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London, Kentucky
City
Downtown London
Downtown London
Location in Laurel County, Kentucky
Location in Laurel County, Kentucky
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Laurel
Incorporated February 11, 1836
Named for London, England
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
Area
 • City 11.61 sq mi (30.07 km2)
 • Land 11.57 sq mi (29.96 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
1,240 ft (378 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 7,572
 • Density 654.62/sq mi (252.76/km2)
 • Metro
126,565
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
40741-40745
Area code(s) 606
FIPS code 21-47476
GNIS feature ID 0513578

London is a home rule-class city in Laurel County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 7,993 at the time of the 2010 census. It is the second-largest city named "London" in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. It is part of the London, Kentucky micropolitan area. Of the seventeen micropolitan areas in Kentucky, London is the largest; the London micropolitan area's 2010 Census population was 126,369. London is also home to the annual World Chicken Festival that celebrates the life of Colonel Sanders and features the world's largest skillet.

History

Upon the establishment of Laurel County in 1825, a vote was held to provide for the new area's seat of government. The land offered by John and Jarvis Jackson was selected, along with their suggested name of London, honoring their English heritage. The town was founded the next year; its post office established in 1831; and its city rights granted in 1836.

Geography

London is located at 37°7′39″N 84°5′3″W / 37.12750°N 84.08417°W / 37.12750; -84.08417 (37.127504, -84.084181) and at an elevation of 1,240 feet (378 m). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.33 square miles (26.76 km2), of which 10.30 square miles (26.67 km2) is land and 0.037 square miles (.097 km2) is water. Between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, the city annexed a significant portion of land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 235 —
1870 165 −29.8%
1880 215 30.3%
1900 1,147 —
1910 1,638 42.8%
1920 1,707 4.2%
1930 1,950 14.2%
1940 2,263 16.1%
1950 3,426 51.4%
1960 4,035 17.8%
1970 4,337 7.5%
1980 4,002 −7.7%
1990 5,757 43.9%
2000 5,692 −1.1%
2010 7,993 40.4%
2020 7,572 −5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,692 people, 2,400 households, and 1,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 738.1 people per square mile (285.0/km2). There were 2,676 housing units at an average density of 347.0/sq mi (134.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.03% White, 1.83% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 2,400 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,283, and the median income for a family was $34,340. Males had a median income of $32,355 versus $19,873 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,046. About 19.4% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

London has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) with continental influences. Summers are hot and humid with frequent storms. July is the warmest month, with an average high of 86 °F (30 °C) and an average low of 66 °F (19 °C). Winters are cold with a few mild periods. January is the coldest month with an average high of 44 °F (7 °C) and an average low of 26 °F (−3 °C). The highest recorded temperature was 105 °F (41 °C) on June 29, 2012, and the lowest recorded temperature was −25 °F (−32 °C) on January 19, 1994. May has the highest average rainfall of 4.92 inches (125 mm) and October has the lowest average rainfall of 3.01 inches (76 mm).

Climate data for London, Kentucky (London-Corbin Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 74
(23.3)		 81
(27.2)		 87
(30.6)		 90
(32.2)		 91
(32.8)		 105
(40.6)		 101
(38.3)		 102
(38.9)		 97
(36.1)		 94
(34.4)		 83
(28.3)		 78
(25.6)		 105
(40.6)
Average high °F (°C) 45.2
(7.33)		 49.7
(9.83)		 58.4
(14.67)		 69.3
(20.72)		 76.7
(24.83)		 83.5
(28.61)		 86.3
(30.17)		 85.6
(29.78)		 80.0
(26.67)		 69.5
(20.83)		 57.9
(14.39)		 48.5
(9.17)		 67.5
(19.72)
Daily mean °F (°C) 36.0
(2.22)		 39.7
(4.28)		 47.3
(8.5)		 57.1
(13.94)		 65.4
(18.56)		 72.9
(22.72)		 76.3
(24.61)		 75.2
(24)		 68.8
(20.44)		 57.5
(14.17)		 46.7
(8.17)		 39.4
(4.11)		 56.9
(13.83)
Average low °F (°C) 26.7
(-2.94)		 29.7
(-1.28)		 36.2
(2.33)		 44.9
(7.17)		 54.1
(12.28)		 62.4
(16.89)		 66.3
(19.06)		 64.8
(18.22)		 57.6
(14.22)		 45.4
(7.44)		 35.5
(1.94)		 30.3
(-0.94)		 46.2
(7.89)
Record low °F (°C) −25
(-31.7)		 −17
(-27.2)		 −12
(-24.4)		 19
(-7.2)		 28
(-2.2)		 34
(1.1)		 45
(7.2)		 44
(6.7)		 32
(0)		 18
(-7.8)		 2
(-16.7)		 −17
(-27.2)		 −25
(-31.7)
Precipitation inches (mm) 3.89
(98.8)		 4.02
(102.1)		 4.57
(116.1)		 4.65
(118.1)		 5.04
(128)		 5.06
(128.5)		 5.16
(131.1)		 3.97
(100.8)		 3.55
(90.2)		 3.29
(83.6)		 3.52
(89.4)		 4.54
(115.3)		 51.26
(1,302)
Snowfall inches (cm) 4.5
(11.4)		 3.1
(7.9)		 0.6
(1.5)		 1.0
(2.5)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 1.1
(2.8)		 10.3
(26.2)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 11.8 12.0 12.9 12.5 13.7 12.6 13.4 10.2 8.3 9.0 9.8 12.0 138.2
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.6 1.9 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.9 6.3
Source: NOAA (snow 1981–2010)

Economy

Major employers in London include:

  • ABC Group
  • Aisin
  • Bimbo Bakeries USA
  • Flowers Foods
  • General Dynamics Information Technology
  • Hearthside Food Solutions
  • Highlands Diversified Services
  • Springleaf Financial
  • Senture
  • SourceHOV
  • Walmart
  • Xerox
  • Serco
  • Niflheim Finances

Education

Public schools are administered by Laurel County Public Schools. The district has two comprehensive high schools: North Laurel High School and South Laurel High School.

There is a private school, London Christian Academy.

Colleges

  • Laurel Technical College
  • Somerset Community and Technical College (Laurel Campus)

Public library

London has a lending library, the Laurel County Public Library.

Notable people

  • Granville Pearl Aikman, Kansas state judge
  • Teel Bruner, College Football Hall of Fame inductee
  • Chera-Lyn Cook, Miss Kentucky 1998; placed 4th runner-up to Miss America 1999
  • Brady J. Deaton, Chancellor of the University of Missouri
  • Silas House, author
  • Gene Huff, politician
  • Nan Phelps, artist
  • Darrell Scott, musician
  • Flem D. Sampson, 42nd governor of Kentucky
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