Editing Richmond, Kentucky

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Richmond, Kentucky
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Kentucky|City]]
| nickname           =
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Madison County, Kentucky courthouse.JPG
| imagesize          =
| image_caption      = Madison County courthouse, Richmond, with flags at [[half-staff]] in honor of [[Veterans Day]] (2007).
| image_flag         = Flag of Richmond, Kentucky.png
| image_seal         = Seal of Richmond, Kentucky.png
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Madison County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Richmond Highlighted 2165226.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Richmond in Madison County, Kentucky.
| pushpin_map        = Kentucky#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = Richmond
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kentucky]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Kentucky|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Madison County, Kentucky|Madison]]
| government_footnotes =
| government_type    = City Mayor/Manager
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Robert Blythe {{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
| established_date   = 1798
| named_for          = [[Richmond, Virginia]]
<!-- 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     = 53.28
| area_land_km2      = 52.63
| area_water_km2     = 0.65
| area_total_sq_mi   = 20.57
| area_land_sq_mi    = 20.32
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.25
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_total   = 34585
| population_density_km2 = 657.12
| population_density_sq_mi = 1701.93
| population_demonym = Richmonder, Richmondian
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 978
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|43|52|N|84|17|38|W|region:US-KY_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 40475-40476
| area_code          = [[Area code 859|859]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = 21-65226
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2404614<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404614}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.richmond.ky.us richmond.ky.us]
| footnotes          =
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="United States Census Bureau">{{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     = 36129
}}

'''Richmond''' is a [[List of cities in Kentucky|home rule-class city]] in [[Madison County, Kentucky]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The population was 34,585 as of the 2020 census, making it the [[List of cities in Kentucky|state's seventh-largest city]]. It is the principal city of the [[Richmond–Berea micropolitan area]], which includes all of Madison and [[Rockcastle County, Kentucky|Rockcastle]] counties and had 123,000 residents in 2020.

The city is named after [[Richmond, Virginia]], and is home to [[Eastern Kentucky University]]. Richmond is the [[county seat|seat]] of Madison County and serves as the center for work and shopping in south-central Kentucky. Richmond is home to numerous festivals, notably the Millstone Festival.

==History==
Richmond was founded in 1798 by Colonel John Miller from [[Richmond, Virginia]]. A British American, Miller served with the [[Continental Army|rebels]] in the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]].<ref name=COR>{{Cite web|first=|last=|authorlink=|title=Our History|website=City of Richmond, Kentucky|date=March 27, 2017|url=https://www.richmond.ky.us/richmond-ky-history/|accessdate=April 22, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025130631/https://www.richmond.ky.us/richmond-ky-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to lore, he was attracted to the area by its good spring water and friendly [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]]s.<ref name=COR/>

With the original county seat of Madison County being [[Milford, Kentucky]], Miller successfully lobbied the Kentucky legislature to move it from Milford to present-day Richmond.<ref name=COR/> Although the residents of Milford strongly opposed the move, the county approved the transfer in March 1798.<ref name=COR/> On July 4, 1798, the new town was named Richmond in honor of Miller's [[Virginia]] birthplace.<ref name=COR/><ref name="cityweb">[http://richmond.ky.us Chamber of Commerce website], "City History", retrieved August 28, 2009.</ref> Richmond was incorporated in 1809.<ref>{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Lewis|title=History of Kentucky|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F5FQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA493|year=1877|page=493|publisher=Library Reprints, Incorporated |isbn=9780722249208}}</ref>

Kentucky was a southern border state during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] and remained mostly in the Union, even though early in the war, 68 of 110 Kentucky counties seceded to join the Confederacy; however, the state largely came back under U.S. control after early 1862. On August 30, 1862, the [[Battle of Richmond]] took place. Confederate General [[Edmund Kirby Smith]] routed the Union General [[William "Bull" Nelson|William Nelson]], capturing or killing 5,300 of his 6,500 men.<ref name=COR/><ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2300 The History Channel website.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430195617/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2300 |date=April 30, 2009 }} "This Day in History: August 30, 1862- The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky," retrieved August 28, 2009.</ref> One historian called this battle "the nearest thing to a [[Battle of Cannae|Cannae]] ever scored by any general, North or South, in the course of the whole war."<ref name=COR/><ref>Foote, Shelby, ''The Civil War, A Narrative: Fort Sumter to Perryville'', Random House, 1958, {{ISBN|0-394-49517-9}}</ref>{{page needed|date=October 2014}}

In 1906, [[Eastern Kentucky University|Eastern Kentucky State Normal School]] was founded in Richmond to train teachers. The school graduated its first class of 11 teachers in 1909.<ref name=COR/> In 1922, it was established as a four-year college and in 1935 added a graduate degree program.<ref name=COR/> In 1965, the institution was renamed Eastern Kentucky University.<ref name=COR/><ref name="EKU">[http://www.eku.edu/about/ Eastern Kentucky University website], "About Eastern Kentucky University", retrieved August 28, 2009</ref>

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Richmond saw significant growth, becoming the state's [[List of cities in Kentucky|seventh-largest city]] in 2009.<ref name=COR/><ref name="US Census">[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US21&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-T1-R&-ds_name=PEP_2009_EST&-_lang=en&-format=ST-9S&-_sse=on US Census] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212033928/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US21&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-T1-R&-ds_name=PEP_2009_EST&-_lang=en&-format=ST-9S&-_sse=on |date=February 12, 2020 }}, "Kentucky by Place", retrieved July 28, 2010</ref>

==Geography==

Richmond is located in Madison County in the [[Bluegrass region]] of the state. The [[Blue Grass Army Depot]] lies to the southeast of the city. The city is served by [[Interstate 75 in Kentucky|Interstate 75]], U. S. Routes [[U.S. Route 25 in Kentucky|25]] and [[US Route 421|421]], and Kentucky Routes [[Kentucky Route 52|52]], [[Kentucky Route 169|169]] and [[Kentucky Route 388|388]].<ref>''Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 4th ed. 2010, p. 52 {{ISBN|0899333400}}</ref> I-75 runs to the west of downtown, with access from exits 83, 87, and 90. Via I-75, downtown [[Lexington, Kentucky]] is {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} northwest, and [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]], [[Tennessee]] is {{convert|147|mi|km|abbr=on}} south. U.S. Route 25 forms the eastern bypass around the city, leading northwest to Lexington and south {{convert|14|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[Berea, Kentucky|Berea]]. U.S. Route 421 parallels U.S. 25 on the eastern bypass of the city, leading northwest to Lexington (with U.S. 25 and I-75) and southeast {{convert|34|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[McKee, Kentucky|McKee]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|19.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|19.1|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}}(0.73%) is water.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

===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, Richmond has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=904251&cityname=Richmond%2C+Kentucky%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Richmond, Kentucky Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1800 = 110
| 1810 = 366
| 1830 = 947
| 1840 = 822
| 1850 = 411
| 1860 = 845
| 1870 = 1629
| 1880 = 2909
| 1890 = 5073
| 1900 = 4653
| 1910 = 5340
| 1920 = 5622
| 1930 = 6495
| 1940 = 7335
| 1950 = 10268
| 1960 = 12168
| 1970 = 16861
| 1980 = 21705
| 1990 = 21155
| 2000 = 27152
| 2010 = 31364
| 2020 = 34585
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 36129
| estref = <ref name="United States Census Bureau">{{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=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 27,152 people, 10,795 households, and 5,548 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,420.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 11,857 housing units at an average density of {{convert|620.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.30% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.27% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.29% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.58% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.21% of the population.

There were 13,351 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.5% under the age of 18, 31.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 13.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median household income in Richmond is $63,295 as of 2023.

==Government==
Richmond operates under a [[council–manager government]]. The citizens elect a mayor and four city commissioners who form the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners is the legislative body of the city government and represents the interests of the citizens when applicable. The Board of Commissioners appoints a [[city manager]], who administers the day-to-day operations of the city.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

The mayor is elected for a term of four years. Each city commissioner is elected for a term of two years. The term of the city manager is indefinite.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

==Education==
Richmond is served by the [[Madison County Schools (Kentucky)|Madison County Public School System]].<ref>[http://www.madison.kyschools.us/dist/ Madison County Schools website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806191350/http://www.madison.kyschools.us/dist/ |date=August 6, 2009 }}, retrieved August 28,2 009.</ref> In 1988 the Richmond Independent School District merged into the Madison County school district.<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=January 15, 2007|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref>

===High schools===
* [[Model Laboratory School]] (Associated with Eastern Kentucky University)
* [[Madison Central High School (Kentucky)|Madison Central High School]]

===Higher education===
* [[Eastern Kentucky University]]

===Public library===
Richmond has a [[public library|lending library]], a branch of the Madison 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=January 11, 2019 | title=Kentucky Public Library Directory | publisher=Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives | access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Media==

===Newspaper===
The ''[[Richmond Register]]'' is published on Tuesday through Saturday publication. The ''Eastern Progress'' is a weekly student publication of Eastern Kentucky University<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.easternprogress.com |title=Eastern Kentucky University |publisher=The Eastern Progress |date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref>

===Radio stations===
* [[WEKY]] (1340 AM)
* [[WCBR]] (1110 AM)
* [[WEKU]] (88.9 FM)
* [[WLXX]] (101.5 FM)

==Transportation==

===Roads===
Interstate 75 passes through western Richmond, and connects the city to Lexington in the north and [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] in the south. I-75 has three exits in the city: [[U.S. Route 25]], [[Kentucky Route 876|State Route 876]], and [[Kentucky Route 2872|S.R. 2872]].

Richmond is located on a concurrency with [[U.S. Route 25]] and [[U.S. Route 421|421]]. The two routes run north to [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]] and diverge approximately five miles south of the city. U.S. 25 connects the city to Berea and [[Mount Vernon, Kentucky|Mount Vernon]] in the south. U.S. 421 connects to [[McKee, Kentucky|McKee]] in the south east.

[[Kentucky Route 52|State Route 52]] connects to [[Lancaster, Kentucky|Lancaster]] in the west and [[Irvine, Kentucky|Irvine]] in the east. [[Kentucky Route 169|State Route 169]] heads northwest toward [[Nicholasville, Kentucky|Nicholasville]]. [[Kentucky Route 388|State Route 388]] runs north of the city to the north end of the county and [[Boonesborough, Kentucky|Boonesborough]]. [[Kentucky Route 876|State Route 876]] serves as a bypass around the business district of the city and heads west toward [[Kentucky Route 595]], which continues to [[Round Hill, Kentucky|Round Hill]] and [[Kirksville, Kentucky|Kirksville]]. [[Kentucky Route 1156|State Route 1156]] heads northeast and connects with [[Kentucky Route 169|State Route 169]] at [[Valley View, Kentucky|Valley View]]. [[Kentucky Route 1986|State Route 1986]] runs northeast of Richmond to Union City and Doylesville. The U.S. 25 connector, signed as [[Kentucky Route 2872|S.R. 2872]] and commonly known as Duncannon Lane, connects I-75 to U.S. 25 south of the city.<ref>{{cite map |author= Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |author-link= Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |title=Official Highway Map|url=https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/Pages/Official-Highway-Map.aspx|format= Purchase required |location=Frankfort, KY|publisher=Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |scale=section |year=2017 |access-date= November 18, 2017}}</ref> [[Kentucky Route 2881|State Route 2881]] connects at State Route 52 at Caleast, runs through southern Richmond, and heads south to Berea.

===Air===
[[Central Kentucky Regional Airport]] is a public [[airport]] located in Madison County between Richmond and Berea. It consists of a 5,001 by 100&nbsp;ft [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] runway.<ref>{{FAA-airport|ID=I39|use=PU|own=PU|site=07350.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.</ref>

===Bus===
Foothills Express, operated by the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, provides the Richmond Transit Service bus service within Richmond, the Big E Transit Service on the EKU campus, Madison County Connector service to Berea, and local and intercity [[demand-responsive transport]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foothillscap.org/programs/transportation-department/bus-schedules/|title = Services & Bus Schedules}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Daniel Boone]] (November 2, 1734 – September 26, 1820), born in Birdsboro, PA, he was an American pioneer who established [[Fort Boonesborough]], in Madison County Kentucky along the Kentucky River
* [[Kit Carson]], pioneer frontiersman, born near Richmond in [[Madison County, Kentucky]], but raised in [[Franklin, Missouri]]
* [[Brutus J. Clay II]], son of Cassius M. Clay and [[United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein|Minister to Switzerland]]
* [[Cassius Marcellus Clay (politician)|Cassius Marcellus Clay]], planter, abolitionist and politician; Minister to [[Spain]] and [[Russia]], a founder of the Republican Party
* [[Earle Combs]], [[New York Yankees]] player, [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] member; longtime resident of the area
* [[David R. Francis]], [[Mayor of St. Louis]], [[Governor of Missouri]] and U.S. Secretary of the Interior; born in Richmond
* [[Odon Guitar]], [[brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] in the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] [[Missouri State Militia (Union)|Missouri State Militia]] in the [[American Civil War]]
* [[Leigh Ann Hester]] of the [[Kentucky]] [[Army National Guard]], first woman in United States military history to be cited for valor in [[Close Quarters Battle|close quarters combat]], for action near [[Salman Pak|Salman Pak, Iraq]] on March 20, 2005; she is the first woman to receive the [[Silver Star|Silver Star Medal]] for valor in combat
* [[Keen Johnson]], editor of the ''Richmond Daily Register'' (1925–39); Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1935–39); Governor of Kentucky (1939–43); Undersecretary of Labor (1946–47); longtime resident of the area
* [[James B. McCreary]], [[United States Senator]] and two-term Governor of Kentucky
* [[Samuel Freeman Miller]], U.S. Supreme Court Justice
* [[Fiddlin' Doc Roberts]] (April 26, 1897 – August 4, 1978), old-time bluegrass fiddler
* [[Jimmy Stokley]] (October 18, 1943 – August 13, 1985), lead singer, co-founder and member of the band [[Exile (American band)|Exile]] 
* [[Samuel Hanson Stone]], Kentucky politician, born near Richmond
* [[William J. Stone]], [[Governor of Missouri]], born near Richmond
* [[Montez Sweat]], NFL Defensive End (2019-)
* [[Ken Upchurch]], member of the [[Kentucky House of Representatives]] from [[Wayne County, Kentucky|Wayne County]]; born in Richmond in 1969
* [[Larry Warford]], NFL offensive lineman (1991-)
* [[John Reid Wolfskill]], California pioneer

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* Other [[Richmond (disambiguation)|places named Richmond]]

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

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Richmond (Kentucky)|Richmond, Kentucky}}
* [http://www.richmond.ky.us/ City of Richmond]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Richmond (Kentucky)|display=Richmond, a city and the county-seat of Madison county, Kentucky, U.S.A.|short=x}}

{{Madison County, Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky county seats}}
{{KYLargestCities}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Richmond, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:1798 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Madison County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:County seats in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Richmond–Berea micropolitan area]]