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Kevil, Kentucky
Water tower in Kevil
Water tower in Kevil
Location of Kevil in Ballard County, Kentucky.
Location of Kevil in Ballard County, Kentucky.
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Ballard
Incorporated 1910
Named for a local landowner
Area
 • Total 0.57 sq mi (1.47 km2)
 • Land 0.57 sq mi (1.47 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
430 ft (131 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 595
 • Density 1,045.69/sq mi (403.95/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s) 270 & 364
FIPS code 21-42292
GNIS feature ID 0495707

Kevil is a small city located in Ballard County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is known as a home rule-class city, which means it has the power to manage its own local affairs. In 2020, about 595 people lived there. Kevil is also part of the larger Paducah metropolitan area.

How Kevil is Governed

Kevil has a mayor and a city council who help run the city. The mayor is like the main leader of the city.

The Mayor of Kevil

The current mayor of Kevil is Charles Burnley. He was elected in 2018.

Kevil City Council Members

The city council helps the mayor make decisions for Kevil. There are four members on the Kevil City Council. They are Clyde Elrod, Charlie Trice, Jerry Summers, and Rhonda Lange.

Kevil's History

Kevil was founded because of its location on the Illinois Central Railroad. This railroad helped connect towns and transport goods.

When Kevil Was Established

The town got its own post office in 1903. It was named after a local landowner, R.U. Kevil. In 1910, the state assembly officially recognized Kevil as a city.

Where Kevil is Located

Kevil is in the eastern part of Ballard County. It's near the border with McCracken County.

Kevil's Main Roads

The city is mainly located around where U.S. Route 60 and Kentucky Route 473 meet. It's about 17 miles (27 km) west of Paducah. Kevil is also about 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Wickliffe, which is the main town of Ballard County. Kevil's zip code is 42053.

Kevil's Size

According to official records, Kevil covers a total area of about 0.57 square miles (1.47 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Kevil's Population Over Time

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 304
1920 261 −14.1%
1930 236 −9.6%
1940 209 −11.4%
1950 202 −3.3%
1960 231 14.4%
1970 274 18.6%
1980 382 39.4%
1990 337 −11.8%
2000 574 70.3%
2010 376 −34.5%
2020 595 58.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 574 people living in Kevil. The population density was about 895 people per square mile (346 people per square kilometer). Most people in Kevil were White (98.95%).

Kevil's Cost of Living

The cost of living in Kevil is lower than the average for the United States. On a scale where the U.S. average is 100, Kevil's cost of living is 80. This means it is about 20% less expensive to live in Kevil compared to the national average.

Schools in and Around Kevil

Education is important in Kevil, and there have been changes to schools over the years.

Forestdale Elementary School

Forestdale Elementary School used to be a big part of Kevil. It was built around 1950. This was when the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant was also built. Many families moved to the area for jobs at the plant. Forestdale Elementary was built to make sure all the new children had a place to go to school. The school was used until the early 1980s, when it became a factory.

Current School Options

Today, students in Kevil have many public and private school choices.

  • Public Schools:
    • Ballard County Memorial High School
    • Ballard County Middle School
    • Ballard County Elementary School
    • McCracken County High School
    • Heath Middle School
    • Concord Elementary
    • Lone Oak Elementary
    • Lone Oak Intermediate
    • Reidland Middle School
    • Reidland Elementary
    • Reidland Intermediate
    • Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary
    • McCracken County Pre-School
  • Private Schools:
    • St. Mary School System (offers elementary, middle, and high school)

The Local Power Plant and Kevil's Growth

A large plant was built near Kevil in 1950. This plant was used to process uranium for military purposes.

How the Plant Helped Kevil Grow

The plant played a big role in Kevil's development. Many houses in Kevil and nearby areas were built quickly for workers who moved there for jobs. From 1993 to 2014, a company called United States Enrichment Corporations (USEC) managed the plant. Now, the Department of Energy (DOE) is in charge of cleaning up the site. Even though the plant is not as big as it once was, it still provides jobs and is important to the area.

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