Covington, Kentucky

Covington, Kentucky
City
Downtown Covington skyline

Seal

Location of Covington in Kenton County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 39°3′54″N 84°30′35″W / 39.06500°N 84.50972°W / 39.06500; -84.50972Coordinates: 39°3′54″N 84°30′35″W / 39.06500°N 84.50972°W / 39.06500; -84.50972
Country United States
State Kentucky
County Kenton
Founded 1815
Government
 • Type Commission-City Manager
 • Mayor Kyle Knapp
Area
 • Total 13.7 sq mi (35.4 km2)
 • Land 13.1 sq mi (34.0 km2)
 • Water 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2)
Elevation 509 ft (155 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 40,640
 • Estimate (2016)[1] 40,797
 • Density 2,966.4/sq mi (1,148.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code 41011-41012, 41014-41019
Area code(s) 859
FIPS code 21-17848
GNIS feature ID 0490167
Website covingtonky.gov

Covington is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, located at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers. Cincinnati, Ohio, lies to its north across the Ohio and Newport, Kentucky, to its east across the Licking. Part of the Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky metropolitan area, Covington had a population of 40,640 at the time of the 2010 U.S. census, making it the fifth-most populous city in Kentucky.[2] It is one of its county's two seats,[3] along with Independence.

Name

The initial American settlement at Covington was known as The Point, from its position at the confluence of the Licking and Ohio Rivers. When it was laid out in 1815, it was named in honor of Gen. Leonard Covington,[4] who was killed at the Battle of Crysler's Farm during the War of 1812.[5]

History

Daniel Carter Beard's boyhood home
The former C&O Railroad station in 2018

In 1814, John Gano, Richard Gano, and Thomas Carneal purchased The Point, 150 acres (0.6 km2) of land on the west side of the Licking River at its confluence with the Ohio, from Thomas Kennedy for $50,000, and laid out the settlement of Covington the next year.[6] The town was formally incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly a year later and raised to city status in 1834.[5]

The city prospered as an emporium for Kentucky's tobacco and cigar production.[7] In 1862, Stewart Iron Works was established; for a time, it was the largest iron fence maker in the world. There were also distilleries, glassworks, and stove factories.[7] Like nearby Cincinnati, Covington's factories and businesses were particularly staffed by Catholic and German immigrants.[7] Its Catholic church was eventually raised to the level of a bishopric.[5]

By 1900, Covington was the second-largest city and industrial region in Kentucky.[5] At the time, its population of almost 43,000 was about 12% foreign-born and 5% black.[5] Before World War I, it was connected to the Chesapeake & Ohio and Louisville & Nashville railways and offered steamboat service to ports on the Ohio River.[5] Its factories had expanded to include cotton goods, machinery, and cordage.[5]

Covington even boasted a Federal League baseball team, the Covington Blue Sox, during the 1913 season. The present-day circuit courthouse is located at the site of its former grounds, Federal Park, which is thought to have been the smallest stadium ever used by a professional baseball club.

It declined in importance during the Great Depression and the middle 20th century.[6] The city has undergone some redevelopment during the late 20th and early 21st centuries as the most populous city in Kenton County.

Neighborhoods

Covington claims 19 distinct neighborhoods,[8] ranging in population from several hundred to 10,000 people. Many of the neighborhoods are located in 12 historic districts that are predominantly found in the northern portion of the city. Most of the neighborhoods have active resident associations or block watches that are dedicated to involving residents in strengthening their neighborhoods, improving safety, housing, and beautification.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Covington has a total area of 13.7 square miles (35 km2), of which 13.1 square miles (34 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (3.88%) is covered by water.

Climate

Covington is located within a climatic transition zone; it is nestled within the southern end of the humid continental climate zone and the northern periphery of the humid subtropical climate of the Upland South, with hot, humid summers and cool winters. Evidence of both a humid subtropical and humid continental climate can be found here, particularly noticeable by the presence of plants indicative of each climatic region; for example, the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) from the subtropics and the blue spruce from cooler regions are successful landscape plants in and around Covington.

Climate data for Covington, Kentucky
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25)		 77
(25)		 88
(31)		 90
(32)		 95
(35)		 102
(39)		 108
(42)		 103
(39)		 101
(38)		 92
(33)		 83
(28)		 75
(24)		 108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 38
(3)		 44
(7)		 55
(13)		 66
(19)		 75
(24)		 83
(28)		 87
(31)		 86
(30)		 79
(26)		 67
(19)		 54
(12)		 43
(6)		 64.8
(18.2)
Average low °F (°C) 23
(−5)		 27
(−3)		 35
(2)		 43
(6)		 54
(12)		 62
(17)		 67
(19)		 65
(18)		 58
(14)		 46
(8)		 37
(3)		 27
(−3)		 45.3
(7.4)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27)		 −9
(−23)		 3
(−16)		 18
(−8)		 28
(−2)		 40
(4)		 48
(9)		 44
(7)		 32
(0)		 20
(−7)		 1
(−17)		 −13
(−25)		 −16
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.70
(68.6)		 2.30
(58.4)		 3.49
(88.6)		 3.81
(96.8)		 4.50
(114.3)		 3.71
(94.2)		 3.25
(82.6)		 3.46
(87.9)		 3.04
(77.2)		 2.80
(71.1)		 3.49
(88.6)		 3.02
(76.7)		 39.57
(1,005.1)
Source: The Weather Channel.[9]

Demographics

The Ascent at Roebling's Bridge
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1830743—
18402,026172.7%
18509,408364.4%
186016,47175.1%
187024,50548.8%
188029,72021.3%
189037,37125.7%
190042,93814.9%
191053,27024.1%
192057,1217.2%
193065,25214.2%
194062,018−5.0%
195064,4523.9%
196060,376−6.3%
197052,535−13.0%
198049,585−5.6%
199043,264−12.7%
200043,3700.2%
201040,640−6.3%
Est. 201640,797[1]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families resided in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile (1,274.4/km²). The 20,448 housing units averaged 1,556.5 per square mile (600.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.05% White, 10.14% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.38% of the population.

Of the 18,257 households,28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were not families; 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.08.

A view of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, looking towards Covington

The age distribution was 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,735, and the median income for a family was $38,307. Males had a median income of $31,238 versus $24,487 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,841. About 15.5% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Covington has some of the least expensive real estate in Kentucky; the median house price in Covington is around $95,430, while the median house price for Kentucky as a whole is $124,100.[12]


Transportation

Delta (Comair) Planes at CVG Concourse C

Bus transit is served by TANK.[13]

Air

Covington is served by Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), which is the largest airport in the state, and is hub to passenger airline Delta Air Lines and headquarters of its Delta Private Jets. The airport is one of DHL Aviation's three superhubs, serving destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, making it the seventh-busiest airport in the U.S. and 36th in the world based on passenger and cargo operations. CVG is also a focus city for Frontier Airlines and is the largest O&D airport and base for Allegiant Air, along with home to a maintenance for American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines and Delta Air Lines subsidiary Endeavor Air.

Economy

Principal employers

According to Covington's 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[14] the principal employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Internal Revenue Service 4,500
2 Fidelity Investments 3,923
3 Covington Independent Public Schools 760
4 Club Chef 659
5 State of Kentucky 501
6 St. Elizabeth Healthcare 431
7 Rosedale Green 408
8 Atkins & Pearce 220
9 NorthKey Community Care 173
10 Ashland 94

Historic churches

Saint John the Evangelist Church as seen from the east side of I-75.
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington

Notable people

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ Covington, Kentucky QuickFacts U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905), The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, Washington: Government Printing Office, p. 94 .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EB (1911).
  6. 1 2 Our History City of Covington. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 EB (1878).
  8. ↑ "Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington". Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ "MONTHLY AVERAGES for Covington, KY". 'The Weather Channel. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Kentucky Homes For Sale By City". Kentucky Real Estate Trends. RealEstate.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  13. ↑ TANK Destinations Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  14. ↑ City of Covington CAFR. (PDF) . Retrieved on October 16, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Interview with Artist Jamour Chames". Noragouma.com. Retrieved on October 16, 2016.
  16. ↑ "John H. McNeely, "Holding Institute"". The Handbook of Texas. Retrieved September 30, 2009.

Bibliography

  • "Covington", Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. VI, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1878, p. 531 .
  • "Covington", Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. VII, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1911, p. 315 .
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