Morgantown, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morgantown, Kentucky
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Butler County Courthouse in Morgantown
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Location of Morgantown in Butler County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Kentucky | |
| County | Butler | |
| Incorporated | 1813 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.35 sq mi (8.69 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.33 sq mi (8.62 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) | |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,505 | |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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2,467 | |
| • Density | 752.93/sq mi (290.73/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
42261
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| Area code(s) | 270 & 364 | |
| FIPS code | 21-53490 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0498600 | |
Morgantown is a city in Kentucky, United States. It is the main town and the "seat" of Butler County. This means it's where the county government offices are located. In 2020, about 2,505 people lived there.
History of Morgantown
Morgantown started as a settlement possibly called Funkhouser Hill. This was named after Christopher Funkhouser, who gave 60 acres of land in 1811. This land was used to create a new county seat for Butler County.
The name Morgantown (first written as Morgan Town) has a few possible stories. It might have been named after a hunter named Morgan. Or, it could have been named after Daniel Morgan Smith, who was the first white child born in the town. The city officially became Morgantown in 1813. For a while in the 1800s, its post office was also known as Butler Court House.
During the American Civil War, a soldier named Granville Allen from the 17th Kentucky Infantry was one of the first Union soldiers to die. This happened in a small fight on October 29, 1861. A special stone marker was put up to remember him. This first fight between the North and South took place on land owned by Daniel Boone Johnson.
Morgantown is special because it has one of only two monuments in the entire country that honors soldiers from both sides of the Civil War. This monument is called the Confederate-Union Veterans' Monument in Morgantown. You can find it on the grounds of the county courthouse.
Geography and Climate
Morgantown is located in the middle of Butler County. It sits on top of a high piece of land, called a bluff, on the west side of the Green River.
The city covers about 3.35 square miles (8.69 square kilometers) of land. Only a very small part of it is water.
Morgantown's Weather
The weather in Morgantown usually has hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild, meaning not too cold. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 89 | — | |
| 1860 | 125 | 40.4% | |
| 1870 | 125 | 0.0% | |
| 1880 | 204 | 63.2% | |
| 1890 | 250 | 22.5% | |
| 1900 | 587 | 134.8% | |
| 1910 | 569 | −3.1% | |
| 1920 | 707 | 24.3% | |
| 1930 | 551 | −22.1% | |
| 1940 | 859 | 55.9% | |
| 1950 | 850 | −1.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,318 | 55.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,394 | 5.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,000 | 43.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,284 | 14.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,544 | 11.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,394 | −5.9% | |
| 2020 | 2,505 | 4.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,467 | 3.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the census from 2000, there were 2,544 people living in Morgantown. The city has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1850, only 89 people lived there, but by 2020, the population was 2,505.
The average age of people in the city in 2000 was 38 years old. About 23% of the population was under 18 years old.
Transportation in Morgantown
For a long time, the Green River was the main way people and goods traveled to and from Morgantown. But in 1917, the river froze for two months, which meant the city couldn't get supplies.
After that, people started building more roads. By 1930, a road connected Morgantown to Bowling Green. This gave the city another important way to trade and get supplies.
Today, Morgantown is served by Interstate 165. This highway connects Morgantown to Bowling Green (about 23 miles southeast) and Owensboro (about 48 miles north). Other important roads in the city include U.S. Highway 231, Kentucky Route 70, and Kentucky Route 79. Morgantown does not have railroad service.
Education in Morgantown
Morgantown has several public schools that are part of the Butler County Schools District:
- North Butler Elementary
- Morgantown Elementary
- Butler County Middle School
- Butler County High School
The city also has a public library where people can borrow books and other materials. It's called the Butler County Public Library.
Arts and Culture
Morgantown has a city park called Charles Black City Park. This park is home to a fun event held every year around July 4. It's called the Green River Catfish Festival.
The festival has been happening since July 1980. Besides activities at the park, there's also a catfish fishing tournament on the Green River. Fishermen compete for a grand prize of $2,500!
Notable People from Morgantown
Morgantown has been home to several interesting people:
- William S. Taylor: He was the 33rd Governor of Kentucky.
- John Moore: He was a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
- Keith Butler: He was a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.
- Tyler Reed (swimmer)
See also
In Spanish: Morgantown (Kentucky) para niños
