Princeton, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Princeton, Kentucky
City
Downtown Princeton, Kentucky
Location of Princeton in Caldwell County, Kentucky.
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Caldwell
Established	December 6, 1820
Incorporated	1854
Named for	William Prince, a local landowner
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	9.01 sq mi (23.33 km2)
• Land	8.99 sq mi (23.27 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	482 ft (147 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,270
• Estimate  (2022)	6,210
• Density	697.75/sq mi (269.41/km2)
Demonym(s)	Princetonian
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	42445
Area code(s)	Area codes 270 and 364
FIPS code	21-63138
GNIS feature ID	0501350

Princeton is a city in Caldwell County, Kentucky, United States. It is the main town and government center of the county. In 2020, about 6,270 people lived there.

Princeton has many interesting places to visit. These include the Adsmore Museum, the Champion-Shepherdson House (home to the Princeton Art Guild), and the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center Botanical Garden. The city also hosts the yearly Black Patch Festival.

History of Princeton

Big Springs Cave in the center of Princeton

The area where Princeton now stands was first called Eddy Grove. This name came from a large spring that swirled like an eddy. A man named William Prince received 1,700 acres of land here. This was for his service in the American Revolution. He moved to the area in 1799. He built a brick home and tavern called Shandy Hall.

In 1817, Prince's family and another landowner gave 40 acres of land. They wanted to create a new town. This would happen if the courthouse for the new Caldwell County moved there. The county court agreed and named the new town Princetown. Soon after, the name was shortened to Princeton.

Princeton During the Civil War

Construction on Princeton College started in 1860. But the American Civil War began, delaying the work. In 1861, Confederate soldiers camped on the college campus. They used one building as a hospital.

After the Confederates left in early 1862, Union soldiers took over the town. They stayed for the rest of the war. In December 1864, Confederate cavalry attacked Princeton. They burned the courthouse, which was being used by Union soldiers.

Growth and Challenges

In the late 1800s, railroads grew. Princeton became an important meeting point for major railway lines. These included the Illinois Central Railroad and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

Princeton was also a key location during the Black Patch Tobacco Wars. These events happened in the early 1900s. Farmers were unhappy with how tobacco companies bought their crops. They felt the companies had too much control. A group called the Night Riders formed to protest. On December 1, 1906, the Night Riders raided Princeton. They burned down some of the biggest tobacco factories.

Since 1925, Princeton has been home to the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center. This is a part of the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture.

2021 Tornado Event

Damage in Princeton from the 2021 Western Kentucky tornado.

On December 10, 2021, a very strong tornado hit the southern part of Princeton. This tornado traveled about 165.6 miles. It started in Tennessee and reached very high strength. In Princeton, almost 70 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Many of these homes were near the Princeton Golf and Country Club.

Geography and Climate

Princeton is located a bit southwest of the center of Caldwell County. The city covers about 23.3 square kilometers (9.0 square miles). Only a small part of this area is water.

U.S. Route 62 (Kentucky) goes through the middle of Princeton. This road leads east to Dawson Springs and west to Eddyville. Interstate 69 runs along the northern edge of the city. You can get on it from exits 79 and 81.

Hays Spring is a natural spring west of the city. It used to provide water to the Princeton area.

Princeton was a great place to see the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. The eclipse was at its peak in Princeton. The sun was completely covered for 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

Princeton's Climate

The weather in Princeton has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. Princeton has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain throughout the year.

Culture and Attractions

Amoss House, home of Dr. David Amoss, a leader during the Black Patch War.

Princeton is rich in Southern culture. Every September, the city holds the Black Patch Festival in its historic downtown. This festival has many booths with food, games, and activities. A popular part of the festival is the gospel concert at the Princeton First Baptist Church.

The festival is named after a special type of "Black Patch" tobacco. This tobacco grows in western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee.

Big Springs Park

Big Springs

Big Springs is a large, natural spring in downtown Princeton. The town's founder built his home above this spring. An old sawmill was also built nearby. Long ago, animal trails and Native American paths met at this spring. Later, stagecoaches and pioneers used these paths. They all led to major rivers like the Cumberland River and the Ohio River.

In 1838–39, many Cherokee people were forced to move west. They planned to travel by steamboat. But a severe drought made river travel very hard. Water was vital for thousands of people and their animals. Many groups of Cherokee came through Princeton. They stopped at Big Spring on their way to the Ohio River.

Big Spring Park is now owned by the City of Princeton. Visitors can easily access and enjoy the park.

Adsmore Museum

Adsmore Museum

Adsmore is a unique living history museum in Princeton. It is the only living home museum in Kentucky. Its name likely comes from the many additions and changes made over 150 years.

Adsmore shows what life was like for the important Smith-Garrett family. Tours focus on events in the lives of John Parker Smith, Nancy Bond Kevil Smith, and their five children. The museum changes its displays throughout the year. These "seasons" show different family events and holidays. Examples include Christmas, Easter, and even weddings.

Eddie Pennington Festival

Princeton hosts the yearly Pennington Folk Festival. It takes place each summer at the Old Butler High School grounds. The Princeton Art Guild organizes it. The festival started in 1997. It celebrates Eddie Pennington, a local musician. He is known for his contributions to folk music and Kentucky's "thumbpicking" guitar style. Pennington is a nationally recognized musician. He continues the thumbpicking tradition made popular by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.

Col. Bill Newsom's Aged Kentucky Country Ham

Nancy Newsom's Hams

Newsom's Old Mill Store and Col. Bill Newsom's Aged Country Hams are run by Nancy Newsom Mahaffey. She is known as "the Ham Lady." Her grandfather, H.C. Newsom, started the business on January 1, 1917.

Newsom's ham was honored at a world event in Spain in 2009. A two-year-old Newsom's ham is now on display in the Jamon Museum there. It is the only ham from the United States invited to be shown. Newsom's ham was also served at the Kentucky Ball during the 2008 Presidential Inauguration.

Capitol Cinemas

Capitol Cinemas

The first theater on this spot was the Savoy Theater. It burned down in 1937. The Capitol Cinemas was built in its place and opened in 1939. The Capitol reopened in 1996 and has been open ever since. It is the only restored Art Deco theater in a small town that shows new movies on three screens.

Capitol Cinemas shows current movies. It also hosts special events for schools, churches, and the community.

Historic Downtown and "Let's Paint the Town!"

Princeton downtown

In 2006, efforts began to improve Princeton's historic downtown. The goal was to give it a "new look." The community worked together, donating money and time. This helped transform downtown Princeton.

Downtown Princeton Kentucky

In 2008, the Kentucky Heritage Council gave an award to the town. This award recognized their work on "Let's Paint the Town!" It honored their efforts to preserve and restore the historic area. The project was also presented at national conferences in Chicago and Oklahoma City.

Economy and Education

TreeHouse Foods is a big employer in Princeton. Farming, tourism, and retail are also important parts of the local economy.

Agriculture station

The University of Kentucky Research and Education Center Botanical Garden is in Princeton. The citizens of Caldwell County bought and donated 400 acres of land for this center. It officially opened on September 7, 1925. Its goal was to improve farming and Kentucky. At first, it focused on making worn-out farmland healthy again. It also worked on protecting land from erosion. Over time, it added research on crops, animals, and vegetables.

In 2012, Princeton voted to allow alcohol sales within the city. Alcohol sales had been illegal since Prohibition.

Schools in Princeton

The Caldwell County Schools system manages all the schools. This includes primary, elementary, middle, and high schools. There is also a vocational school. It offers programs in carpentry, farming, car repair, and health services.

Caldwell County High School won the Class AA high school football championship in 1998. They also won a state championship in football in 1963.

Princeton has a public library, called the George Coon Public Library.

Population and People

L. B. Overby House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places

In 2000, Princeton had 6,536 people living there. Most residents were White (89.20%). About 9.01% were African American.

The average age in Princeton in 2000 was 42 years old. About 22.6% of the population was under 18.

Famous People from Princeton

• David Alexander, a college president and scholarship administrator, grew up here.
• J. D. Grey, a Southern Baptist clergyman.
• Charles Lisanby, a pioneer in color television.
• Rodney H. Mabry, a former president of The University of Texas at Tyler.
• Greg Smith, a retired professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks, was born in Princeton.
• Mabel Stark, one of the first women tiger tamers, spent her early life in Princeton.
• Emma Talley, a golfer who won major amateur and college titles, was raised in Princeton.
• Martha Nelson Thomas, who created "Doll Babies" (which inspired Cabbage Patch Kids), was born in Princeton.
• Malachi Thompson, a jazz trumpeter born in Princeton.
• Bross Townsend, a jazz and blues pianist born in Princeton.
• Ada Henry Van Pelt, an editor and inventor, was born in Princeton.
• John D. Watkins, a Louisiana judge and state senator.

See also

In Spanish: Princeton (Kentucky) para niños