Georgetown is a
home rule-class city in
Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 37,086 at the
2020 census.
It is the
sixth-most populous city in Kentucky. It is the
seat of its county. It was originally called Lebanon when founded by Rev.
Elijah Craig and was renamed in 1790 in honor of President
George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
.
Historically, settlers were drawn to Georgetown for its
Royal Spring.
It is the home of
Georgetown College, a private
liberal arts college
A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on Undergraduate education, undergraduate study in the Liberal arts education, liberal arts of humanities and science. Such colleges aim to impart ...
. Georgetown is part of the
Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area. At one time the city served as the
training camp home for the
NFL's
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
.
The city's growth began in the mid-1980s, when
Toyota
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
built
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, its first wholly owned United States plant, in Georgetown. The plant opened in 1988; it builds the
Camry, Camry Hybrid,
Lexus ES, and
RAV4 Hybrid automobiles.
History
Native peoples have lived along the banks of
Elkhorn Creek in what is now Scott County for at least 15,000 years.
[ At the time of European encounter, the historic Shawnee people occupied this area.
Anglo-American exploration can be dated to the late colonial period and a June 1774 surveying expedition from Fincastle County, Virginia, led by Colonel John Floyd. For his military service, he was granted a claim of in the area by the state of Virginia. He named it Royal Spring but did not settle it.][''Kentucky Encyclopedia'']
p. 371
"Georgetown". University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1992. Accessed July 26, 2013. John McClellan was the first English colonist to settle the area and established McClellan's Station there in 1775, but the compound was abandoned following an Indian attack on December 29, 1776.
In 1782, the Baptist
Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
preacher Elijah Craig led his congregation to the site from Orange County, Virginia, and established a new settlement which he called Lebanon. This was incorporated by the Virginia legislature in 1784. At the time, Virginia claimed this territory under its colonial charter.[ Craig established some of the first mills west of the Appalachian Mountains along the Royal Spring Branch, where he also manufactured cloth and paper.][ He also founded a distillery in 1789, as well as a school called the Rittenhouse Academy. This eventually developed as Georgetown College.
The city's name was changed to George Town in honor of President ]George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
in 1790. When Kentucky
Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
became the 15th U.S. state in 1792 and formed Scott County, George Town became the county seat. Its name was formally changed to Georgetown in 1846.[
The county developed an agricultural economy, as it was part of the fertile Bluegrass Region. Planters cultivated tobacco and hemp, and raised blooded livestock, including Thoroughbred racehorses, and cattle and sheep. During the ]Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, Kentucky stayed in the Union. Georgetown was raided by Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan twice, once on July 15, 1862, and the second time on July 10, 1864.[
Following the war, the town became a railroad hub, connected to the Cincinnati Southern, the Louisville Southern, and the Frankfort & Cincinnati. The last was considered the "whiskey route" and carried much of the region's bourbon to markets along the Ohio River.][
In 1896 a girl's academy was founded by the Catholic Sisters of Visitation. The school closed in 1987, and was adapted as the Cardome Centre. It previously served as a community center for the city of Georgetown, but was purchased by the Catholic Diocese of Lexington in 2019.
]
20th century to present
Throughout the 20th century, Georgetown has been in transition from an economy based primarily on agriculture, to one mixing manufacturing, small business, and the family farm. During the 1960s, the construction of Interstate 75 placed the city on one of the nation's busiest highways. The selection of Georgetown as the site of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in 1985 has resulted in the greatest period of growth in the city's history.
The historic Ward Hall, now home to The Ward Hall Preservation Foundation, is located just outside Georgetown. Ward Hall was the summer home of Junius Ward. The home represents the height of the Greek Revival period of architecture in Kentucky and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
(NRHP).
The Georgetown business section has a historic district known as the Oxford Historic District. It is also listed on the NRHP.
Geography
Georgetown is located north of Lexington in the Bluegrass region of the state. Major highways that run through the city include Interstate 75 and US Routes 25, 62, and 460. Numerous state highways run through the city. I-75 runs to the east of downtown, with access from exits 125, 126, 127, and 129. Via I-75, downtown Lexington is south, and Cincinnati
Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...
, Ohio
Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
is north. US 25 runs through the center of town, leading south to Lexington and north to Corinth
Corinth ( ; , ) is a municipality in Corinthia in Greece. The successor to the ancient Corinth, ancient city of Corinth, it is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Sin ...
. US 62 runs along the southern and eastern part of the city as a bypass, leading northeast to Cynthiana and southwest to Midway. US 460 runs east−west through the town, leading east to Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
and west to Frankfort, the state capital.
According to the United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Climate
Georgetown has a humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''Cfa''), with warm summers and moderately cold winters. Precipitation is relatively well spread (although the late spring and summer months are typically wetter), with an average of .
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2010, there were 29,098 people 10,733 households, and 7,452 families in the city. The population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 11,957 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 87.5% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 7.0% African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 1.9% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.3% of the population.
There were 10,733 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
The age distribution was 27.9% under 18 and 8.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.7 years. The median income for a household in the city was $51,692. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $24,376. About 13.9% of the population was below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
.
Economy
Top employers
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:
Sports
Georgetown is home to Toyota Stadium. Toyota Stadium hosts Georgetown College's Football Team and Lexington SC.
Lexington SC is a club of the third-division of the professional soccer league, USL League One.
Education
Georgetown College is a private liberal arts college located in the downtown area of Georgetown. Baptist Seminary of Kentucky is a seminary in Georgetown.
Public education in Georgetown and Scott County consists of a preschool center serving special needs and economically at-risk students aged 3–5, nine elementary schools (grades K–5), three middle school
Middle school, also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school.
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, middle school includes g ...
s (grades 6–8) and two high school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
s (grades 9–12). These schools are all part of the Scott County Schools system. Plans had been in progress for an additional high school and middle school within the city limits during the 2010s due to the expanding population. The district chose not to build a new middle school, opting instead to expand one of its three existing middle schools, but opened a new high school and a new elementary school in 2019. Elkhorn Crossing School, which had been a detached campus of Scott County High before the 2019 opening of Great Crossing High School, provides some sophomores and juniors at both high schools with a curriculum that integrates academic and career-based disciplines.
Public schools located within Georgetown and Scott County include:
* Creekside Elementary School
* Garth Elementary
* Northern Elementary
* Southern Elementary
* Eastern Elementary
* Western Elementary
* Anne Mason Elementary
* Stamping Ground Elementary
* Lemons Mill Elementary
* Royal Spring Middle School
* Georgetown Middle School
* Scott County Middle School
* Great Crossing High School
* Scott County High School
* Phoenix Horizon Academy
Private education in Georgetown and Scott County includes St. John elementary and middle school, Providence Christian Academy elementary and middle school, and Keystone Montessori elementary school.
Georgetown also has a lending library, the Scott County Public Library.
Media
Georgetown's newspaper, the ''Georgetown News-Graphic'', prints on Tuesday and Friday. Residents of the area commonly subscribe to this locally geared newspaper in addition to the larger Lexington daily newspaper, the ''Lexington Herald-Leader
The ''Lexington Herald-Leader'' is a newspaper owned by the McClatchy Company and based in Lexington, Kentucky. According to the ''1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook'', the paid circulation of the ''Herald-Leader'' is the second larg ...
''.Georgetown News-Graphic
Accessed May 13, 2013.
Z-Rock 103.3 FM WXZZ Georgetown is a 24/7/365 classic rock/new rock radio station.
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Georgetown has one hospital, Georgetown Community Hospital, operated by LifePoint Health.
UK HealthCare and Baptist Health Lexington have regional campuses in Georgetown. Georgetown also has many nursing facilities, including Signature HealthCARE of Georgetown, Windsor Gardens Retirement Community, Dover Manor Nursing Home, and Ashton Grove Assisted Living.
Notable people
* William E. Applegate
William E. Applegate (December 18, 1851 – May 13, 1928) was an American turfman, involved in the horse racing industry for over fifty years. He was known as a bookmaker, breeder, racer and track owner. At one time, Applegate was owner of Churc ...
(1851–1928) – thoroughbred bookmaker, breeder, racer and track owner. Born in Georgetown.
* Mike Ayers (1948– ) – former football coach for East Tennessee State University and Wofford College
* Benjamin Franklin Bradley (1825−1897) – politician, representative to the Confederate States Congress from Kentucky. Born in Georgetown.
* Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge (1826–1907) – wife of Vice President John C. Breckinridge. Born in Georgetown.
* Stephen G. Burbridge (1831–1894) – U.S. Army major general during the Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
. Born in Georgetown.
* Benjamin T. Cable (1853–1923) – politician, US Representative from Illinois. Born in Georgetown.
* J. Campbell Cantrill (1870–1923) – politician, US Representative from Kentucky. Born in Georgetown.
* James E. Cantrill (1839–1908) – politician, Lt. Governor of Kentucky, judge
* Jean Murrell Capers (1913−2017) - Ohio state judge and Cleveland City Council member. Born in Georgetown.
* Patricia Cooksey (1958– ) – jockey and horse racing commentator
* Joe Cowley (baseball) (1958– ) – former Major League Baseball pitcher, who threw a no-hitter
* Elijah Craig (1738−1808) – early Baptist preacher, educator and entrepreneur; worked on protecting religious freedom with James Madison
James Madison (June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the ...
of Virginia
* Basil W. Duke (1838−1916) – lawyer and Confederate general officer
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
during the Civil War. Born in Georgetown.
* Sandford C. Faulkner (1803–1874) – composer of the song " The Arkansas Traveler". Born in Georgetown.
* James Marion Frost (1848–1916) – pastor and author. Born in Georgetown.
* A. W. Hamilton (1980− ) – head men's basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University (Eastern or EKU) is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky. It also maintains branch campuses in Corbin, Hazard, and Manchester and offers over 40 online undergraduate and graduate options.
History
Founding
...
* William H. Hatch (1833−1896) – politician, US Representative from Missouri. Born in Georgetown.
* John Hunter Herndon (1813–1878) – Texas lawyer, judge and railroad president. Born in Georgetown.
* Harrison E. Howe (1881–1942) – chemical engineer, editor and author. Born in Georgetown.
* Tom L. Johnson (1854−1911) – US Representative from Ohio 1891–95, Mayor of Cleveland 1901–1909. Born in Georgetown.
* James McHall Jones (1823–1851) – US District Judge. Born in Georgetown.
* Larry D (1984– ) – professional wrestler and promoter
* Broadus Mitchell (1892–1988) – historian, author and professor. Born in Georgetown.
* Fountain E. Pitts (1808–1874) – influential Methodist minister. Born in Georgetown.
* Charles Edward Pogue (1950– ) – screenwriter, playwright and actor
* Dale Polley (1965– ) – former Major League Baseball pitcher
* Phillip Pratt (1955– ) – politician in the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 62nd district
* Ryan Quarles (1983– ) – president, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, former two-term Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, former state representative, 2023 candidate for governor
* Dallas Robinson (1982– ) − 2014 Olympian-soldier; sole Olympian from Kentucky in the Sochi Russia Games
* James Fisher Robinson (1800−1882) – politician, 22nd Governor of Kentucky. Federal governor during the Civil War. Cardome in Georgetown was his family home.
* John McCracken Robinson (1794−1893) – politician, US Senator from Illinois. Born in Georgetown.
* Jackson Showalter (1859–1935) – five-time U.S. chess champion
* Nellie Showalter (1870–1946) – American women's chess champion
* Gustavus Woodson Smith (1821−1896) – General in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; Confederate Secretary of War in 1862
* Hayden Stevenson (1877–1952) – film actor. Born in Georgetown.
* Barton W. Stone (1772−1844) – Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
and Restorationist preacher of the Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival during the late 18th to early 19th century in the United States. It spread religion through revivals and emotional preaching and sparked a number of reform movements. Revivals were a k ...
* Steve Zahn
Steven James Zahn ( ; born November 13, 1967) is an American actor.
In film, Zahn is best known for his lead roles in '' That Thing You Do!'' (1996), '' Happy, Texas'' (1999), '' Joy Ride'' (2001), ''National Security'' (2003), '' A Perfect Geta ...
(1967− ) – actor; lives on a farm in Scott County.
Photo gallery
File:City Hall; Georgetown, Kentucky.JPG, Georgetown City Hall
File:Scott County Courthouse; Scott County, Kentucky.jpg, Scott County Courthouse
File:Royal Spring1.jpg, Royal Spring
File:Cardome3.JPG, Cardome Centre
File:Georgetown & Scott Co Museum.jpg, Georgetown & Scott County Museum
File:Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, Tokugawa Gates.jpg, Yuko-En on the Elkhorn
Sister city
Georgetown has one sister city
A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there are early examples of inte ...
, as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International (SCI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with the goal of facilitating partnerships between communities within the United States and other countries by establishing sister cities. Sister cities are agreements of ...
:
* Tahara, Aichi, Japan
References
External links
Official city government site
Official tourism site
Georgetown/Scott County Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control
1784 establishments in Virginia
Cities in Kentucky
County seats in Kentucky
Cities in Scott County, Kentucky
Lexington–Fayette metropolitan area