Yelvington, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yelvington
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 Yelvington, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Daviess |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.93 sq mi (2.40 km2) |
| • Land | 0.76 sq mi (1.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.17 sq mi (0.44 km2) |
| Elevation | 390 ft (120 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 437 |
| • Density | 576.52/sq mi (222.71/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
42355
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| Area code(s) | 270 |
| GNIS feature ID | 497423 |
Yelvington is a small unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Kentucky. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. You can find Yelvington about 12 miles east of Owensboro. It is located along U.S. Route 60 and is near the border of Daviess and Hancock counties.
Contents
Who Lives in Yelvington?
In 2020, about 437 people lived in Yelvington. This number comes from the official U.S. Census, which counts everyone in the country.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 437 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The Story of Yelvington
The official borders of Yelvington were first set by the Daviess County Court in 1867.
Early Settlers and Trails
Yelvington was settled a long time ago, in the early 1800s. Back then, it was part of northern Ohio County, KY. Two early settlers were Valentine Husk and James Smeathers. James was the brother of a famous pioneer named William Smeathers. William was known for settling Yellow Banks, Kentucky, which is now the city of Owensboro.
Yelvington was also an important crossroads. It was where two old trails met. One trail went from Vincennes, Indiana to Hartford, Kentucky. The other trail led to Yellow Banks. These trails helped people travel across what would become Daviess County.
Businesses and a Big Fire
Yelvington used to be a busy place. It had many businesses, including a funeral home, a hotel, and various stores. There were even whiskey distilleries. One distillery was owned by C.L. Appelgate and Company, built around 1879-1880. Another was owned by a lawyer named Camden Riley Jr.
However, a big fire happened in Yelvington in the late 1800s. This fire destroyed most of the businesses. After the fire, many businesses rebuilt a few miles to the east. They moved closer to the railroad at a place called Powers Station. Today, that area is known as Maceo, Kentucky. It is also located along U.S. Route 60, about 10 miles east of Owensboro.
Famous People from Yelvington
Yelvington was the birthplace of Thomas C. McCreery. He was born there on December 12, 1816. McCreery became a United States Senator. He was chosen to fill a spot in the Senate in 1868. He stayed in office until March 3, 1879. After that, he moved back to Daviess County and lived in Owensboro. McCreery passed away on July 10, 1890.
Yelvington Baptist Church
Yelvington is home to the Yelvington Baptist Church. This church was started on June 30, 1813. Its first location was about two miles west of where it is today. When it first began, the church was called "Panther Creek Church of Ohio County, near Yellow Banks, Kentucky." This name was used because Yelvington was part of Ohio County at that time.
In 1817, the church's name was changed to "Rock Spring." Then, in 1854, it was changed again to "Yelvington Baptist Church." It has kept that name ever since. It is the oldest Baptist church in Daviess County, KY.
