Editing Providence, Kentucky

{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Providence, Kentucky
| settlement_type    = [[list of cities in Kentucky|City]]
| named_for          = the [[Divine Providence|theological concept]]<ref name=ren/>
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Providence-Main-Street-Park-ky.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Main Street Park
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Webster County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Providence Highlighted 2163372.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Providence in Webster 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  = [[Webster County, Kentucky|Webster]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1840<ref name=sos/>
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date2  = 1860<ref name=sos>Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Providence, Kentucky". Accessed 27 September 2013.</ref>
<!-- 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_sq_mi   = 6.08
<!--6.079654 mi2-->| area_land_sq_mi    = 6.03
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.05
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2892
| population_density_sq_mi = 479.76
<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft       = 440
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|23|54|N|87|45|25|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 42450
| area_code          = [[Area codes 270 and 364|270 & 364]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 21-63372
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0501368
| website            = {{URL|www.webstercountyky.com/providence.php}}
| 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     = 2819
| area_total_km2     = 15.74
| area_land_km2      = 15.61
| area_water_km2     = 0.13
| population_density_km2 = 185.23
}}
'''Providence''' 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111185236/http://www.klc.org/UserFiles/files/ClassificationReformFACT(3).pdf |archive-date=November 11, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Webster County, Kentucky]], in the United States. The population was 3,193 at the time of the [[2010 United States Census]], making the most populous community in the county.

==History==
In 1820, Richard B. Savage arrived from Virginia with his wife and his elder sister Mary (Savage) Settler, and opened a general store on the site of the present city. The community that grew up was known as '''Savageville''', until the post office was established in 1828, when it was renamed "Providence". Though sometimes said to honor the [[Rhode Island]] [[Providence, Rhode Island|city of that name]],<ref name=enky>{{cite book |title=''Encyclopedia of Kentucky''|chapter=Dictionary of Places: Providence |publisher=Somerset Publishers |location=[[New York, New York|New York]] |year=1987 |isbn=0-403-09981-1}}</ref> local history records that an old trader who had been helped by nearby farmers suggested the name to honor [[divine Providence]].<ref name=ren>Rennick, Robert. ''Kentucky Place Names'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&pg=PA244 p. 244] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216123914/https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&pg=PA244 |date=2017-02-16 }}. University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1987. Accessed 27 September 2013.</ref> On February 18, 1840,<ref name=sos/> the town had a population of 150; there were three physicians, five stores, two hotels, a school, a Baptist church, a [[Freemasons|Masonic]] lodge, and three tobacco stemmeries. Located in the heart of the state's [[Black Patch Tobacco Wars|Black Patch]] tobacco-growing region, Providence eventually became the 3rd-largest stemming market in all of America.<ref name=webster>"[http://www.webstercountyky.com/providence.php Providence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119143616/http://www.webstercountyky.com/providence.php |date=2008-11-19 }}," Webster County website.  Accessed: 1 November 2018.</ref>

Providence was incorporated in 1860, when Webster County was formed.<ref name=sos/> The onset of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] slowed the economic growth, though no major battles took place. The State of Kentucky never left the Union, but inhabitants in Western Kentucky were still largely sympathetic to pro-[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] troops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/kentucky-in-the-civil-war-1861-1862.html|title=StackPath}}</ref> A [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] reconnaissance and foraging party led by then [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] passed through Webster County between November and December 1861, and Forrest reported that he had been welcomed by the inhabitants.<ref name=webster/> Limited [[guerrilla]] warfare also took place near the city in 1862.

Commercial coal mining began in 1888, and by 1930 Providence residents numbered 4,742. In the 1930s, depressed conditions in the coal fields resulted in a loss of population that continued through the 1960s. Providence's economy remains tied to coal and agriculture.<ref name=webster/>

In 1993, the [[Providence Commercial Historic District]] was created to recognize the historic buildings in the downtown area.<ref>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=93000042}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Providence Commercial Historic District |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|author=Lynn David |date=April 1, 1992 |accessdate=April 2, 2018}} With {{NRHP url|id=93000042|photos=y|title=nine photos from 1991}}.</ref>

==Geography==
Providence is located at {{Coord|37|23|54|N|87|45|25|W|type:city}} (37.398389, -87.757077)<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> The city is concentrated around the intersection of [[Kentucky Route 109]] and [[Kentucky Route 120]], approximately {{convert|17|mi|km}} northwest of [[Madisonville, Kentucky|Madisonville]].  The [[Tradewater River]] flows just west of the city, and the Webster-[[Hopkins County, Kentucky|Hopkins]] county line lies just to the southeast.  [[U.S. Route 41A]] passes through the eastern part of Providence.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Providence, Kentucky (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1979–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 74
 | Feb record high F  = 79
 | Mar record high F  = 88
 | Apr record high F  = 92
 | May record high F  = 95
 | Jun record high F  = 107
 | Jul record high F  = 105
 | Aug record high F  = 106
 | Sep record high F  = 104
 | Oct record high F  = 97
 | Nov record high F  = 86
 | Dec record high F  = 75
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 66.0
|Feb avg record high F = 70.1
|Mar avg record high F = 78.3
|Apr avg record high F = 85.1
|May avg record high F = 90.7
|Jun avg record high F = 95.7
|Jul avg record high F = 97.8
|Aug avg record high F = 98.9
|Sep avg record high F = 94.8
|Oct avg record high F = 87.0
|Nov avg record high F = 77.1
|Dec avg record high F = 67.9
|year avg record high F = 99.8

 | Jan high F = 43.4
 | Feb high F = 48.0
 | Mar high F = 57.8
 | Apr high F = 69.3
 | May high F = 78.3
 | Jun high F = 86.3
 | Jul high F = 89.6
 | Aug high F = 88.6
 | Sep high F = 82.7
 | Oct high F = 71.2
 | Nov high F = 57.9
 | Dec high F = 47.4
 | year high F = 68.4
 | Jan mean F = 34.1
 | Feb mean F = 37.7
 | Mar mean F = 46.8
 | Apr mean F = 57.3
 | May mean F = 67.3
 | Jun mean F = 75.7
 | Jul mean F = 79.3
 | Aug mean F = 77.7
 | Sep mean F = 70.6
 | Oct mean F = 58.8
 | Nov mean F = 46.8
 | Dec mean F = 38.1
 | year mean F = 57.5
 | Jan low F = 24.9
 | Feb low F = 27.5
 | Mar low F = 35.7
 | Apr low F = 45.2
 | May low F = 56.3
 | Jun low F = 65.1
 | Jul low F = 69.0
 | Aug low F = 66.7
 | Sep low F = 58.4
 | Oct low F = 46.3
 | Nov low F = 35.6
 | Dec low F = 28.9
 | year low F = 46.6

|Jan avg record low F = 6.4
|Feb avg record low F = 9.5
|Mar avg record low F = 19.6
|Apr avg record low F = 30.3
|May avg record low F = 40.3
|Jun avg record low F = 52.3
|Jul avg record low F = 58.9
|Aug avg record low F = 57.0
|Sep avg record low F = 43.6
|Oct avg record low F = 29.9
|Nov avg record low F = 21.0
|Dec avg record low F = 13.2
|year avg record low F = 2.4

 | Jan record low F  = -16
 | Feb record low F  = -9
 | Mar record low F  = -2
 | Apr record low F  = 20
 | May record low F  = 32
 | Jun record low F  = 43
 | Jul record low F  = 50
 | Aug record low F  = 42
 | Sep record low F  = 35
 | Oct record low F  = 21
 | Nov record low F  = 9
 | Dec record low F  = -13
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.72
 | Feb precipitation inch = 3.78
 | Mar precipitation inch = 4.73
 | Apr precipitation inch = 5.10
 | May precipitation inch = 5.00
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.59
 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.78
 | Aug precipitation inch = 2.61
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.34
 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.47
 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.86
 | Dec precipitation inch = 4.53
 | year precipitation inch = 48.51
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 9.0
 | Feb precipitation days  = 9.4
 | Mar precipitation days  = 10.4
 | Apr precipitation days  = 10.2
 | May precipitation days  = 10.6
 | Jun precipitation days  = 8.4
 | Jul precipitation days  = 8.1
 | Aug precipitation days  = 6.5
 | Sep precipitation days  = 6.5
 | Oct precipitation days  = 7.5
 | Nov precipitation days  = 8.1
 | Dec precipitation days  = 10.3
 | year precipitation days = 105.0
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pah
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 19, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00156595&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 19, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 267
| 1890 = 522
| 1900 = 1286
| 1910 = 2084
| 1920 = 4151
| 1930 = 4742
| 1940 = 4397
| 1950 = 3905
| 1960 = 3771
| 1970 = 4270
| 1980 = 4434
| 1990 = 4123
| 2000 = 3611
| 2010 = 3193
| 2020 = 2892
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 2819
| 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 [[2000 United States Census|2000 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> there were 3,611 people, 1,487 households, and 1,029 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|587.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,754 housing units at an average density of {{convert|285.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 81.92% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 16.53% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.08% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.00% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.86% of the population.

There were 1,487 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution was 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,400, and the median income for a family was $31,125. Males had a median income of $28,716 versus $23,438 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,209. About 19.4% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Providence is located in Webster County, Kentucky, part of the Illinois Coal Basin. Coal mining is a major source of income for Webster County and the surrounding counties.

==Education==
The [[Webster County School District (Kentucky)|Webster County School District]] operates the public schools that serve Providence.

In 2007 the [[Providence Independent School System]] merged with the Webster County School System,<ref>{{cite web|author=Ellis, Ronnie|url=http://www.richmondregister.com/news/local_news/the-ups-and-downs-of-merging-school-districts/article_d43a4f96-1930-5686-b8f4-5aedd76b9a9d.html|title=The ups and downs of merging school districts |publisher=[[Richmond Register]]|date=2007-01-15|access-date=2018-05-21}}</ref> closing the high school and renaming Broadway Elementary, Providence Elementary. The elementary school serves students Pre-School-6. In 2014, a middle school was built adjacent to [[Webster County High School (Kentucky)|Webster County High School]].<ref>Angela Hatton, "[http://www.wkms.org/post/webster-county-plans-new-junior-high Webster County Plans New Junior High]," WKMS.org, 12 September 2012.</ref>

Providence has a [[public library|lending library]], a branch of the Webster 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>

==Arts and culture==
Every year in June Providence hosts the annual Coal Festival in celebration of the coal mines and miners that have long been a part of the city's history. It features games, rides, beauty contests and live entertainment.<ref>"[http://www.webstercountyky.com/events/ Festivals and Events]," Webster County website.  Accessed: 1 November 2018.</ref>

==Notable people==
[[Roger Campbell]] was a member of the 1960 US Figure Skating World Team. He was a casualty of [[Sabena Flight 548]], which crashed in 1961 en route to the World Championships in Prague. He is buried in Providence's Big Hill Cemetery.

[[Melvin T. Mason|Melvin T Mason]] was a 1984 candidate for President of the United States, running on the Socialist Workers Party ticket.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/internationaltro01alex_2|title=International Trotskyism, 1929-1985 : a documented analysis of the movement|last=Alexander, Robert J. (Robert Jackson), 1918-2010.|date=1991|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=0822309750|location=Durham|oclc=21594038|url-access=registration}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Providence, Kentucky}}

{{Webster County, Kentucky}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Webster County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Evansville metropolitan area]]