Morganfield, Kentucky Facts for Kids

Morganfield is a city in Union County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the main city and seat of its county. In 2020, about 3,256 people lived there.

City's Name and History
Where is Morganfield Located?
Who Lives in Morganfield?
Notable People from Morganfield
Camp Breckinridge: A Historic Site
Education in Morganfield
Morganfield's Climate
Images for kids
See also

City's Name and History

Morganfield got its name from Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan. He received a special land grant for his service in the military. The city later grew and developed on this very land.

Where is Morganfield Located?

Morganfield is located at 37°41′04″N 87°54′43″W / 37.684502°N 87.911893°W / 37.684502; -87.911893. The city covers a total area of about 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Who Lives in Morganfield?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1830	295	—
1840	360	22.0%
1860	460	—
1870	300	−34.8%
1880	744	148.0%
1890	1,094	47.0%
1900	2,046	87.0%
1910	2,725	33.2%
1920	2,651	−2.7%
1930	2,551	−3.8%
1940	3,079	20.7%
1950	3,257	5.8%
1960	3,741	14.9%
1970	3,563	−4.8%
1980	3,781	6.1%
1990	3,776	−0.1%
2000	3,494	−7.5%
2010	3,285	−6.0%
2020	3,256	−0.9%
2022 (est.)	3,166	−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 3,494 people living in Morganfield. About 82% of the people were White, and about 16% were African American. A small number of people were from other racial groups.

The city had 1,434 households. About 28% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.37 people.

The median age of people in the city was 39 years old. About 24.5% of the population was under 18.

Notable People from Morganfield

Many interesting people have come from Morganfield. Here are a few:

Nancy Huston Banks – A writer and journalist.
Dwane Casey – A professional basketball coach. He coached teams like the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.
Earle Clements – A former U.S. Senator and Governor of Kentucky.
Kassie DePaiva – An actress known for her roles in soap operas like One Life to Live.
Mallory Ervin – She was Miss Kentucky in 2009.
Dottie Rambo – A famous Gospel singer and songwriter.
Thomas Lyle Williams – The person who started the well-known makeup company, Maybelline.

Camp Breckinridge: A Historic Site

Morganfield is close to Camp Breckinridge. This was a very important camp during World War II. It was used to train soldiers and also held prisoners of war.

Camp Breckinridge During World War II

During World War II, the camp was huge, covering about 36,070 acres. It could hold over 44,000 soldiers. Around 40,000 soldiers stayed there to prepare for the war. The camp also held about 3,000 German prisoners of war. It closed down in 1949.

Camp Breckinridge During the Korean War

During the Korean War, Camp Breckinridge was used again. It became the main base for the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. It was also used for basic training for new U.S. Army recruits.

Camp Breckinridge Today

In 1965, the camp was reopened as the "Breckinridge Job Corps Center." This center helps young people learn job skills. In 1980, its name was changed to the "Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center." This was done to honor Earle C. Clements, who was a former Kentucky governor and U.S. senator.

Education in Morganfield

Students in Morganfield attend schools run by the Union County Public Schools, Kentucky.

Elementary students go to Morganfield Elementary.
Middle and high school students attend Union County Middle School and Union County High School. These schools are located just outside Morganfield.
There is also a private school in Morganfield called John Paul II.
The Earle C. Clements Job Corps facility, which helps young people with job training, is also in Morganfield.

The city also has a lending library. It is a branch of the Union County Public Library.