Russell, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Russell, Kentucky
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Location of Russell in Greenup County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Greenup |
| Incorporated | February 23, 1874 |
| Named for | John Russell, a local landowner |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.43 sq mi (8.87 km2) |
| • Land | 3.41 sq mi (8.84 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 646 ft (197 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,744 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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3,669 |
| • Density | 1,097.30/sq mi (423.69/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
41169 (part in 41101)
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| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-67458 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0502497 |
Russell is a city in Greenup County, Kentucky. It is located on the south bank of the Ohio River. In 2010, about 3,380 people lived there. Russell is close to the city of Ashland. It is also part of a larger area that includes Huntington, Ashland, and Ironton. Russell has strong ties with its nearby cities, like Ashland and Flatwoods in Kentucky, and Ironton in Ohio.
Contents
History of Russell
Early Beginnings of Russell
The area where Russell is now was first chosen by a pioneer named Jeff Moore in 1823. He picked this hilly spot near White Oak Creek and the Ohio River. This location helped protect his camp from local American Indian tribes.
In 1829, James E. McDowell and the Poage brothers built an iron furnace here. They named the furnace and the small community around it "Amanda Furnace." This name came from William Poage's baby daughter. The furnace stopped working in 1861.
How Russell Got Its Name
Later, John Russell and his company bought the land. In 1869, they planned and started a new town called Riverview. They hoped the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad would expand through the area.
Ferry service to Ohio started in 1870. In 1873, local landowners decided to rename the town "Russell" after its founder. The city officially became "Russell" in 1874. The railroad line finally arrived in 1889. When it did, the railroad built a large yard and shops, and the city grew quickly. Russell celebrates this history with an event called "Russell Railroad Days" every August.
Challenges and Growth
Russell faced many challenges over the years. The Ohio River flooded the city in 1884. A disease called smallpox affected the city in 1901. A big fire destroyed downtown and the city hall in 1903.
Even with these problems, Russell was the biggest city in Greenup County in 1905. More floods happened in 1913 and 1937. The 1937 flood was very bad, affecting almost all homes. Over 500 people had to stay in railroad cars until the water went down.
A bridge to Ironton was built in 1922. A floodwall was completed in 1950 to help with floods. However, by the mid-1950s, Russell was no longer the largest city in the county.
In 1974, a large company called Ashland Oil moved its main office to Russell. But in 1999, it moved to Covington.
Geography of Russell
Russell is in the eastern part of Greenup County. It is directly across the Ohio River from Ironton, Ohio. To the northwest, it borders Worthington. To the west, it borders Flatwoods. To the south, it borders Bellefonte. The southeast side of Russell is next to Boyd County. Downtown Ashland is about 3 miles southeast of Russell.
The city of Russell covers about 3.43 square miles (8.87 square kilometers). A very small part of this area, about 0.01 square miles (0.04 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 175 | — | |
| 1890 | 323 | 84.6% | |
| 1900 | 743 | 130.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,038 | 39.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,756 | 69.2% | |
| 1930 | 2,084 | 18.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,844 | −11.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,681 | −8.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,458 | −13.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,925 | 100.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,824 | 30.7% | |
| 1990 | 4,014 | 5.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,645 | −9.2% | |
| 2010 | 3,380 | −7.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,744 | 10.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 3,669 | 8.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, Russell had 3,645 people living there. There were 1,428 households and 1,106 families. Most people in Russell were White (96.49%). There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 0.82% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 30% of households had children under 18. Most households (67.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.50 people. The average family had 2.88 people.
The median age in the city was 43 years old. About 21.7% of the population was under 18. About 16.4% was 65 or older.
The median income for a household in Russell was about $53,869. For a family, it was about $62,018. About 6% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Economy and Transportation
Local Businesses and Industry
A part of AK Steel's Ashland Works is located in Russell. Russell was also once home to the main office of Ashland Global, a chemical company. This company later moved to Covington.
One of the buildings that Ashland Global used to own was bought by Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. It was called Bellefonte Pavilion. Now, King's Daughters Medical Center owns it and calls it King's Daughters Pavilion. This building holds many of the hospital's business offices. Another building, Bellefonte Centre, is privately owned. It is used for doctor's offices and other rental spaces.
Getting Around Russell
Russell has a very large railroad yard. It was built by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Now, CSX Transportation owns and operates it. This railroad yard used to be the largest privately owned one in the world.
People can cross the Ohio River using the Ironton–Russell Bridge. There is also the Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge in Ashland. A new Ironton-Russell Bridge opened in 2016. It connects downtown Ironton with U.S. 23 and KY 244 near Russell. The old Ironton-Russell Bridge, built in 1922, was taken down after the new one opened.
Healthcare in Russell
Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital was a hospital in Russell from 1953 to 2020. It had 214 beds and was a not-for-profit hospital. It was part of the Catholic-based Bon Secours Health System. When it was open, the hospital employed about 1,200 healthcare workers. This made it the largest employer in Greenup County.
Education in Russell
Students in Russell go to schools run by Russell Independent Schools. These schools also serve students from nearby Flatwoods and Bellefonte. The main school campus is on the border between Russell and Flatwoods. It includes Russell High School, Russell Middle School, Russell Primary School, and the Russell Area Technology Center.
The Russell High School football field has a special mascot. It's a fire-breathing Red Devil named Rudy, sitting on top of the scoreboard. Russell High School won the Kentucky State 3A football championship in 1978. They also won the Kentucky State 2A football championship in 2005.
Notable People from Russell
- Danny Bentley, an American politician who was born in Russell.
- Billy Ray Cyrus, a famous Country Music Star from nearby Flatwoods.
- Charlie Honaker, a professional football player.
- Bill McCutcheon, an actor who won Emmy and Tony awards.
- Amanda Noelle, a Christian musician and worship leader.
- Ernest E. West, who received the Medal of Honor for his brave actions in the Korean War.
See also
In Spanish: Russell (Kentucky) para niños
