Editing Lebanon, Kentucky

{{hatnote|For the former community of the same name, see [[Georgetown, Kentucky]]. For other similarly-named locations, see [[Lebanon (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Lebanon, Kentucky
| settlement_type    = [[list of cities in Kentucky|City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| named_for          = The [[Lebanon|biblical land]] famed for [[cedars of Lebanon#history|its cedars]]
<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = Downtown Lebanon, Kentucky.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Downtown Lebanon
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Marion County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lebanon Highlighted 2144344.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in Marion County, Kentucky
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kentucky]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Kentucky|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Marion County, Kentucky|Marion]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Kentucky |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_21.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=May 3, 2023}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 16.59
| area_land_km2      = 16.50
| area_water_km2     = 0.09
| area_total_sq_mi   = 6.41
| area_land_sq_mi    = 6.37
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.04

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US2144344&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Lebanon city, Kentucky: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=May 3, 2023}}</ref>
| population_total   = 6274
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-21.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date= May 26, 2023}}</ref>
| population_est     = 6436
| population_density_km2 = 380.28
| population_density_sq_mi = 984.93

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 791
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|34|14|N|85|15|23|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 40033
| area_code          = [[Area codes 270 and 364|270 & 364]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 21-44344
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0496130
| website            = {{URL|lebanon.ky.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Lebanon''' is a [[list of Kentucky cities|home rule-class city]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.klc.org/UserFiles/files/ClassificationReformFACT(3).pdf |title=Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform |publisher=Kentucky League of Cities |access-date=December 30, 2014}}</ref> and the [[county seat]]<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> of [[Marion County, Kentucky|Marion County]], [[Kentucky]], in the United States. The population was 6,274 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 5,539 in [[2010 United States census|2010]]. Lebanon is located in central Kentucky, {{convert|63|mi}} southeast of [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]]. A [[Lebanon National Cemetery|national cemetery]] is nearby.

==History==
Prior to the establishment of the city now known as Lebanon, the town of [[Georgetown, Kentucky|Georgetown]], north of Lexington, was also named "Lebanon" during its first few years of establishment. It was renamed in 1790 in honor of [[list of U.S. presidents|President]] [[George Washington]].

Present-day Lebanon was established in 1814 and named for the Biblical [[Lebanon]] because of its abundant [[Cedar of Lebanon#history|cedar tree]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Lewis|title=History of Kentucky|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F5FQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA538|year=1877|page=538|publisher=Library Reprints, Incorporated |isbn=9780722249208}}</ref> The founding community traces back to the '''Hardin's Creek Meeting House''', built by [[Presbyterians]] from [[Virginia]]. It was incorporated as a city on January 28, 1815,<ref name=sos>Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Lebanon, Kentucky". Accessed 1 August 2013.</ref> and became the county seat of Marion County in 1835. Because of its style, architecture, and businesses, Lebanon had the reputation of being Kentucky's [[Philadelphia]] and was considered for the site of the state capitol.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!-- not stated -->|title=City of Lebanon, Kentucky: About Us|url=https://lebanon.ky.gov/Pages/About-Us.aspx|website=lebanon.ky.gov/|access-date=2025-01-16}}</ref>

In the 19th century, Lebanon was one of the stops along the National Turnpike from [[Maysville, Kentucky|Maysville]] to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. In 1819, [[Henry Clay]] and [[Andrew Jackson]] met here after having crossed paths on their journeys.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/addressofhenrycl00clay_0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/addressofhenrycl00clay_0/page/26 26] |quote=andrew jackson and lebanon kentucky and henry clay. |title=An Address of Henry Clay to the Public: Containing Certain Testimony in Refutation of the Charges Against Him, Made by Gen. Andrew Jackson |publisher=P. Force |author=Clay, Henry |date=1827}}</ref> Many of its brick homes date from the [[Antebellum South|antebellum period]], including Hollyhill and Myrtledene (now a bed and breakfast). Much of Lebanon's downtown business district was recently placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

A branch of the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]] was built to Lebanon in 1857, but growth of the town was halted by the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Three battles were fought nearby, and control over the railroad branch passed between [[Union Army|Union]] and [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] hands several times. After the death of his brother Tom during a local battle, Confederate [[John Hunt Morgan]]'s cavalry burned the railroad depot, a hotel, and several residences on July 5, 1863, during the [[Battle of Lebanon (Kentucky)|Battle of Lebanon]].

Lebanon's Historic Homes and Landmarks Tour is also part of the Kentucky Civil War Heritage Trail and includes 24 listings. On the [[Civil War Discovery Trail]], three landmarks stand out. The Commissary Building, which is the old Sunnyside Dispensary Building, was in place during the Civil War and supplied dry goods and food stuffs to the Union garrison in the town. The Shuck building, which is now Henning's Restaurant, was the office of General [[George H. Thomas]], when he gathered an army of several thousand to go to Mill Springs to defend the [[Cumberland River|Cumberland Valley]]. Myrtledene was where General John Hunt Morgan rode his horse in the house and started up the stairs. General Morgan used the property as his headquarters while he was in Lebanon. On the southern limits of Lebanon is the National Cemetery, where many of the Union soldiers who fell in the 1862 [[Battle of Perryville]] were laid to rest. The cemetery is the site of many military funerals and hosts annual [[Memorial Day]] celebrations.

The town rebounded after the war and became a trade center, but declined as railroads became less important to commerce in the 1900s. The tracks were abandoned, then eventually removed by [[CSX Transportation]] in the mid-1980s.

In the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, Lebanon was known as an entertainment hotspot, as nationally known acts appeared at The Plantation, Club Cherry, Club 68, and the Golden Horseshoe nightclubs. The clubs hosted famous acts such as [[Ike and Tina Turner]], [[Nat King Cole]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]], [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]], [[The Platters]], the [[Amazing Rhythm Aces]], [[Otis Redding]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Little Richard]], [[Bo Diddley]], [[Jackie Wilson]], [[The Supremes]], [[Ray Charles]], [[James Brown]], [[Chuck Berry]], [[Fats Domino]], [[Sam and Dave]], [[Wilson Pickett]], [[B.B. King]], [[Percy Sledge]], [[Bobby Blue Bland]] and [[Count Basie]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/lifestyles/out-about-kentucky-lebanon-night-life/article_ab4060e2-c092-5775-b065-23d0916da82c.html|last=West|first=Gary P.|newspaper=[[Glasgow Daily Times]]|date=2017-09-28|title=OUT & ABOUT KENTUCKY: Lebanon night life|access-date=2018-07-25}}</ref>

==Geography==
Lebanon is located in central Marion County at {{coord|37|34|14|N|85|15|23|W|type:city}} (37.570623, -85.256263).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is approximately {{convert|28|mi}} west of [[Danville, Kentucky|Danville]] and {{convert|18|mi}} north of [[Campbellsville, Kentucky|Campbellsville]]. It is located at the junction of [[U.S. Route 68]] and Kentucky Routes [[Kentucky Route 55|55]], [[Kentucky Route 52|52]], and [[Kentucky Route 49|49]]. [[Kentucky Route 84|Ky. 84]] intersects Ky. 49 and 52 just west of town.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.4|sqmi|1}}, of which {{convert|0.04|sqmi|2}}, or 0.55%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/> Hardins Creek runs through the southern part of the city, flowing northwest to the [[Beech Fork]], part of the [[Rolling Fork (Kentucky)|Rolling Fork]] and [[Salt River (Kentucky)|Salt River]] watershed leading to the [[Ohio River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1830 = 384
| 1840 = 546
| 1860 = 953
| 1870 = 1925
| 1880 = 2054
| 1890 = 2816
| 1900 = 3043
| 1910 = 3077
| 1920 = 3239
| 1930 = 3248
| 1940 = 3786
| 1950 = 4640
| 1960 = 4813
| 1970 = 5528
| 1980 = 6590
| 1990 = 5695
| 2000 = 5718
| 2010 = 5539
| 2020 = 6274
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 6436
| estref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-21.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date= May 26, 2023}}</ref>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,718 people, 2,332 households, and 1,476 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1296.6|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 2,555 housing units at an average density of {{convert|579.3|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.88% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 19.92% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.73% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.47% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.87% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.03% of the population.

There were 2,332 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 20.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,860, and the median income for a family was $26,552. Males had a median income of $25,889 versus $18,680 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,311. About 26.7% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
All areas in Marion County are in the [[Marion County School District (Kentucky)|Marion County School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21155_marion/DC20SD_C21155.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marion County, KY|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2023-11-07}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21155_marion/DC20SD_C21155_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> The district's comprehensive high school is [[Marion County High School (Kentucky)|Marion County High School]].

Lebanon has a [[public library|lending library]], the Marion County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111202017/https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 January 2019 | title=Kentucky Public Library Directory | publisher=Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives | access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>

==School sports==
In 1993, the Marion County High School Boys' basketball team won the KHSAA Boy's State Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://khsaa.org/records/basketball/|title=Kentucky High School Athletic Association|website=khsaa.org|access-date=2018-02-04}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[Marion County High School (Kentucky)|Marion County High School]] women's basketball team won the KHSAA Girl's State Championship. [[Makayla Epps]] also won the Herald-Leader trophy for Most Valuable Player in the game. The women's team also had an undefeated season in 2013, going 39–0. They are one of three teams in KHSAA to have an undefeated season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://khsaa.org/records/basketball/|title=Kentucky High School Athletic Association|website=khsaa.org|access-date=2018-02-03}}</ref>

In 2016, Joe Keith Bickett published "The Origins of the Cornbread Mafia"<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Origins of the Cornbread Mafia|last=Bickett|first=Joe Keith|date=2016-08-24|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform|isbn=9781536814446|language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, the Marion County High School boys baseball team made it to the semi-finals for the first time in school history.<ref name="kentucky">{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentucky.com/sports/high-school/prep-baseball/article155514119.html|title=State baseball: Simon Kenton and Marion County advance to semis|work=kentucky|access-date=2018-02-04|language=en}}</ref>

==Culture==
Lebanon is renowned for its Ham Days Festival and Tractor Show which is held during the last weekend of September. In 1969, the Marion County Chamber of Commerce hosted the first of the Ham Days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kentuckytourism.com/marion-county-country-ham-days/|title=Marion County Country Ham Days - Kentucky Travel|website=www.kentuckytourism.com|access-date=2018-02-04}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[Diageo]] built a $130 million distillery in Lebanon in 2020, the distillery has 30 full-time employees.

== Portrayal in media ==
A silent documentary, ''[[Our Day]]'', was directed by Wallace Kelly in 1938, about a day in the life of the Kelly family in Lebanon.

''[[Call of the Wildman]]'', an American reality television series that airs on the [[Animal Planet]] network, films near Lebanon.

==Notable people==
*Ernie "Turtleman" Brown, reality TV star of ''[[Call of the Wildman]]'' on [[Animal Planet]]
*[[Walter Noble Burns]], Western fiction writer
*[[Frank Chelf]], [[U.S House of Representatives|congressman]] from Kentucky; 1945–1967
*[[George Elder (baseball)|George Elder]], [[Major League Baseball]] player
*[[John Grim (baseball)|John Grim]], Major League Baseball player
*[[Jimmy Higdon]], Kentucky state senator since 2009; state representative, 2003–2009; native of Lebanon
*[[J. Proctor Knott]], congressman from Kentucky; 29th governor of Kentucky, 1883–1887
*[[Thomas A. Spragens]], former president of Centre College, Danville, Kentucky (1957–1981)
*[[Sam B. Thomas]], Democrat who served as member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from District 24, 1972–1986
*[[James E. Whitlock]], Democrat who represented the 29th District in the Kentucky House, 1962–1967

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|lebanon.ky.gov}}
*[https://www.visitlebanonky.com Visit Lebanon]
*{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Lebanon (borough, village and towns)|display=Lebanon. III. A town and the capital of Marion co., Kentucky |short=x}}

{{Marion County, Kentucky}}

{{Kentucky county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lebanon, Kentucky|*]]
[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Marion County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:County seats in Kentucky]]