Editing Simpsonville, Kentucky

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = City of Simpsonville
| settlement_type    = [[list of Ky cities|City]]
| named_for          = [[John Simpson (Kentucky politician)|John Simpson]]
| nickname           = American Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Fred Wiche Park 2018.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Pavilion at Fred Wiche Park In Simpsonville, Kentucky
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Shelby County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Simpsonville Highlighted 2170752.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Simpsonville in Shelby 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  = [[Shelby County, Kentucky|Shelby]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[City commission government|City Commission]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Ronnie Sowder
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1833<ref name=sos>Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Simpsonville, Kentucky". Accessed 26 August 2013.</ref>

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{Cite US Gazetteer|vintage=2023|type=places|state=KY}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.38
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.35
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.02

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2990
| population_density_sq_mi = 1270.72

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 771
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|13|00|N|85|21|05|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 40067
| area_code          = [[Area code 502|502]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 21-70752
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info_sec1   = 2405466<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405466}}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Interstate Highway System|Interstates]]
| blank1_info_sec2   = [[File:I-64.svg|25px|link=Interstate 64 in Kentucky]]
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofsimpsonvilleky.com}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="auto">{{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     = 3028
| area_total_km2     = 6.15
| area_land_km2      = 6.09
| area_water_km2     = 0.06
| population_density_km2 = 490.71
}}
'''Simpsonville''' 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 |accessdate=December 30, 2014}}</ref> in [[Shelby County, Kentucky|Shelby County]], [[Kentucky]], in the United States. It is located 8 miles west of [[Shelbyville, Kentucky]] and 23 miles east of [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] situated along [[U.S. Route 60|U.S. 60]].<ref name=Henninger>{{cite book |last1=Henninger|first1=Hobie|last2=Jelsma|first2=Sherry|editor-last=Kleber|editor-first=John|title=The New History of Shelby County, Kentucky|publisher=Harmony House Publishers|year=2003 |pages=85–87|chapter=Chapter 2 Communities; Simpsonville|isbn=978-1-564-69096-8}}</ref> The population was 2,484 during the [[2010 U.S. Census]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130628024941/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/2010_place_list_21.txt Unknown]</ref>

==Early history==
[[File:Old Stone Inn.jpg|thumb|left|Old Stone Inn; June 2, 1940]]
Simpsonville was first laid out in 1816 on the petition of Isaac Watkins.<ref>{{cite news |first=Cason |last=Clarence E. |title=Simpsonville|url=https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1130&context=rennick_ms_collection |format=PDF |publisher=Louisville Herald |location=Louisville, KY |date=1922-10-01 |accessdate=11 May 2021|df=mdy-all  }}</ref> It received its first [[post office]] in 1821<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kyatlas.com/ky-simpsonville.html |title=Simpsonville, Kentucky|publisher=Kentucky Atlas and Gazetteer|website=www.kyatlas.com|year=2018|first=David C.|last=Elbon|accessdate=August 13, 2018}}</ref> and was incorporated in 1833. It was named in honor Captain [[John Simpson (Kentucky politician)|John Simpson]]; a native Virginian who represented Shelby County in the [[Kentucky House of Representatives]] and died in the [[War of 1812]]. By 1825 it had become a stage coach town; one of the largest between Shelbyville and Louisville.<ref name=Henninger /> The Midland trail stagecoach would either swap out or rest their horses and travelers could stay at the Old Stone Inn. The second oldest stone building in the county which is still standing today.<ref name=Carpenter>{{cite book |last=Carpenter|first=George Ann|editor-last=Kleber|editor-first=John|title=The New History of Shelby County, Kentucky|publisher=Harmony House Publishers|year=2003|pages=384|chapter=Chapter 8 Transportation; Taverns|isbn=978-1-564-69096-8}}</ref>

For most of its history Simpsonville was an agrarian community which [[dairy]], [[tobacco]], [[cattle]], and [[Pig|hogs]] being the primary source of income for most residents.<ref name=Henninger /> This was due to its remarkably fertile soil based on [[limestone]] and [[Ultisol|red clay]].<ref name=Stockum>{{cite book |last=Van Stockum Sr.|first=R. R.|editor-last=Kleber|editor-first=John|title=The New History of Shelby County, Kentucky|publisher=Harmony House Publishers|year=2003 |pages=74 |chapter=Chapter 2 Communities; Shelby County|isbn=978-1-564-69096-8}}</ref> Later on it would be the genesis for the town's moniker '[[American Saddlebred]] Horse Capital of the World'.<ref name=Henninger />

==Civil War==
In January 1865 at least 80 members of Company E of the [[5th United States Colored Cavalry]] were transporting 900 head of Federal cattle from [[Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park|Camp Nelson]] to a stock market in Louisville.<ref name=Sanders>{{cite web|url=http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/35 |title=Simpsonville Massacre|last=Sanders|website=explorekyhistory.ky.gov/|publisher=ExploreKYHistory |accessdate=July 14, 2017}}</ref> They set up camp in Simpsonville and on the morning of January 25 they were attacked by [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] guerrillas led by [[Henry C. Magruder|Henry Magruder]].<ref name=Bummer>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilwarbummer.com/simpsonville-slaughter-or-forgotten-confederate-atrocity/ |title=Civil War Bummer|last=Bummer|website=www.civilwarbummer.com/|access-date=July 14, 2017|date= February 22, 2013}}</ref> The guerrillas attacked from the rear killing 22 Union soldiers and injuring over 20 more, at least some of whom were killed after trying to surrender.<ref name=West>{{cite web|url=https://www.ket.org/promos/kentucky/honoring-a-forgotten-chapter-in-kentuckys-civil-war-history/ |title=Honoring a Forgotten Chapter in Kentucky's Civil War History|last=West|first=Joyce|website=www.ket.org/|publisher=KET |access-date=July 14, 2017|date=August 11, 2015}}</ref> None of the guerrillas were documented to be injured.<ref name='Shanklin' /> The Union army camped in Louisville was indifferent to the ambush, not responding for three days and leaving the citizens of Simpsonville to care for the wounded.<ref name=Glasser >{{cite web|url=http://www.armchairgeneral.com/simpsonville-civil-war-massacre.htm/ |title=Simpsonville Civil War Massacre|last=Glasser|first=Paul|website=www.armchairgeneral.com/|access-date=July 14, 2017|date=February 3, 2009}}</ref> Eventually, the wounded were transferred to an Army hospital in [[Jeffersonville, Indiana]] where a further four more died.<ref name='Shanklin'>{{cite web |url=https://www.whas11.com/article/news/community/moments-that-matter/kentucky-simpsonville-black-history-month-local-soldiers-civil-war-memorial/417-ec078954-8aba-42a5-9aee-75bd6d306be0 |title=Retracing final steps of Black cavalry in Kentucky, killed in 'Simpsonville Massacre' |last=Shanklin |first=Sherlene M |date=2022-02-16  |website=www.whas11.com |publisher=WHAS 11 |location=Louisville, KY  |access-date=2022-04-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427011618/https://www.whas11.com/article/news/community/moments-that-matter/kentucky-simpsonville-black-history-month-local-soldiers-civil-war-memorial/417-ec078954-8aba-42a5-9aee-75bd6d306be0 |archive-date=2022-04-27| df = mdy-all}}</ref> The citizens of Simpsonville buried the dead in two mass graves that later became an [[African American]] cemetery,<ref name=West /> one of which is now marked with a memorial along [[U.S. Route 60|U.S. 60]]. Some of the survivors later became [[Buffalo Soldiers]].<ref name='Shanklin' />

No guerrillas were ever prosecuted for the attack. However, Henry Magruder would be tried, convicted, and sentenced to death by a military tribunal for several other murders. He was executed at the Louisville Military Prison on October 20, 1865.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=25 October 1865 |title=Execution of Henry C. Magruder |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1865/10/25/news/execution-of-henry-c-magruder.html |accessdate=27 July 2014 |work=New York Times}}</ref>

==Post Civil War and 20th Century==
In the years following the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] Simpsonville remained a small village of 200 to 300 residents and was a school and church center.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Willis |first1=George Lee|date=1979 |orig-year=First published 1929|editor1-last=Willis |editor1-first=George Lee |title=The History of Shelby County|location=Utica, KY |publisher=Cook & McDowell Publications|url=https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/H002188.pdf|page=249|isbn=0806346469|access-date=August 25, 2020 }}</ref> It was connected west to Louisville and east to Shelbyville by the Louisville & Eastern Railroad in 1910. An [[interurban]] railroad that would be purchased by the [[Louisville and Interurban Railroad]] in 1911 who would operate the line until 1934.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ringbrothershistory.com/alsprojects/stmfd/STMFD%20fire%2012%2010/Maps/Maps%20&%20Aerial%20Photos.pdf |title=St. Matthews Fire Protection District Maps & Aerial Photos |last=Ring |first=Al |year=2004  |website=www.ringbrothershistory.com |publisher= St. Matthews Fire Protection District |location= St. Matthews, KY |access-date=August 25, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826014329/http://www.ringbrothershistory.com/alsprojects/stmfd/STMFD%20fire%2012%2010/Maps/Maps%20&%20Aerial%20Photos.pdf |archive-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref> In the years following the [[World War I|First World War]] Midland trail would be converted into [[U.S. Route 60|U.S. 60]] providing Simpsonville with a direct link to the [[United States Numbered Highway System|U.S. Highway System]].<ref name="NickHughes"/> It was after the [[World War II|Second World War]] that Simpsonville's population started to grow. The completion of [[Interstate 64]] in 1965<ref>{{cite map |author =Kentucky Department of Highways |title =Official Kentucky Department of Highways Road Map|year =1965 |url =https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/Maps/1965KYF.pdf |publisher =Kentucky Department of Public Information; Travel Division |location =Frankfort, KY|type=Road Map |format =PDF |access-date =August 25, 2020 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200703135753/https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/Maps/1965KYF.pdf |archive-date =July 3, 2020 }}</ref> created an easy connection to Louisville which allowed Simpsonville to add acres of new residences, factories, warehouses, and retail.<ref name="NickHughes">{{cite AV media | people =Hughes, Nicky (Executive Director); Mulcahy, James | date = 2020-04-29 | title =Capt. John Simpson | url =https://vimeo.com/413207096 | access-date = 2020-08-25 | location = Simpsonville, KY | publisher = Shelby County Historical Society | df = mdy-all}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|1.3|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} (1.50%) is water.

==Education==
[[File:Berea Hall Lincoln Institute.jpg|thumb|left|Berea Hall, the main administrative and classroom building at the Lincoln Institute]]
{{See also|Lincoln Institute (Kentucky)}}
Early in its history Simpsonville had several [[one-room school]]s<ref name=Henninger/> including Professor John W. Adams' school in the 1850s and Jordans Fairview Academy from 1868 to 1880.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Willis |first1=George Lee|date=1979 |orig-year=First published 1929|editor1-last=Willis |editor1-first=George Lee |title=The History of Shelby County|location=Utica, KY |publisher=Cook & McDowell Publications|url=https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/H002188.pdf|page=109|isbn=0806346469|access-date=February 16, 2018 }}</ref> By 1895 it had four private schools and its first public high school (Simpsonville High School) was built in 1912.<ref name=Henninger/> In the following decades the high school was merged with Todd's Point in 1940<ref name=Long1>{{cite book |last1=Long|first1=Charles T.|editor-last=Kleber|editor-first=John|title=The New History of Shelby County, Kentucky|publisher=Harmony House Publishers|year=2003 |pages=89|chapter=Chapter 2 Communities; Todd's Point|isbn=978-1-564-69096-8}}</ref> and Finchville High School in 1950.<ref name=Long2>{{cite book |last1=Long|first1=Charles T.|editor-last=Kleber|editor-first=John|title=The New History of Shelby County, Kentucky|publisher=Harmony House Publishers|year=2003 |pages=66|chapter=Chapter 2 Communities; Finchville|isbn=978-1-564-69096-8}}</ref> The high school closed its doors in 1958 when Shelby County decided to consolidate its school system and it became Simpsonville Elementary school.<ref name=Henninger/> Today Simpsonville is served by the [[Shelby County Public Schools|Shelby County Public School]] system with its residents attending [[Martha Layne Collins High School]] in Shelbyville. There is also one private that serves all grades: Corpus Christi Academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corpuschristiclassical.com/about-us/school-history/|title=School History|website=www.corpuschristiclassical.com/|publisher=Corpus Christi Classical Academy |accessdate=July 14, 2017}}</ref>
[[File:School Simpsonville Kentucky 1923.jpg|thumb|Simpsonville High School in 1923]]

Following the Civil War all Kentucky schools were segregated. Simpsonville's [[African-American]] children attended Simpsonville School and Lincoln Model School.<ref name=Collins>{{cite book |last1=Collins|first1=Kevin|editor-last=Kleber|editor-first=John|title=The New History of Shelby County, Kentucky|publisher=Harmony House Publishers|year=2003 |pages=279–284|chapter=Chapter 6 Education and Schools; African-American education|isbn=978-1-564-69096-8}}</ref> Simpsonville was also the site of the [[Lincoln Institute (Kentucky)|Lincoln Institute]]; a boarding school for African American founded in 1912. It was built by [[Berea College]] in response to the [[Day Law]] which forced segregation of all public and private educational facilities. It offered both high school and vocational training until 1966 when declining enrollment caused by [[Brown v. Board of Education]] forced it to close. Today the grounds serve as the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Job Corps Training Center.<ref name=Talbot>{{cite web|url=http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/305|title=Simpsonville Massacre|last=Talbot|first=Tim|website=explorekyhistory.ky.gov/|publisher=ExploreKYHistory |access-date=July 14, 2017}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1830 = 77
| 1850 = 225
| 1860 = 169
| 1870 = 239
| 1880 = 253
| 1890 = 290
| 1900 = 203
| 1910 = 185
| 1920 = 189
| 1930 = 181
| 1940 = 220
| 1950 = 247
| 1960 = 220
| 1970 = 628
| 1980 = 642
| 1990 = 907
| 2000 = 1281
| 2010 = 2484
| 2020 = 2990
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 3028
| estref = <ref name="auto"/>
| 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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2017-07-06|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,484 people, 935 households, and 672 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|980.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 935 housing units at an average density of {{convert|395.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 89.89% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.80% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.52% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.86% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.13% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.98% of the population.

There were 935 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,000, and the median income for a family was $52,560. Males had a median income of $34,688 versus $27,431 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,443. About 7.7% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

==See also==

*[[Lincoln Institute (Kentucky)|Lincoln Institute]]
*[[Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cityofsimpsonvilleky.com Official website]
* [https://www.pbs.org/video/the-civil-wars-lost-massacre-hgmvsh/ Secrets of the Dead | The Civil War's Lost Massacre | Season 22 | Episode 1]

{{Shelby County, Kentucky}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Shelby County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Louisville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1833]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:American Civil War prisoner of war massacres by the Confederate States of America]]
[[Category:Massacres in 1865]]
[[Category:Murder in Kentucky]]