Editing Leitchfield, Kentucky

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Leitchfield, Kentucky
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Kentucky|City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = City of Twin Lakes
| named_for          = [[David Leitch (settler)|David Leitch]]

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = Grayson County, Kentucky courthouse.png
| image_caption      = Historic Courthouse at the [[Court Square Historic District (Leitchfield, Kentucky)|Court Square Historic District]] in Leitchfield
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Grayson County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Leitchfield Highlighted 2144686.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Leitchfield in Grayson 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  = [[Grayson County, Kentucky|Grayson]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Mayor-Council
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Harold Miller
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1866

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_21.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 18, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 27.96
| area_land_km2      = 27.86
| area_water_km2     = 0.10
| area_total_sq_mi   = 10.79
| area_land_sq_mi    = 10.76

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 6404
| population_density_km2 = 229.85
| population_density_sq_mi = 595.33
<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 227
| elevation_ft       = 745
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|29|1|N|86|17|38|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 42726, 42054, 42755
| area_code          = [[Area codes 270 and 364|270 & 364]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 21-44686
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0496280
| website            = {{URL|www.leitchfield.org}}
| footnotes          = 
| 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     = 6432
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.04
}}
'''Leitchfield''' is the [[county seat]] of [[Grayson County, Kentucky|Grayson County]], [[Kentucky]], United States.<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> Leitchfield 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> with a population of 6,404 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2144686| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Leitchfield city, Kentucky| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=December 13, 2016}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==History==
The town was named for [[Major (United States)|Major]] [[David Leitch (settler)|David Leitch]], an aide to Gen. George Washington and the original owner of much land in the county, including the town site, at the eastern end of his holdings.<ref>{{cite book| last=Collins| first=Lewis| title=History of Kentucky| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F5FQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA293| year=1877| page=293| publisher=Library Reprints, Incorporated| isbn=9780722249208}}</ref> The city was formally incorporated by the [[Kentucky Assembly|state assembly]] in 1866.<ref name=sos>Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Leitchfield, Kentucky". Accessed 1 August 2013.</ref>

==Geography and Geology==
Leitchfield lies in the Clifty Area, the sandstone-dominated belt that is usually classified as part of the [[Western Coal Field|West Kentucky Coal Field]] but separates the coalfield from the limestone-rich [[Pennyroyal Plateau]]. A fault running through the area puts limestone at or near the surface, and there are quarries west of town. The city is located along the [[Western Kentucky Parkway]] at the junction of [[Kentucky Route 259]]. [[U.S. Route 62]] intersects 259 near the middle of town. Leitchfield is situated between [[Rough River Lake]] to the north and [[Nolin River Lake]] to the south.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|28.2|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|28.1|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 0.38%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Leitchfield has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=307451&cityname=Leitchfield%2C+Kentucky%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Leitchfield, Kentucky]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 226
| 1870 = 314
| 1880 = 491
| 1890 = 821
| 1900 = 914
| 1910 = 1053
| 1920 = 1077
| 1930 = 950
| 1940 = 1146
| 1950 = 1312
| 1960 = 2982
| 1970 = 2983
| 1980 = 4533
| 1990 = 4965
| 2000 = 6139
| 2010 = 6699
| 2020 = 6404
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 6432
| 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 6,139 people, 2,485 households, and 1,615 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|700.1|PD/sqmi|PD/sqkm}}. There were 2,797 housing units at an average density of {{convert|319.0|/sqmi|/sqkm}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.63% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.56% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.33% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.03% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 2,485 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,108, and the median income for a family was $32,398. Males had a median income of $27,958 versus $18,958 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,033. About 17.5% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Public education in Leitchfield is administered by Grayson County Public Schools, which operates Grayson County Middle School, H.W. Wilkey Elementary School, Oran P. Lawler Elementary School, and [[Grayson County High School (Kentucky)|Grayson County High School]]. Leitchfield Christian Academy is a private institution.

In 1871 and 1872 there was a school in town for black students supported by the [[Freedmen's Aid Society]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Marion B. | last=Lucas | title=A History of Blacks in Kentucky: From Slavery to Segregation, 1760-1891 | publisher=Kentucky Historical Society | issue=v. 1 | year=1992 | url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/232565461.pdf | accessdate=July 5, 2023 | isbn=0-916968-32-4 | page=250}}</ref>

Leitchfield has a [[public library|lending library]], the Grayson 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=5 June 2019}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
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The annual Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship is held each year on the Court Square. Fiddlers from all over the state and region come to Leitchfield to compete for prize money.

Every year, Leitchfield hosts to the Grayson County Fair, which begins the week before [[Labor Day]]. The fair features a variety of festivities, including a [[demolition derby]], carnival rides, truck and [[tractor pull]]s, field crop contests, and a [[beauty pageant]]. The County Fair officially concludes with an annual Labor Day parade.

What started as an [[ice cream]] social on the county square in 1992 has turned into a weekend-long festival. Every July, the Ice Cream Festival, now planned and operated by K105, features a beauty pageant, rides, games, a mixed doubles [[tennis]] tournament and the largest fireworks show in the area. At 6pm on the Saturday of the festival, free cups of ice cream are given to festival attendees. Each year, the fireworks show is given a theme. Recent themes include "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "Television Classics". In 2009, the event was replaced by Freedom Fest, which was hyped by the newspapers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}

Each July, the Grayson County Agricultural Recreation Park in Leitchfield hosts the Grayson County [[4-H]] and [[National FFA Organization|FFA]] Ag Fair. The event features farm and youth events and exhibits such as tractor driving contests, homemaker exhibits, and sheep, hog, horse, dairy and beef shows.

A Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony is held each year on the Saturday before Memorial Day.  Hundreds march from the Leitchfield firehouse to the county square holding signs of local veterans who died in various conflicts.  The ceremony consists of several speeches, the roll call of local veterans who died in the previous year, and the singing of the National Anthem and Amazing Grace.  A cookout is held after the ceremony.

==Media==
The city of Leitchfield is served by two newspapers, the [http://www.gcnewsgazette.com ''Grayson County News-Gazette''] and [http://www.the-record.net ''The Record''].

Leitchfield's radio stations are 104.9 [[WKHG|WKHG-FM]], a.k.a. [http://www.k105.com K105], a [[Top 40]] station, and [https://web.archive.org/web/20060629061650/http://www.k105.com/twinlakestimes/moosebio.php 870] [[WMTL|WMTL-AM]], which plays [[country music]] and also 103.9 fm The Moose, which is a country channel that plays popular sports talk show Kentucky Sports Radio hosted by Matt Jones. Both stations are owned by Heritage Media of Kentucky.  Also, WKHG carries the radio sports broadcasts for [[Grayson County High School (Kentucky)|Grayson County High School]], the [[University of Kentucky]], and the [[Tennessee Titans]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.leitchfield.org/ City of Leitchfield official website]
* [https://www.twinlakesfiddler.com Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship] - Nationally Certified Fiddler Championship

{{Grayson County, Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Leitchfield, Kentucky|*]]
[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Grayson County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:County seats in Kentucky]]