Bardstown, Kentucky

Bardstown , Kentucky
City
My Old Kentucky Home, located in Bardstown, Kentucky
Nickname(s):  Bourbon Capital of the World
Location of Bardstown in Nelson County, Kentucky.
Bardstown Location in Kentucky Bardstown Bardstown (the United States) Bardstown Bardstown (North America) Show map of KentuckyShow map of the United StatesShow map of North AmericaShow all
Coordinates: 37°48′56″N 85°27′47″W / 37.81556°N 85.46306°W / 37.81556; -85.46306Coordinates: 37°48′56″N 85°27′47″W / 37.81556°N 85.46306°W / 37.81556; -85.46306
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Nelson
Settled	Salem, 1770s[1]
Established	Bard's Town, 1780[1]
Incorporated	Bardstown, 1790[1]
Government
• Mayor	J. Richard Heaton
Area [3]
• Total	12.25 sq mi (31.73 km2)
• Land	12.17 sq mi (31.52 km2)
• Water	0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation	646 ft (197 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	11,700
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	13,253
• Density	1,089.08/sq mi (420.49/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	40004
Area code(s)	502
FIPS code	21-03628
GNIS feature ID	0486333
Website	cityofbardstown.org

Bardstown is a home rule-class city^[4] in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was recorded as 11,700 by the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nelson County.^[5] It is named for the pioneering Bard brothers. David Bard obtained a 1,000 acres (400 ha) land grant in 1785 in what was then Jefferson County, Virginia, from Governor Patrick Henry. William Bard surveyed and platted the town.^[1] It was originally chartered as Baird's Town in 1788, and has been known as Beardstown, and Beards Town.^[1][6]

History[]

First settled by European Americans in 1780, Bardstown is the second oldest city in Kentucky.^[7] Named county seat of the newly created Nelson County, Virginia (now Kentucky) in 1784, the town was formally established in 1788.^[1] It was incorporated by the state assembly in 1838.^[6]

Reflecting the westward migration of Americans over the "Blue Ridge" after the Revolutionary War, Bardstown was also the first center of Catholicism west of the Appalachian Mountains in the original western frontier territories of the United States.^[8] The Diocese of Bardstown was established on February 8, 1808, by Pope Pius VII, (1742-1823, reigned 1800-1823), to serve all Catholics between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River. This divided the previous all-encompassing Diocese of Baltimore, established in 1789. This area is now served by 44 dioceses and archdioceses in 10 states, showing the development of communities with Catholics across the nation as immigration brought new populations.

The Bardstown cathedral is the Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral. In 1841 the seat of the diocese was transferred to the nearby larger river town and port of Louisville, Kentucky on the south bank of the Ohio River.^[9] Bardstown also has a Roman Catholic parochial high school, Bethlehem High School.

The Old Talbott Tavern, built in 1779 and located just off the Courthouse Square in the center of Bardstown, is part of the city's rich history.^[7] Several notable Americans passed through the tavern's doors, including famed frontiersman Daniel Boone and future 16th President Abraham Lincoln.^[10] Bullet holes in an upstairs wall are reputed to have been shot by Jesse James.^[11] People claim to have encountered ghosts or other paranormal activity at the tavern.

Bardstown is the site of My Old Kentucky Home State Park. Judge John Rowan and his wife Ann Lytle Rowan commissioned the construction of a large mansion they named Federal Hill. Some have argued that this site was the inspiration for Stephen Foster's 1853 song "My Old Kentucky Home". However, no contemporary evidence exists that supports this, and modern scholars and biographers of Foster—including Ken Emerson and John Tasker Howard—dispute the veracity of this story. Most historians and music scholars agree that Foster was more likely inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Federal Hill is depicted on the reverse of the Kentucky state quarter issued by the United States Mint in 2002.^[7]

Several distilleries operate in and around the Bardstown area, including Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Barton 1792, Lux Row Distillers and Maker's Mark, which is located in nearby Loretto, Kentucky.^[7] The regional production of bourbon is celebrated by the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival, whose promoters have trademarked the phrase "Bourbon Capital of the World" to apply exclusively to Bardstown.^[12] The local tourism commission promotes the use of the trademarked phrase.^[13] A public museum, the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey, showcases this aspect of local history.

Bardstown's downtown area is designated as a historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2012, Bardstown was voted as "The Most Beautiful Small Town in America" in the Destination Marketing Association International's "Best of the Road" competition.^[14]

Geography[]

Bardstown is located at

32°48′56″N 85°27′47″W / 32.81556°N 85.46306°W / 32.81556; -85.46306 (37.705033, -97.122839).^[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), all but 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of which is land.

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, Bardstown has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[16]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	216		—
1800	579		168.1%
1810	821		41.8%
1830	1,629		—
1840	1,492		−8.4%
1860	1,536		—
1870	1,835		19.5%
1880	926		−49.5%
1890	1,524		64.6%
1900	1,711		12.3%
1910	2,126		24.3%
1920	1,717		−19.2%
1930	1,767		2.9%
1940	3,152		78.4%
1950	4,154		31.8%
1960	4,798		15.5%
1970	5,816		21.2%
1980	6,155		5.8%
1990	6,801		10.5%
2000	10,374		52.5%
2010	11,700		12.8%
2019 (est.)	13,253	[2]	13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]

2010[]

As of the census of 2010,^[18] there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families living in the city. The population density was 1,577.9 per square mile (609.2/km²). There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of 689.5 per square mile (266.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.31% White (80.79% non-Hispanic), 12.39% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.71% of the population.

There were 4,712 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 27.7% under 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

As of the 2010 Census, the median income for a household in the city was $50,046, and the median income for a family was $60,609. Full-time male workers had a median income of $46,500 versus $36,551 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,059. About 11.3% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000[]

As of the census^[19] of 2000, there were 10,374 people, 4,195 households, and 2,701 families living in the city. The population density was 1,445.3 per square mile (558.0/km²). There were 4,488 housing units at an average density of 625.3 per square mile (241.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.11% White, 15.07% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 4,195 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,497, and the median income for a family was $41,065. Males had a median income of $31,850 versus $20,537 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,681. About 14.6% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation[]

The Bluegrass Parkway is a limited-access highway that passes just south of Bardstown. A part of the Kentucky parkway system, the highway was formerly a toll road. Tolls were removed in 1991 after its construction bonds had been paid off.

Railroad freight service is provided by the R.J. Corman Railroad Central Kentucky Lines, over the former Bardstown Branch of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

Corman also operates My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, a short-route passenger train specializing in dinner service. It travels the line from the historic Bardstown depot to Clermont and back.

Attractions and events[]

• My Old Kentucky Home State Park
• The Civil War Museum in Bardstown is the fourth-largest Civil War museum in the country.^[20]
• The Kentucky Bourbon Festival celebrates Bardstown's history in the production of bourbon. It was designated Kentucky's official bourbon festival by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2000.^[21]
• Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey celebrates Bardstown's history in the production of whiskey.
• The Stephen Foster Story is an outdoor musical about Stephen Foster, composer of "My Old Kentucky Home." It was designated Kentucky's official outdoor musical by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2002.^[22]
• Wickland, a private residence that has been the home of three governors of Kentucky and is open to the public for tours.
• A memorial to steamboat inventor John Fitch stands in Courthouse Square, which includes a replica of his first steamboat.
• , a heritage railway.

Education[]

Almost all of the city is served by the Bardstown City Schools; the district also includes significant portions of the built-up area outside the city limits.^[23] Ryan Clark is the Superintendent of Schools.

The school district includes an Early Childhood Education Center, Primary School, Elementary School, Middle School and High School.^[24]

Some of the city is instead served by the surrounding Nelson County School District. By contrast, one of the county district's two high schools, Nelson County High, physically lies within the Bardstown school district.

Bardstown is also home to St. Joseph School and Bethlehem High School, both of which have been operational since 1819. Both schools are under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville.

Bardstown has a lending library, a branch of the Nelson County Public Library.^[25]

Notable people[]

• J.C. Bailey, professional wrestler
• William Pope Duval, first civilian governor of the Florida Territory
• Lucy Ann Kidd-Key, president of North Texas Female College (later Kidd-Key College)
• Marie Mattingly Meloney, journalist
• Hal Moore, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general. Co-author of We Were Soldiers Once… And Young
• Leroy Augustus Stafford, Confederate brigadier general was educated in Bardstown.

See also[]

• Bardstown Historic District
• The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers
• The Kentucky Standard
• Heaven Hill
•  Kentucky portal

References[]

External links[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bardstown.

• City of Bardstown
• Official tourism site