Muhlenberg County, Kentucky facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Muhlenberg County
U.S. county
Muhlenberg County Courthouse in Greenville
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1798
Named for	Peter Muhlenberg
Seat	Greenville
Largest city	Central City
Area
• Total	479 sq mi (1,240 km²)
• Land	467 sq mi (1,210 km²)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km²) 2.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	30,928
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st

Muhlenberg County is a county in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,499. Its county seat is Greenville.

History

Muhlenberg County was established in 1798 from land given by Logan and Christian counties. Muhlenberg was the 34th Kentucky county in order of formation.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 479 square miles (1,240 km²), of which 467 square miles (1,210 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (2.6%) is water.

Features

The two primary aquatic features of Muhlenberg County are the Green River and Lake Malone. The northern portion of the county is typically gently rolling hills, river flatlands, and some sizeable bald cypress swamps along Cypress Creek and its tributaries. The southern portion consist of rolling hills with higher relief. Many of the valleys in the southern part of the county are rather deep and in places and somewhat rugged. This area is also known for many sandstone formations and some small limestone caves, of which only two known limestone caves are thought to be in the county, both in the far southern region. A number of faults cross the county at roughly the half-way point between neighboring counties to the north and south. Coal is a large natural resource found in the central part of the county. Most deposits reside deep underground, though in the past deposits were closer to the surface. In former years, it was common to see machines such as the "Big Brother" Power Shovel (pictured on the right) throughout the county. During the 1970s and early 1980s, Muhlenberg County was the state leader in Coal Production and sometimes the top coal producer in the United States. This was the subject of the song "Paradise".

The Bucyrus Erie 3850-B Power Shovel named "Big Brother" went to work next door to Paradise Fossil Plant for Peabody Coal Company's Sinclair Surface Mine in 1962. When it started work it was received with grand fanfare and was the Largest Shovel in The World with a bucket size of 115 cubic yards. After it finished work in the mid-1980s, it was buried in a pit on the mine's property. It remains there still today.

Muhlenberg County's predominate rock type is sandstone. As one travels south and gets closer to the southern border, one begins to notice limestone outcroppings become more numerous and much closer to the surface. Early attempts at extracting iron ore were tried at Old Airdrie on the banks of the Green River and at Buckner Furnace south of Greenville, Kentucky. Both operations were extant in the late 19th century and early 20th century; neither enjoyed long-term success..

Green River

The 300 miles (483 km)-long Green River is a tributary of the Ohio River. It provides a commercial outlet for goods (primarily coal) to be shipped from the county to the major trade centers along the Mississippi River. Muhlenberg County and the Green River first entered the popular consciousness through the John Prine song "Paradise", about a now-defunct coal-mining town.

Lake Malone

Spanning 788 acres (3.19 km²) near the small town of Dunmor in southern Muhlenberg County, Lake Malone provides a locale for water recreation such as swimming, boating, and fishing. Lake Malone and the surrounding hardwood forest form Lake Malone State Park. Lake Malone is maintained by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. The lakes surface extends into two neighboring counties. The lake is known for its sandstone cliffs and natural sandstone formations along the lake shore including a natural bridge. The bridge itself is not in the boundaries of the state park.

Adjacent counties

McLean County (north)
Ohio County (northeast)
Butler County (east)
Logan County (southeast)
Todd County (south)
Christian County (southwest)
Hopkins County (west)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	1,293	—
1810	4,181	223.4%
1820	4,979	19.1%
1830	5,340	7.3%
1840	6,964	30.4%
1850	9,809	40.9%
1860	10,725	9.3%
1870	12,638	17.8%
1880	15,098	19.5%
1890	17,955	18.9%
1900	20,741	15.5%
1910	28,598	37.9%
1920	33,353	16.6%
1930	37,784	13.3%
1940	37,554	−0.6%
1950	32,501	−13.5%
1960	27,791	−14.5%
1970	27,537	−0.9%
1980	32,238	17.1%
1990	31,318	−2.9%
2000	31,839	1.7%
2010	31,499	−1.1%
2020	30,928	−1.8%
2021 (est.)	30,694	−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2021

As of the census of 2010, there were 31,499 people, 12,979 households, and 9,057 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 per square mile (26/km²). There were 13,675 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.19% White, 4.65% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median income for a household in the county was $28,566. 15.50% of families and 19.70% of the population was below the poverty line, including 26.00% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

Lake Malone State Park in Dunmor
Muhlenberg County Rail to Trails, 6-mile (9.7 km) converted railroad track running between Central City and Greenville
Brewco Motorsports shop in Central City
Thistle Cottage, a museum and art gallery, in Greenville (now part of Muhlenberg County Public Libraries)
Four Legends Fountain in Drakesboro
Muhlenberg County Agriculture and Convention Center in Powderly
Morgan Memorial Park in Greenville
The Muhlenberg County Park, a state-of-the-art sports facility adjacent to the Muhlenberg County High School west campus in Greenville
The Brizendine Brothers Nature Park located in Greenville
Luzerne Lake City Park in Greenville
Paradise Park in Powderly, includes:
- Coal Mines Shotgun House
- Merle Travis Birthplace
- Paradise Park Museum
- Springridge School
Tennessee Valley Authority Paradise Fossil Plant in Drakesboro, one of the largest Coal-Fired Power Plants in the United States. Site includes:
- Public Boat Launch Ramp along the Green River
- Public Fishing Lakes
- Historic Village of Paradise Cemetery, the only remnant of the village along the Green River.

Central City Convention Center, Fitness Facility and Outdoor Pool & Spray Park located in Central City, Kentucky

Muhlenberg County Courthouse, built in 1907 located in downtown Greenville
The Muhlenberg County Veterans Mall and Plaza in downtown Greenville
Lt. Ephraim Brank Memorial & Trail located in located at the entrance to Greenville's Veteran's Mall
The Pillars of Community have enhanced the beauty of downtown Greenvile by adding "Art to Restoration". The locations include:
- FAITH - United Methodist Church on North Main Street
- FAMILY - Across from the MCTI Theater on North Main Street
- ENTERPRISE - Between Edward Jones Investments & 1st KY Bank
- PATRIOTISM - At the United States Post Office on Courts Street
- EDUCATION - In front of Greenville Elementary School on East Main Cross
- ARTS - In front of Thistle Cottage on Cherry Street
- HEALTH - In front of Muhlenberg Community Hospital
- TEAMWORK - At Martin Ground along East Main Cross
Historic Gristmill Stone, Adjacent to the Veterans Mall and at the foundation of the Muhlenberg County Courthouse
The Summerhouse, a gazebo located in Greenville

Annual events

Rods and Ribs BBQ Festival in Central City the first Saturday in June.
Labor Day Cruise-In in Central City.
Saturday's on the Square every summer in downtown Greenville.
Squash & Gobble an arts bazaar and fall festival in downtown Greenville.
The "Clodhopper" Vintage Tractor Show in downtown Greenville.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Economy

Paradise Combined Cycle Plant sits close to the original site of the village of Paradise, Kentucky. Originally a coal-fired plant, the plant was the second largest coal-fired plant operated by TVA with a capacity of 2,630 megawatts. The plant now burns natural gas, and has a capacity of 1,025 MW.

Muhlenberg County has been a major coal-producing region for the United States for many years; during most of the 1970s, Muhlenberg County annually produced more coal than anywhere else in the country. Although coal mining in the county waned in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as the 21st century began, the coal-mining industry in Muhlenberg and surrounding counties began to expand and has once again provided a significant number of jobs in the region. One reason for this is the willingness of utility operators to install flue gas cleaning systems so that bituminous coal can be burned with fewer airborne contaminants. Another reason is that most coal from the western US has a lower BTU content.

Muhlenberg County held Kentucky's first commercial coal mine, opened in 1820 as the "McLean Drift Bank" along the Green River in the former village of Paradise. The mine and its impact on the community are referenced in the John Prine song "Paradise". Other major employers in Muhlenberg County include:

The Tennessee Valley Authority Paradise Combined Cycle Plant in Drakesboro
The Green River Correctional Complex in Central City
Dyno Nobel in Graham
EBA&D in Graham
Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville
Muhlenberg County Board of Education in Powderly
Kentucky National Guard Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center & Kentucky UTES
Armstrong Coal Company in Central City
Ken-American Resources: Paradise Underground Mine in Central City
Kentucky Utilities Green River Generating Station in Central City
Wal-Mart in Central City.
Uncle Lee's / Wing Supply in Greenville, Kentucky
Gourmet Express in Greenville

Chamber of commerce

In January 2006, the chambers of commerce from Central City and Greenville merged to form the Greater Muhlenberg Chamber of Commerce representing over 155 local businesses.

Incoming industries

Peabody Energy's proposed Thoroughbred Energy Plant, a coal-burning power generation facility expected to bring 450 permanent jobs to the area, was to be located in Central City. The plant was projected to begin electricity generation in 2007, but a dispute over Peabody's air quality permit halted construction plans. The power plant plans have now been scrapped, as was a later partnership between Peabody Energy and ConocoPhillips Oil Company called "Kentucky NewGas".

Education

Schools

Public schools in Muhlenberg County are operated by the Muhlenberg County Board of Education. They include:

Elementary (K-5)

Bremen Elementary School in Bremen
Central City Elementary School in Central City
Greenville Elementary School in Greenville
Longest Elementary School in Powderly
Muhlenberg South Elementary School in Beechmont

Middle (6-8)

Muhlenberg North Middle School in Powderly
Muhlenberg South Middle School in Greenville

High (9-12)

Muhlenberg County High School in Greenville.

Postsecondary

Muhlenberg Campus of Madisonville Community College (Central City)
Muhlenberg Career Development Center (between Central City & Greenville)

Former schools

Drakesboro Elementary School in Drakesboro (closed in 2006)
Graham Elementary School in Graham (closed in 2004)
Hughes-Kirkpatrick Elementary School in Beechmont (closed in 2006)
Lake Malone Elementary School in Dunmor (closed in 2005)
Muhlenberg North High School (closed in 2009)
Muhlenberg South High School (closed in 2009)

Libraries

Harbin Memorial Library in Greenville is a public library, with free access to high-speed internet
Central City Library in Central City is a public library, with free access to high-speed internet.

These libraries are operated as Muhlenberg County Public Libraries.

Thistle Cottage Genealogy and History Annex in Greenville also operates under the umbrella of Muhlenberg County Public Libraries as a museum and history archive.

History of education

At one time the county hosted eight secondary schools. Drakesboro Community closed after the class of 1964 graduated and in 1990, the school board consolidated the middle and high school students into two middle and two high schools. Bremen High School, Central City High School, Graham High School, and half of Muhlenberg Central High School became Muhlenberg North Middle School and Muhlenberg North High School, while the other half of Muhlenberg Central High School, Drakesboro High School, Hughes-Kirkpatrick High School, Greenville High School, and Lake Malone School (which housed some middle school students) became Muhlenberg South Middle School and Muhlenberg South High School. The eight distinct schools continued to house elementary school students.

In 2004, the school board began consolidating the elementary schools, closing Graham Elementary School and transferring students to Longest Elementary Greenville Elementary Schools; closing Lake Malone School and transferring students to Hughes-Kirkpatrick Elementary School. In 2005 Drakesboro Elementary School was closed, with students first attending Hughes-Kirkpatrick Elementary and then Muhlenberg South Elementary School (2006). Hughes-Kirkpatrick was later closed.

Muhlenberg North and Muhlenberg South High Schools were merged into a single Muhlenberg County High School in June 2009.

Notable people

James Best (Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane of the Dukes of Hazzard), born in Powderly
Don Everly of The Everly Brothers singing duo, born in now-defunct Brownie, near Central City
Kennedy Jones, guitarist
Warren Oates, actor, born in Depoy near Greenville
Merle Travis, western musician, born in Rosewood
Roger Newman, University of Kentucky men's basketball player, born in Greenville
Benjamin Tod (Lost Dog Street Band), singer and songwriter
John Prine wrote the song Paradise from his first self-titled album about growing up in Muhlenberg County in the now defunct mining town of Paradise. The song has become a folk music staple since then.