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Midway, Kentucky
East Main Street in Midway
East Main Street in Midway
Flag of Midway, Kentucky
Flag
Location of Midway in Woodford County, Kentucky.
Location of Midway in Woodford County, Kentucky.
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Woodford
Established January 31, 1835
Incorporated February 7, 1846
Named for its location relative to Frankfort and Lexington
Area
 • Total 1.37 sq mi (3.55 km2)
 • Land 1.37 sq mi (3.54 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
833 ft (254 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,718
 • Estimate 
(2022)
1,744
 • Density 1,255.85/sq mi (484.79/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
40347
Area code(s) 859
FIPS code 21-52140
GNIS feature ID 2404256
Midway Ky
View looking west from intersection of Highway 62 and Main Street

Midway is a small city in Woodford County, Kentucky, in the United States. It's called a "home rule-class city," which means it has the power to manage its own local government. In 2020, about 1,718 people lived there. Midway is part of the larger Lexington-Fayette area.

The city is located near Interstate 64. It is surrounded by many famous thoroughbred horse farms, where racehorses are bred. These include places like Three Chimneys Farm. In 2003, Midway started a big project to make its downtown area look new and inviting. This project helped bring new life to the city. Today, Midway is known for its unique shops and restaurants. There are also many events held throughout the year. The city is a popular spot for road races that go through the beautiful countryside.

History of Midway

Before Europeans arrived, the area around Midway was home to ancient people known as the Mound Builders. They built large earth mounds. Two big mounds and several smaller ones have been found on farms nearby.

The city we know today started as a small settlement called Stevenson's in 1832. On January 31, 1835, a farmer named John Francisco sold his land to the Lexington and Ohio Railroad. The railroad used this land to create Kentucky's very first railroad town. They named it Middleway because it was located right in the middle of Lexington and Frankfort. It's also halfway between Versailles and Georgetown. The main streets in Midway are named after the railroad's first leaders. The town's name was shortened to Midway in 1837.

A famous racehorse named Man o' War was trained and first ridden by Joseph Bryan Martin. Joseph Bryan Martin was from Midway and is buried in the Midway Cemetery.

Geography of Midway

Midway is located in the northern part of Woodford County. This area is known as the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. It's famous for its beautiful farms that grow tobacco and corn, and raise cattle and horses.

The city covers about 1.1 square miles (2.8 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 402
1870 532 32.3%
1880 950 78.6%
1890 1,185 24.7%
1900 1,045 −11.8%
1910 937 −10.3%
1920 915 −2.3%
1930 808 −11.7%
1940 886 9.7%
1950 950 7.2%
1960 1,044 9.9%
1970 1,278 22.4%
1980 1,445 13.1%
1990 1,290 −10.7%
2000 1,620 25.6%
2010 1,641 1.3%
2020 1,718 4.7%
2022 (est.) 1,744 6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

According to the census from 2000, there were 1,620 people living in Midway. The population density was about 1,484 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Midway were White (89.81%). About 7.72% were African American.

There were 623 households in the city. About 28.6% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.38 people. The median age of people in Midway was 35 years old.

Arts and Culture in Midway

Midway hosts several fun events throughout the year:

  • Francisco's Farm Arts Festival This festival happens in mid-May. It features an outdoor art show where you can see and buy art directly from the artists. It takes place at Midway University.
  • Midway Fall Festival This festival is known as one of Kentucky's top 20 festivals. It has over 200 vendors selling crafts, food, and other items. There are also demonstrations, entertainment, and activities for kids.
  • Midway Independence Day Celebration This event is called "Sparks in the Park." It's held at Walter Bradley Park on Dudley Street to celebrate Independence Day.

Education in Midway

Current Schools

  • Northside Elementary: This school serves students from Kindergarten to 5th grade. It was founded in 1992.
  • Midway University: This is a private college that started allowing both male and female students in 2016. It was founded in 1847 as the Kentucky Female Orphan School.

Past Schools

  • Midway Elementary: This school closed in 1992 and was replaced by Northside Elementary.
  • Midway High School: This high school closed in 1964. Students then went to Woodford County High School.

Public Library

Midway has a lending library. It is a branch of the Woodford County Public Library.

Climate

The weather in Midway has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Notable People from Midway

Many interesting people have connections to Midway:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Midway (Kentucky) para niños

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