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Brandenburg, Kentucky
Meade County courthouse in Brandenburg
Meade County courthouse in Brandenburg
Location of Brandenburg in Meade County, Kentucky.
Location of Brandenburg in Meade County, Kentucky.
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Meade
Area
 • Total 4.11 sq mi (10.65 km2)
 • Land 4.09 sq mi (10.61 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
568 ft (173 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,894
 • Density 706.72/sq mi (272.84/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
40108
Area code(s) 270 & 364
FIPS code 21-09226
GNIS feature ID 0487822
Website www.brandenburgky.org
Downtown Brandenburg
Downtown Brandenburg
Brandenburg Methodist Episcopal Church
Brandenburg United Methodist Church

Brandenburg is a home rule-class city on the Ohio River in Meade County, Kentucky, in the United States. The city is 46 miles (74 km) southwest of Louisville. It is the seat of its county. The population was 2,643 at the 2010 census.

History

Brandenburg Morgan marker
Historical marker noting John Hunt Morgan's activities at Brandenburg

Brandenburg was built on a 3,000-acre (12 km2) tract of land called Falling Springs, purchased in 1804 by Solomon Brandenburg. He opened a tavern around which the community grew. In 1825, the community became the seat of Meade County, but it wasn't formally incorporated by the state assembly until March 28, 1872.

During the Civil War, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan crossed at Brandenburg to start his raid into Indiana in July, 1863. During the Battle of Brandenburg Crossing, two men on the Indiana side of the river were killed by cannon fire from Brandenburg. A Union gunship was deployed to block the crossing, but it ran out of ammunition and Morgan and his men were able to pass into Indiana.

Brandenburg was devastated by an F5 tornado during the Super Outbreak of April 3, 1974. Thirty-one residents lost their lives in this city. There was no early warning from tornado sirens or NOAA Weather Wire Service about the storm. About an hour after the storm, the same supercell spawned an F4 tornado that formed in the southwest part of Louisville in Jefferson County near Kosmosdale. Three people lost their lives in this storm, but it also left two hundred and seven injuries.

Geography

Brandenburg is located at 37°59′34″N 86°10′29″W / 37.99278°N 86.17472°W / 37.99278; -86.17472 (37.992664, -86.174657). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 331
1860 618
1870 427 −30.9%
1880 587 37.5%
1890 495 −15.7%
1900 218 −56.0%
1910 482 121.1%
1920 503 4.4%
1930 484 −3.8%
1940 561 15.9%
1950 755 34.6%
1960 1,542 104.2%
1970 1,637 6.2%
1980 1,831 11.9%
1990 1,857 1.4%
2000 2,049 10.3%
2010 2,643 29.0%
2020 2,894 9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,049 people, 844 households, and 535 families residing in the city. The population density was 518.0 people per square mile (199.8/km2). There were 917 housing units at an average density of 231.8 per square mile (89.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.05% White, 3.90% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.24% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 844 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution was 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,351, and the median income for a family was $42,950. Males had a median income of $30,565 versus $21,143 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,863. About 14.4% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

Library

The Meade County Public Library is a tax-supported institution, begun in 1955 and relocated to a new facility in 2011. The library held the Brandenburg stone from the 1960s until 1996, and has again held the stone since 2012.

Attractions

Attractions near Brandenburg include:

  • Otter Creek Park, with campgrounds and river frontage
  • Buttermilk Falls
  • Tioga Falls, near West Point, KY
  • Fort Knox Gold Vault

Education

The Meade County Public Library was founded in 1955 and relocated to a new facility in 2011. The library held the Brandenburg stone from the 1960s until 1996, and has again held the stone since 2012.

Notable people

  • Chip Jaenichen, former United States Maritime Administrator
  • Rick Stansbury, college basketball coach

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Brandenburg (Kentucky) para niños

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