Leitchfield, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leitchfield, Kentucky
|
|
|---|---|
| Motto(s):
City of Twin Lakes
|
|
Location of Leitchfield in Grayson County, Kentucky.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Grayson |
| Incorporated | 1866 |
| Named for | David Leitch |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.79 sq mi (27.96 km2) |
| • Land | 10.76 sq mi (27.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 745 ft (227 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 6,404 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
|
6,432 |
| • Density | 595.33/sq mi (229.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
42726, 42054, 42755
|
| Area code(s) | 270 & 364 |
| FIPS code | 21-44686 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0496280 |
Leitchfield is a city in Kentucky, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Grayson County. In 2020, about 6,404 people lived in Leitchfield. It's known as a "home rule-class city," which means it has some power to make its own local laws.
Contents
History of Leitchfield
The city of Leitchfield is named after Major David Leitch. He was an important person who helped George Washington, a famous general. Major Leitch owned a lot of land in the area where the city now stands.
Leitchfield officially became a city in 1866. This happened when the state assembly (like a state government) formally recognized it.
Geography and Climate
Leitchfield is located in an interesting area. It's part of a region called the Clifty Area. This area has a lot of sandstone. It sits between the West Kentucky Coal Field and the Pennyroyal Plateau, which has lots of limestone.
The city is easy to reach because it's near the Western Kentucky Parkway. This is a major road. U.S. Route 62 also crosses Kentucky Route 259 right in the middle of town.
Leitchfield is also close to two beautiful lakes. Rough River Lake is to the north, and Nolin River Lake is to the south. These lakes are great for outdoor activities.
Land and Water Area
The United States Census Bureau says that Leitchfield covers about 28.2 square kilometers (about 10.9 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 28.1 square kilometers (10.8 square miles). Only a small part, about 0.1 square kilometers (0.04 square miles), is water.
Local Climate
The weather in Leitchfield is usually warm and humid in the summer. Winters are generally mild to cool. The climate is called a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets enough rain all year round, and it has warm temperatures for a long time.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 226 | — | |
| 1870 | 314 | 38.9% | |
| 1880 | 491 | 56.4% | |
| 1890 | 821 | 67.2% | |
| 1900 | 914 | 11.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,053 | 15.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,077 | 2.3% | |
| 1930 | 950 | −11.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,146 | 20.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,312 | 14.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,982 | 127.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,983 | 0.0% | |
| 1980 | 4,533 | 52.0% | |
| 1990 | 4,965 | 9.5% | |
| 2000 | 6,139 | 23.6% | |
| 2010 | 6,699 | 9.1% | |
| 2020 | 6,404 | −4.4% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 6,432 | −4.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 6,139 people living in Leitchfield. These people lived in 2,485 homes, and 1,615 of those were families. The city had about 700 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Leitchfield were White (96.63%). There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 33.2% of homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes (44.1%) were married couples. About 15.8% of the people were 65 years old or older. The average age in the city was 35 years old.
Education in Leitchfield
The schools in Leitchfield are managed by Grayson County Public Schools. These schools include:
- Grayson County Middle School
- H.W. Wilkey Elementary School
- Oran P. Lawler Elementary School
- Grayson County High School
There is also a private school called Leitchfield Christian Academy.
Leitchfield has a lending library for everyone to use. It's called the Grayson County Public Library.
Fun Events and Culture
Leitchfield hosts several exciting events throughout the year!
Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship
Every year, the Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship takes place on the Court Square. Fiddlers from all over Kentucky and nearby areas come to compete. They play their fiddles to win prize money. Thousands of people come to watch this musical event. You can find more information at Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship.
Grayson County Fair
The Grayson County Fair happens every year, starting the week before Labor Day. It's a big event with lots of fun activities. You can see a demolition derby, enjoy carnival rides, and watch truck and tractor pulls. There are also contests for farm crops and a beauty pageant. The fair ends with a special Labor Day parade.
Ice Cream Festival
What started as a small ice cream social in 1992 has grown into a weekend-long festival! Every July, the Ice Cream Festival brings lots of fun. It includes a beauty pageant, rides, games, and a tennis tournament. The festival also has the biggest fireworks show in the area. At 6 PM on the Saturday of the festival, everyone gets free cups of ice cream! The fireworks show often has a cool theme, like "Stars and Stripes Forever."
Grayson County Ag Fair
Each July, the Grayson County Agricultural Recreation Park in Leitchfield hosts the Grayson County 4-H and FFA Ag Fair. This event celebrates farming and youth. It features tractor driving contests, exhibits by homemakers, and shows for sheep, hogs, horses, dairy cows, and beef cattle.
Memorial Day Parade
A Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony is held every year on the Saturday before Memorial Day. Hundreds of people march from the Leitchfield firehouse to the county square. They carry signs honoring local veterans who died in different conflicts. The ceremony includes speeches, a roll call of veterans who passed away in the last year, and patriotic songs. After the ceremony, there's a cookout for everyone.
Local Media
Leitchfield has two local newspapers:
- The Grayson County News-Gazette
- The Record
The city also has a few radio stations:
- 104.9 WKHG-FM, also known as K105, plays popular music (Top 40).
- 870 WMTL-AM plays country music.
- 103.9 FM The Moose is another country music station that also plays the popular sports talk show Kentucky Sports Radio.
Both radio stations are owned by Heritage Media of Kentucky. WKHG also broadcasts sports games for Grayson County High School, the University of Kentucky, and the Tennessee Titans.
See also
In Spanish: Leitchfield (Kentucky) para niños
