FLORENCE, KENTUCKY

'Florence' is a city in Boone County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 26,349 at the 2005 census. Florence Kentucky is known to many people of Ohio and the Midwest as the gateway to the upper-south.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Landmarks

Notable native

External links

Notes

History

The Florence area was originally known as Crossroads, because of the convergence of several roads from Burlington and Union at Ridge Road (now U.S. 25). By 1821, the area was known as Maddentown, named for Thomas Madden, a Covington attorney who owned a farm on the Burlington Pike. When Madden moved away, the area became known as Connersville in 1828, for Jacob Conner, a settler who assumed responsibility for the growing town. The town was renamed Florence in honor of Jacob's wife, as another Connersville already existed in Harrison County.^[1] It was incorporated on January 27, 1830 and grew quickly after the completion of the Covington-Lexington Turnpike in 1836.^[2]

Geography

Florence is located at (38.993225, -84.642602).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.6 km² (9.9 mi²). 25.6 km² (9.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.30%) is water.
Florence is the closest significant city to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Demographics

Florence is the largest city in Boone County, and the second largest in Northern Kentucky. It is the tenth-most populous city in Kentucky. As of the census of 2000, there were 23,551 people, 9,640 households, and 6,073 families residing in the city. The population density was 921.3/km² (2,385.6/mi²). There were 10,322 housing units at an average density of 403.8/km² (1,045.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.44% White, 2.67% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.50% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.80% of the population.
In terms of population, Florence gained 2.2% over one year and gained 14.2% over the course of the decade. As of June 2007, the city's population was 26,929 citizens.^[1]
Florence is economic and industrial cross-roads, as the city is closest city of significance to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and has I-71 running directly through the city.
There were 9,640 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,567, and the median income for a family was $52,160. Males had a median income of $36,677 versus $26,323 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,451. About 8.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

Landmarks

Florence is well known in surrounding cities for a water tower visible from I-75 that reads "Florence Y'all". Originally the tower advertised the up-and-coming Florence Mall, as part of an agreement by the mall developers who donated the land for the tower. However, because the mall was not built yet, it violated highway regulations, and the city was forced to change it within a short deadline. Rather than repaint the entire tower, they simply painted over the two vertical lines of the "M" to create a "Y". The intent was to change it back when the mall was built, but residents liked the tower's new proclamation, so the city decided to leave it as it was.

Notable native

★ Shaun Alexander, NFL player

External links

★ Historical Images and Texts of Florence, Kentucky

★ City of Florence

★ Florence Freedom Baseball

★ Boone County

★ Florence Kentucky History

★ Florence Y'all water tower

Notes

^[1] Information obtained from Rutledge, Mike. "Census Finds Growth Spurts in N.Ky." The Cincinnati Enquirer, 28th June 2007. [1]

1. "Florence" in ''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'' John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky), 1992.
2. Boone County Historical Society, ''Florence, Boone County, Kentucky (Florence, KY: The Society), 1958.