LaCenter, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LaCenter, Kentucky
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Broadway (KY 358)
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Location of La Center in Ballard County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Ballard |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.60 sq mi (1.57 km2) |
| • Land | 0.60 sq mi (1.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 367 ft (112 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 872 |
| • Density | 1,441.32/sq mi (556.06/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
42056
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| Area code(s) | 270 & 364 |
| FIPS code | 21-43336 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0495882 |
LaCenter is a small city in Ballard County, Kentucky, in the United States. It used to be called "La Center" sometimes. In 2020, about 872 people lived there. This makes it the biggest town in Ballard County. LaCenter is also part of the larger Paducah area.
Contents
History of LaCenter
The exact year LaCenter became a city is not fully clear. However, the LaCenter Woman's Club says it was first named Merriville. This name came from the daughter of Maggie Davis, who owned the land. She sold the land for the new city in 1902.
The Postal Service did not approve the name "Merriville" for the new post office. So, the postmaster asked for "LaCentre" because the city was in the middle of Ballard County. They later agreed on "LaCenter." One of the people who helped develop the land, Stokely T. Payne, might have suggested the name. He thought the new city could be the "center of the universe." He may have also hoped it would become the main town of the county one day.
Geography of LaCenter
LaCenter is located northeast of Wickliffe at 37°4′29″N 88°58′30″W / 37.07472°N 88.97500°W. Its location is important because it is close to where two big rivers meet: the Ohio River and the Mississippi River.
The city is mainly built around the crossing of U.S. Route 60 and Kentucky Route 358. U.S. Route 60 connects LaCenter to Paducah in the east and Wickliffe in the southwest.
The United States Census Bureau says that LaCenter covers about 1.6 square kilometers (0.6 square miles) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 426 | — | |
| 1920 | 627 | 47.2% | |
| 1930 | 637 | 1.6% | |
| 1940 | 591 | −7.2% | |
| 1950 | 593 | 0.3% | |
| 1960 | 682 | 15.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,044 | 53.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,044 | 0.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,040 | −0.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,038 | −0.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,009 | −2.8% | |
| 2020 | 872 | −13.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,038 people living in LaCenter. The city had 419 households. The average age of people in the city was 42 years old.
Interesting People from LaCenter
- Bob DeWeese – He was a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives. He served from 1993 to 2016, representing the 48th district.
See also
In Spanish: La Center (Kentucky) para niños
