Bardstown, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown | |
| Nickname: Bourbon Capital of the World | |
 Location of Bardstown in Nelson County, Kentucky. | |
  Bardstown Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Bardstown Bardstown (the United States) Show map of the United States Bardstown Bardstown (North America) Show map of North America | |
| Coordinates:37°49′03″N85°27′18″W / 37.81750°N 85.45500°W /37.81750; -85.45500 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Nelson |
| Settled | Salem, 1770s[1] |
| Established | Bard's Town, 1780[1] |
| Incorporated | Bardstown, 1790[1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | J. Richard Heaton |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.19 sq mi (31.57 km2) |
| • Land | 12.11 sq mi (31.36 km2) |
| • Water | 0.081 sq mi (0.21 km2) |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,567 |
• Estimate (2022)[4] | 13,739 |
| • Density | 1,120.6/sq mi (432.67/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 40004 |
| Area code | 502 |
| FIPS code | 21-03628 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403156[3] |
| Website | cityofbardstown.org |
Bardstown is ahome rule-class city[5] inNelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 13,567 in the2020 census. It is thecounty seat of Nelson County.[6]
Bardstown is named for the pioneering Bard brothers. David Bard obtained a 1,000-acre (400 ha) land grant in 1785 in what was thenJefferson County, Virginia. William Bard surveyed andplatted the town.[1] It was originally chartered asBaird's Town in 1788, and has been known asBeardstown, andBeards Town.[1][7] The production ofbourbon whiskey is a major industry.
First settled in 1780, Bardstown is among the oldestcities in Kentucky.[8] Namedcounty seat of the newly created Nelson County, Virginia (now Kentucky) in 1784, the town was formally established in 1788.[1] It was incorporated by thestate assembly in 1838.[7]
Reflecting the westward migration of Americans over theBlue Ridge Mountains after theRevolutionary War, Bardstown was also the first center of Catholicism west of theAppalachian Mountains in the original western frontier territories of the United States.[9] TheDiocese of Bardstown was established on February 8, 1808, to serve all Catholics between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River. This divided the previous all-encompassing Diocese of Baltimore, established in 1789. In 1841, the seat of the diocese was transferred to nearbyLouisville, Kentucky.[10] The Bardstown cathedral is theBasilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral, and the city has a Roman Catholic parochial high school,Bethlehem High School.
In 2008, videos showing sewage and storm water spewing from the sewer systems in multiple locations around the city led the state of Kentucky to order the city to fix the problem. The sewer system was fixed in 2016.[citation needed]
Bardstown is located in north central Nelson County. It is at the intersection of US routes31E,62 and150. TheBluegrass Parkway passes to the southeast.[11]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km2), all but 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2) of which is land.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Bardstown has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[12]
| Climate data for Bardstown, Kentucky (1991–2020 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (23) | 81 (27) | 91 (33) | 94 (34) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 112 (44) | 109 (43) | 106 (41) | 97 (36) | 85 (29) | 78 (26) | 112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.3 (6.3) | 48.1 (8.9) | 57.4 (14.1) | 68.7 (20.4) | 76.5 (24.7) | 83.6 (28.7) | 86.6 (30.3) | 86.2 (30.1) | 80.7 (27.1) | 69.5 (20.8) | 56.6 (13.7) | 46.5 (8.1) | 67.2 (19.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 36.5 (2.5) | 46.0 (7.8) | 55.4 (13.0) | 62.9 (17.2) | 66.3 (19.1) | 64.5 (18.1) | 58.0 (14.4) | 47.1 (8.4) | 37.2 (2.9) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 33.7 (0.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) | −25 (−32) | −8 (−22) | 19 (−7) | 27 (−3) | 37 (3) | 45 (7) | 43 (6) | 27 (−3) | 16 (−9) | −5 (−21) | −20 (−29) | −26 (−32) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.71 (94) | 3.86 (98) | 4.92 (125) | 4.71 (120) | 5.46 (139) | 4.9 (120) | 4.5 (110) | 3.65 (93) | 3.90 (99) | 3.71 (94) | 3.70 (94) | 4.51 (115) | 51.61 (1,311) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.20 (10.7) | 3.70 (9.4) | 1.3 (3.3) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.20 (0.51) | 2.50 (6.4) | 11.9 (30) |
| Source: NOAA[13] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 216 | — | |
| 1800 | 579 | 168.1% | |
| 1810 | 821 | 41.8% | |
| 1830 | 1,629 | — | |
| 1840 | 1,492 | −8.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,536 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,835 | 19.5% | |
| 1880 | 926 | −49.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,524 | 64.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,711 | 12.3% | |
| 1910 | 2,126 | 24.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,717 | −19.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,767 | 2.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,152 | 78.4% | |
| 1950 | 4,154 | 31.8% | |
| 1960 | 4,798 | 15.5% | |
| 1970 | 5,816 | 21.2% | |
| 1980 | 6,155 | 5.8% | |
| 1990 | 6,801 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 10,374 | 52.5% | |
| 2010 | 11,700 | 12.8% | |
| 2020 | 13,567 | 16.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 14,104 | [14] | 4.0% |
As of thecensus of 2010,[15] there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,577.9 per square mile (609.2/km2). There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of 689.5 per square mile (266.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.31%White (80.79%non-Hispanic), 12.39%African American, 0.21%Native American, 0.75%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.56% fromother races, and 2.78% fromtwo or more races.Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.71% of the population.
There were 4,712 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
The age distribution was 27.7% under 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
As of the 2010 Census, the median income for a household in the city was $50,046, and the median income for a family was $60,609. Full-time male workers had a median income of $46,500 versus $36,551 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $26,059. About 11.3% of families and 15.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 10,374 people, 4,195 households, and 2,701 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,445.3 per square mile (558.0/km2). There were 4,488 housing units at an average density of 625.3 per square mile (241.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.11%White, 15.07%African American, 0.13%Native American, 0.94%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.67% fromother races, and 1.07% from two or more races.Hispanic andLatino of any race were 1.38% of the population.
There were 4,195 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,497, and the median income for a family was $41,065. Males had a median income of $31,850 versus $20,537 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,681. About 14.6% of families and 17.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.
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TheOld Talbott Tavern, built in 1779,[8] has been patronized by frontiersmanDaniel Boone, and future 16th PresidentAbraham Lincoln.[17] Bullet holes in an upstairs wall are reputed to have been shot byJesse James.[18] It had been rumored that the Tavern is haunted.
Distilleries operating in Bardstown includeHeaven Hill,Barton 1792,Willett, andLux Row Distillers.[8] The regional production of bourbon is celebrated at the annualKentucky Bourbon Festival, whose promoters have trademarked the phrase "Bourbon Capital of the World" to apply exclusively to Bardstown.[19] The festival was designated Kentucky's official bourbon festival by theKentucky General Assembly in 2000.[20]
TheCivil War Museum in Bardstown is the fourth-largestCivil War museum in the United States.[21]
Other notable sites include:
Bardstown has a lending library, a branch of the Nelson County Public Library.[22]
My Old Kentucky Home State Park is located in Bardstown. Judge John Rowan and his wife Ann Lytle Rowan commissioned the construction of a large mansion there named Federal Hill.The Stephen Foster Story is an outdoor musical at the park aboutStephen Foster, composer of "My Old Kentucky Home." It was designated Kentucky's official outdoor musical by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2002.[23]
Almost all of the city is served by theBardstown City Schools; the district also includes significant portions of the built-up area outside the city limits.[24] Ryan Clark is the Superintendent of Schools.
The school district includes an Early Childhood Education Center, Primary School, Elementary School, Middle School and High School.[25]
Some of the city is instead served by the surrounding Nelson County School District. By contrast, one of the county district's two high schools,Nelson County High, physically lies within the Bardstown school district.
Bardstown is also home to St. Joseph School andBethlehem High School, both of which have been operational since 1819. Both schools are under the jurisdiction of theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville.
The Kentucky Standard is a newspaper in Bardstown.
In early 2023, Bardstown was ranked as number 8 ofTravel and Leisure 20 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America. Mentioned were the Federal and Georgian achitiecture, cobblestone paths, and gateway toKentucky Bourbon Trail.[26][27]
TheBluegrass Parkway is a limited-access highway that passes just south of Bardstown. A part of the Kentucky parkway system, the highway was formerly a toll road. Tolls were removed in 1991 after its construction bonds had been paid off.
Railroad freight service is provided by theR.J. Corman Railroad Central Kentucky Lines, over the former Bardstown Branch of theLouisville and Nashville Railroad.
Municipalities and communities ofNelson County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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