: A Part of Junction City
The southeastern part of Junction City was once a separate town called Shelby City. It became a city in 1867. It was named after Isaac Shelby, who was Kentucky's very first governor. He lived and was buried nearby.
This community had its own post office. It was first called "South Danville" when it opened in 1866. It was renamed Shelby City the next year. This post office closed in 1926. The eastern part of Junction City is still known as Shelby City today. This area was also known as "Briartown." Its L&N train station was called "Danville Station."
The tomb of Governor Isaac Shelby is located just south of this part of town. It is across the Lincoln County line. His old home, called Traveler's Rest, is also there.
Geography of Junction City
Junction City covers about 2.01 square miles (5.21 square kilometers) of land. There is almost no water area.
The city is in a wide valley. It is south of Danville. It is also just north of the border between Boyle and Lincoln counties. Much of Junction City is along Shelby Street. This street runs between the Cincinnati Southern tracks on the west and U.S. Route 127 on the east. The part of town east of US 127 is still called "Shelby City." Two other important roads, Kentucky Route 37 and Kentucky Route 300, meet in the northwestern part of Junction City.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 174 | — | |
| 1890 | 648 | 272.4% | |
| 1900 | 817 | 26.1% | |
| 1910 | 747 | −8.6% | |
| 1920 | 722 | −3.3% | |
| 1930 | 781 | 8.2% | |
| 1940 | 694 | −11.1% | |
| 1950 | 988 | 42.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,047 | 6.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,046 | −0.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,045 | 95.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,983 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,184 | 10.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,241 | 2.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,268 | 1.2% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,290 | 2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Junction City was 2,268 people. The city has grown quite a bit over the years. For example, in 1880, only 174 people lived there.
In 2000, there were 2,184 people living in the city. There were 876 households, which are groups of people living together. About 34.8% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Junction City was 34 years old. About 27.3% of the population was under 18.
Images for kids
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A caboose on display in Junction City.
See also
In Spanish: Junction City (Kentucky) para niños
