Shepherdsville, Kentucky Facts for Kids

Shepherdsville is a city in Bullitt County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is located on the Salt River, just south of Louisville. Shepherdsville is the second largest city in its county and also the main town for the county government. In 2020, about 14,201 people lived there.

A Look at Shepherdsville's History
Shepherdsville's Location and Climate
- Local Weather
Who Lives in Shepherdsville?
Schools and Learning
- High Schools
- Public Library
Famous People and Animals
See also

A Look at Shepherdsville's History

People have lived in the Shepherdsville area for a very long time. American Indians were here at least 15,000 years ago.

Early Days and Salt Works

The area was first known as "Bullitt's Lick". This name came from the salt licks found by a surveyor named Thomas Bullitt in 1773. A salt lick is a place where animals go to lick salt from the ground. This area had Kentucky's first businesses that made salt. However, these salt works closed in the 1830s because of competition from other salt makers.

Shepherdsville grew up around a mill and a store. These were built along the Salt River by Adam Shepherd. He bought a large piece of land, about 900 acres, in the area. The city was named after him and officially became a town in 1793. It became the main town for Bullitt County when the county was created in 1796.

Growth and Important Events

The first post office in Shepherdsville opened in 1806. Later, in 1836, a mineral water spa called Paroquet Springs opened. People believed the mineral water had healing powers. Many visitors came to Shepherdsville to drink and bathe in the water, hoping to feel better.

In the mid-1850s, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad built its main train line nearby. During the Civil War, the railroad bridge over the Salt River was very important. Union soldiers guarded it to protect it from being damaged.

The Paroquet Springs hotel burned down in 1879. But people continued to bottle and sell water from the springs until 1915. In 1917, a very sad event happened in Shepherdsville. It was the Shepherdsville train wreck, the deadliest train accident in Kentucky's history. About fifty people died when two trains crashed.

Modern Growth

For most of the 1900s, Shepherdsville was mostly a farming area. But things changed when the Kentucky Turnpike (now Interstate 65) was built in the 1950s. This highway made it easier for people who worked in Louisville to live outside the big city. Because of this, Shepherdsville started to grow very quickly.

Shepherdsville's Location and Climate

Shepherdsville is located right on the banks of the Salt River. If you drive north on Interstate 65, downtown Louisville is about 20 miles away. Elizabethtown is about 26 miles to the south.

The city covers a total area of about 16.11 square miles (41.72 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Local Weather

Shepherdsville has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it's often shown as "Cfa."

Who Lives in Shepherdsville?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	96	—
1830	278	—
1860	305	—
1870	267	−12.5%
1880	299	12.0%
1890	251	−16.1%
1900	277	10.4%
1910	318	14.8%
1920	626	96.9%
1930	633	1.1%
1940	762	20.4%
1950	943	23.8%
1960	1,525	61.7%
1970	2,769	81.6%
1980	4,454	60.9%
1990	4,805	7.9%
2000	8,334	73.4%
2010	11,222	34.7%
2020	14,201	26.5%
2022 (est.)	14,486	29.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

According to the census in 2000, there were 8,334 people living in Shepherdsville. By 2020, the population had grown to 14,201. In 2022, it was estimated to be around 14,486 people.

The average age of people in the city in 2000 was 29 years old. About 28.9% of the population was under 18 years old.

The average price for a home in Shepherdsville was about $219,327 as of May 2022.

Schools and Learning

Students in Shepherdsville go to schools that are part of the Bullitt County Public Schools system. The city is divided into different areas, and students attend one of three public high schools.

High Schools

Most students in Shepherdsville go to Bullitt Central High School. It is located right in Shepherdsville.
- Middle schools for this area are Bernheim Middle and Bullitt Lick Middle.
- Elementary schools include Cedar Grove, Lebanon Junction, Nichols, Roby, and Shepherdsville Elementary.
Some students in the northern parts of the city go to North Bullitt High School. This school is in Hebron Estates, but it has a Shepherdsville mailing address.
- Middle schools for this area are Hebron Middle and Zoneton Middle.
- Elementary schools include Brooks, Freedom, Maryville, and Overdale Elementary.
Students in the far eastern parts of the city attend Bullitt East High School. This school is in Mount Washington.
- Middle schools for this area are Eastside Middle and Mt. Washington Middle.
- Elementary schools include Crossroads, Mt. Washington, Old Mill, and Pleasant Grove Elementary.

Shepherdsville also has Riverview High School. This is an alternative high school for students who need a different learning environment.

Public Library

The city has a public library. It is a branch of the Bullitt County Public Library.

Famous People and Animals

Many interesting people and even an animal have connections to Shepherdsville!

Rick Bolus: A well-known scout and analyst for high school basketball.
Cameron Dukes: A football player for the Toronto Argonauts.
Wayne Edwards: A NASCAR race car driver.
Charles Kurtsinger: A horse jockey who is in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.
Alexandria Mills: She was crowned Miss World in 2010.
Shannon Tindle: The creator of the movie Kubo and the Two Strings.

Notable animal

GTR Patricks Vindicator: A miniature horse who is famous as an ambassador.

Shepherdsville, Kentucky facts for kids

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