Richmond is a city in Kentucky, located in the United States. It is the main city of Madison County, Kentucky. The city was named after Richmond, Virginia.

Richmond is also home to Eastern Kentucky University. In 2024, about 38,030 people lived there. It is the fourth-largest city in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. This makes it the state's seventh-largest city overall. Richmond is a busy center for jobs and shopping in south-central Kentucky. It hosts fun events like the Millstone Festival.

History of Richmond

Richmond was started in 1798 by Colonel John Miller. He came from Richmond, Virginia. Miller was a soldier who fought for the American side in the American Revolutionary War. He liked the area because of its good water and friendly Native Americans.

Founding the City

The first main town of Madison County was Milford, Kentucky. But Colonel Miller worked to have the county seat moved to where Richmond is now. Even though people in Milford did not like this, the county agreed in March 1798.

On July 4, 1798, the new town was named Richmond. This honored Miller's hometown in Virginia. Richmond officially became a city in 1809.

Richmond During the Civil War

Kentucky was a border state during the American Civil War. This meant it was between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South). Most of Kentucky stayed with the Union.

On August 30, 1862, a big battle happened here called the Battle of Richmond. Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith defeated Union General William "Bull" Nelson. The Confederates captured or killed many Union soldiers. One historian said it was a very clever victory.

Eastern Kentucky University's Start

In 1906, the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School opened in Richmond. Its main goal was to train teachers. The first group of 11 teachers graduated in 1909.

The school grew over time. In 1922, it became a four-year college. By 1935, it offered advanced degrees. In 1965, its name changed to Eastern Kentucky University.

Recent Growth

Richmond grew a lot in the late 1990s and early 2000s. By 2009, it had become the state's seventh-largest city.

Geography and Climate

Richmond is located in Madison County. It is part of Kentucky's beautiful Bluegrass region. The Blue Grass Army Depot is southeast of the city.

How to Get Around

Major roads serve Richmond. Interstate 75 runs west of downtown. It connects Richmond to Lexington, Kentucky (about 25 miles northwest) and Knoxville, Tennessee (about 147 miles south).

Other important roads include U.S. Route 25 and U.S. Route 421. These roads go around the eastern side of the city. They also connect Richmond to other towns like Berea and McKee.

City Size

The United States Census Bureau says Richmond covers about 19.2 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Weather in Richmond

Richmond has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	110	—
1810	366	232.7%
1830	947	—
1840	822	−13.2%
1850	411	−50.0%
1860	845	105.6%
1870	1,629	92.8%
1880	2,909	78.6%
1890	5,073	74.4%
1900	4,653	−8.3%
1910	5,340	14.8%
1920	5,622	5.3%
1930	6,495	15.5%
1940	7,335	12.9%
1950	10,268	40.0%
1960	12,168	18.5%
1970	16,861	38.6%
1980	21,705	28.7%
1990	21,155	−2.5%
2000	27,152	28.3%
2010	31,364	15.5%
2020	34,585	10.3%
2022 (est.)	36,129	15.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, Richmond had 27,152 people. The city's population has grown steadily over the years. By 2020, it reached 34,585 people.

The people living in Richmond come from different backgrounds. Most residents are White, with a smaller percentage of African American and Asian people. The median age in 2000 was 25 years old. This shows that many young people live in Richmond, likely because of the university.

In 2023, the average household income in Richmond was about $63,295.

Education in Richmond

Richmond is part of the Madison County Public School System. The Richmond Independent School District joined this system in 1988.

High Schools

Model Laboratory School (Connected to Eastern Kentucky University)
Madison Central High School

Higher Education

Eastern Kentucky University

Public Library

Richmond has a lending library. It is a branch of the Madison County Public Library.

Media

Richmond has its own local media.

Newspaper

The Richmond Register is a newspaper published from Tuesday to Saturday. The Eastern Progress is a weekly student newspaper from Eastern Kentucky University.

Radio Stations

You can listen to several radio stations in Richmond:

WEKY (1340 AM)
WCBR (1110 AM)
WEKU (88.9 FM)
WLXX (101.5 FM)

Transportation

Richmond has various ways to get around.

Roads

Interstate 75 goes through western Richmond. It connects the city to Lexington in the north and Knoxville, Tennessee, in the south. There are three exits for Richmond on I-75.

Richmond is also on U.S. Route 25 and U.S. Route 421. These roads go north to Lexington. U.S. 25 also connects to Berea and Mount Vernon to the south. U.S. 421 connects to McKee to the southeast.

Other state routes like State Route 52, State Route 169, and State Route 388 help people travel to nearby towns. State Route 876 acts as a bypass around the city's business area.

Air Travel

The Central Kentucky Regional Airport is a public airport located between Richmond and Berea. It has one asphalt runway that is 5,001 feet long.

Bus Service

Foothills Express runs the Richmond Transit Service bus system within the city. They also have the Big E Transit Service on the EKU campus. The Madison County Connector service goes to Berea. They also offer local and intercity demand-responsive transport, which means you can request a ride.

Notable People from Richmond

Many interesting people have connections to Richmond:

Daniel Boone (1734–1820) – A famous American pioneer who helped establish Fort Boonesborough in Madison County.
Kit Carson – A pioneer and frontiersman, born near Richmond.
Cassius Marcellus Clay – A planter, abolitionist, and politician. He was a founder of the Republican Party.
Earle Combs – A New York Yankees player and Baseball Hall of Fame member who lived in the area.
David R. Francis – A former Mayor of St. Louis and Governor of Missouri.
Leigh Ann Hester – The first woman in U.S. military history to receive the Silver Star Medal for bravery in combat.
Keen Johnson – A former editor of the Richmond Daily Register and Governor of Kentucky.
James B. McCreary – A United States Senator and two-term Governor of Kentucky.
Samuel Freeman Miller – A U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Fiddlin' Doc Roberts (1897–1978) – A well-known old-time bluegrass fiddler.
Jimmy Stokley (1943–1985) – The lead singer and co-founder of the band Exile.
Montez Sweat – An NFL Defensive End.
Larry Warford – An NFL offensive lineman.

Images for kids

Madison County courthouse, Richmond, with flags at half-staff in honor of Veterans Day (2007).
Flag of Richmond, Kentucky
Seal of Richmond, Kentucky
Location of Richmond in Madison County, Kentucky.

Richmond, Kentucky facts for kids

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