Editing Northern Kentucky

{{Short description|Geographical region}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}{{About|the geographical region|the university|Northern Kentucky University|that school's athletic program|Northern Kentucky Norse}}

[[Image:Map of Kentucky highlighting Northern Kentucky.png|thumb|Map of Northern Kentucky, showing the three core counties of the region in red and other parts of the region in pink]]

'''Northern Kentucky''' is an urban area in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|U.S. Commonwealth]] of [[Kentucky]] consisting of the southern part of the [[Cincinnati metropolitan area]]. The three main counties of the area are [[Boone County, Kentucky|Boone]], [[Kenton County, Kentucky|Kenton]], and [[Campbell County, Kentucky|Campbell]], all along the [[Ohio River]] across from [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]]. Other counties frequently included in Northern Kentucky include [[Bracken County, Kentucky|Bracken]], [[Grant County, Kentucky|Grant]], [[Gallatin County, Kentucky|Gallatin]] and [[Pendleton County, Kentucky|Pendleton]]. Of Greater Cincinnati's over two million residents, over 450,000 of them live in Northern Kentucky as of 2020, primarily in the northernmost counties. The largest cities in the region are [[Covington, Kentucky|Covington]], [[Florence, Kentucky|Florence]], and [[Independence, Kentucky|Independence]].<ref>See WPA, ''Kentucky: A Guide to the Bluegrass State '' (1939); classic guide from the Federal Writers Project; covers main themes and describes every town and feature, with capsule histories [https://archive.org/details/kentuckyguidetob00federich/page/n8/mode/1up online] </ref>

[[File:Covington Skyline 2019.jpg|thumb|Covington skyline from Cincinnati, 2019]]
Historically, [[Trimble County, Kentucky|Trimble]], [[Mason County, Kentucky|Mason]], and [[Lewis County, Kentucky|Lewis Counties]] have also been included in the broader definition of Northern Kentucky. On July 17, 2019, Brent Cooper, a member of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, called for the Northern Kentucky community to consider reuniting three counties (Boone, Kenton, and Campbell) into one county to better reflect the region's common identity and strengthen its political voice and economic marketability.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-17 |title=Op-Ed: How Should NKY Better Market Itself? |url=https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2019/07/17/op-ed-how-should-nky-better-market-itself |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129112533/https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2019/07/17/op-ed-how-should-nky-better-market-itself |archive-date=Nov 29, 2021 |url-status=usurped |website=The River City News}}</ref>

==History==
{{USCensusPop
|1950=  225353
|1960= 261191
|1970= 282257
|1980= 302583
|1990= 315390
|2000= 362741
|2010= 425503
|2020= 454783
|align-fn=center
|footnote=data source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t3/index.html|title=Ranking Tables for Metropolitan Areas (PHC-T-3)|first=US Census Bureau Systems Support|last=DIvision|website=www.census.gov}}</ref>
}}

The area was served by [[ferry]] service across the Ohio River until the completion of the [[John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge]] (prototype of the famous [[Brooklyn Bridge]]) in 1866.

Beginning in the 1970s, many factors combined to create major growth. The proximity to Cincinnati, the completion of [[Interstate 75|I-75]], the nexus of rail service and river traffic, the creation of several industrial parks, and the growth of [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]] (CVG) (located near [[Hebron, Kentucky|Hebron]] in northeastern Boone County near the Kenton County line) drew many industries into the area. Its geographically central location (within {{convert|800|mi|disp=sqbr}} of 80% of the US population) makes it ideal for distribution centers, and those shipping all over the country.

In addition to location, the Northern Kentucky area hosts several organizations that strive to enhance the quality of life and the local economy. The primary airport (CVG) serving [[Cincinnati]] is located in Northern Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport |url=http://www.cvgairport.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617140542/http://www.cvgairport.com/ |archive-date=Jun 17, 2014 |access-date=11 April 2014 |website=cvgairport.com}}</ref>

[[File:N578RP (6089839663).jpg|thumb|Plane at CVG-Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky's International Airport]]

==Climate==
Northern Kentucky is located within a climatic transition zone and is at the extreme northern limit of the [[humid subtropical climate]]. Evidence of both humid subtropical climate and [[humid continental climate]] can be found here, particularly noticeable by the presence of plants indicative of each climatic region; for example, the [[Magnolia grandiflora|southern magnolia]], and [[Lagerstroemia|crape myrtle]], from the subtropics and the [[blue spruce]], [[maple]], and [[Tsuga canadensis|eastern hemlock]] from cooler regions are successful landscape plants in and around Northern Kentucky. Some significant moderating variables for the overall climate of Northern Kentucky include the Ohio River, the region's relatively large hills and valleys, and an urban heat influence due to the proximity of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. The [[common wall lizard]], introduced from Italy in the 1950s, is an example of fauna in the area that lends a subtropical ambiance to areas near the urban core of Cincinnati. Even though Kentucky as a whole is firmly considered Southern and part of the Upper South. Northern Kentucky is considered to be within the periphery of the [[Upper South]] and [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]].

==Attractions==
Northern Kentucky contributes many attractions to the Greater Cincinnati community. Beyond the shops, restaurants, and riverside views of Cincinnati's skyline, some of the more well-known attractions are The Florence Speedway, MainStrasse Village, [[Newport on the Levee]] (including the [[Newport Aquarium]]), and the [[World Peace Bell (Newport, Kentucky)|World Peace Bell]]. There are also several community playhouses and music venues, along with community parks, arboretums, and museums. Campbell County has some wineries.

Religious attractions of Northern Kentucky range from the historic churches of the older river cities, including the [[St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption]] and Mother of God Church, both in [[Covington, Kentucky|Covington]], to the [[Ark Encounter]] in [[Williamstown, Kentucky|Williamstown]], south in Grant County. Florence is home to the Islamic Center of Northern Kentucky.

==Education==
Northern Kentucky has several schools of higher education, including [[Gateway Community and Technical College]], [[Northern Kentucky University]], and [[Thomas More University]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* WPA, ''Kentucky: A Guide to the Bluegrass State '' (1939); classic guide from the Federal Writers Project; covers main themes and describes every town and feature, with capsule histories [https://archive.org/details/kentuckyguidetob00federich/page/n8/mode/1up online]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky metropolitan area}}
*[https://www.meetnky.com/ Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau]

{{Kentucky}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geography of the Cincinnati metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Regions of Kentucky]]