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Russell Springs, Kentucky
Main Street (KY 379)
Main Street (KY 379)
Location of Russell Springs in Russell County, Kentucky.
Location of Russell Springs in Russell County, Kentucky.
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Russell
Incorporated 1936
Area
 • Total 4.70 sq mi (12.16 km2)
 • Land 4.68 sq mi (12.13 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
1,040 ft (320 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,715
 • Estimate 
(2022)
2,750
 • Density 579.51/sq mi (223.74/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
42642
Area code(s) 270 & 364
FIPS code 21-67494
GNIS feature ID 2404656

Russell Springs is a city located in Russell County, Kentucky, in the United States. It's known as the main entrance to Lake Cumberland. This lake is one of the biggest human-made lakes in the area. It was created by the Wolf Creek Dam. Russell Springs is the largest city in its county. In 2020, about 2,715 people lived there.

A Look Back: The History of Russell Springs

The city we know today grew from a special place with a natural spring. This spring had iron in its water, which people thought was good for health. Around 1850, the area was called Big Boiling Springs.

Later, in 1855, a post office opened and named the community "Russell Springs" after the county. This name was changed to Kimble in 1888, honoring a local business person, George Kimble. But in 1901, the community went back to being called Russell Springs. The city officially became a city in 1936.

Where is Russell Springs? Geography

Russell Springs is located in a hilly part of western Russell County. It's just a few miles north of Lake Cumberland, which is part of the Cumberland River. The city covers about 4.6 square miles of land.

The main part of the city is along Kentucky Route 379, also known as Main Street. The city of Jamestown is very close, just to the south. U.S. Route 127 goes through the eastern side of Russell Springs. This road connects the city to the Lake Cumberland area and Tennessee in the south. It also leads to Liberty to the northeast. The Cumberland Parkway also passes through Russell Springs. This highway connects it to Columbia in the west and Somerset in the east.

Who Lives Here? Population Facts

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 104
1940 536
1950 1,125 109.9%
1960 1,125 0.0%
1970 1,641 45.9%
1980 1,831 11.6%
1990 2,363 29.1%
2000 2,399 1.5%
2010 2,441 1.8%
2020 2,715 11.2%
2022 (est.) 2,750 12.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 2,399 people living in Russell Springs. By 2020, the population had grown to 2,715 people. The city continues to grow, with an estimated 2,750 residents in 2022.

Most people living in Russell Springs are White. A small number of residents are African American, Native American, or Asian. About 20% of the population is under 18 years old, and about 23.5% are 65 years or older. The average age in the city is 44 years old.

Learning in Russell Springs

Russell Springs has a lending library. It is a part of the Russell County Public Library system. This means residents have a place to borrow books and learn new things.

Famous Faces from Russell Springs

Several notable people have connections to Russell Springs:

  • Tara Conner: She was crowned Miss Kentucky USA in 2006 and then went on to become Miss USA 2006.
  • Vernie McGaha: He served as a Kentucky State Senator. A state senator is a person elected to make laws for the state.
  • Doug Moseley: He was a pastor at the Russell Springs First United Methodist Church from 1958 to 1960. Later, he also became a Kentucky state senator.
  • Steve Wariner: A famous country music singer and songwriter. Kentucky State Route 80 is named in his honor.

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