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Shepherdsville, Kentucky facts for kids

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Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Downtown Shepherdsville
Downtown Shepherdsville
Flag of Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Flag
Official seal of Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Seal
Location of Shepherdsville in Bullitt County, Kentucky.
Location of Shepherdsville in Bullitt County, Kentucky.
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Bullitt
Established 1793
Incorporated Unknown
Area
 • Total 16.11 sq mi (41.72 km2)
 • Land 15.82 sq mi (40.96 km2)
 • Water 0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2)
Elevation
440 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 14,201
 • Estimate 
(2022)
14,486
 • Density 897.89/sq mi (346.68/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
40165
Area code(s) 502
FIPS code 21-70086
GNIS feature ID 2405458

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

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Shepherdsville (Kentucky) para niños

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