Greenville, Kentucky

Greenville, Kentucky
The courthouse in Greenville
The courthouse in Greenville
Location in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Location in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Coordinates: 37°12′26″N 87°10′35″W / 37.20722°N 87.17639°W / 37.20722; -87.17639
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyMuhlenberg
Settled1812
Incorporated1848
Area
 • Total5.27 sq mi (13.66 km2)
 • Land5.13 sq mi (13.30 km2)
 • Water0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
Elevation
525 ft (160 m)
Population
 • Total4,492
 • Density874.78/sq mi (337.78/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
42345
Area code(s)270 & 364
FIPS code21-33022
GNIS feature ID0493344
Websitewww.greenvilleky.org

Greenville is a city of Kentucky in the United States. It is the seat of its county.[3] The population was 4,492 at the 2020 census.[2]

History

The town was settled in 1799 on an estate donated by local landowner William Campbell in order to establish a seat of government for a new county. Greenville was not established by the state assembly until 1812, however.[4] It was incorporated as a city in 1848.[5]

The city was probably named for the Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene.[6] Local lore holds it was named by Campbell's wife after the abundant forests seen from the town's hilltop location.[4]

Geography

Greenville is located at 37°12′26″N 87°10′35″W / 37.20722°N 87.17639°W / 37.20722; -87.17639 (37.207158, -87.176499).[7]

Economy

The 1987 Encyclopedia of Kentucky refers to Greenville as "the unofficial capital of the Black Belt", a reference to the area's production of coal and dark tobacco.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "P1. Race – Greenville city, Kentucky: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. 1 2 Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 126. ISBN 0-8131-2631-2. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Greenville, Kentucky". Accessed 28 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "History of Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Archived 2006-08-29 at the Wayback Machine".
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ Channing, Steven A. (1987). "Dictionary of Places: Greenville". Encyclopedia of Kentucky. New York, New York: Somerset Publishers. ISBN 978-0-403-09981-8.

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