Georgetown, Kentucky

, a Greek Revival landmark Native peoples have lived along the banks of Elkhorn Creek in what is now Scott County for at least 15,000 years. John McClellan was the first English colonist to settle the area and established McClellan's Station there in 1775, but the compound was abandoned following an Indian attack on December 29, 1776. In 1782, the Baptist preacher Elijah Craig led his congregation to the site from Orange County, Virginia, and established a new settlement which he called Lebanon. This was incorporated by the Virginia legislature in 1784. At the time, Virginia claimed this territory under its colonial charter. The city's name was changed to George Town in honor of President George Washington in 1790. When Kentucky became the 15th U.S. state in 1792 and formed Scott County, George Town became the county seat. Its name was formally changed to Georgetown in 1846. 20th century to present Throughout the 20th century, Georgetown has been in transition from an economy based primarily on agriculture, to one mixing manufacturing, small business, and the family farm. During the 1960s, the construction of Interstate 75 placed the city on one of the nation's busiest highways. The selection of Georgetown as the site of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in 1985 has resulted in the greatest period of growth in the city's history. The historic Ward Hall, now home to The Ward Hall Preservation Foundation, is located just outside Georgetown. Ward Hall was the summer home of Junius Ward. The home represents the height of the Greek Revival period of architecture in Kentucky and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The Georgetown business section has a historic district known as the Oxford Historic District. It is also listed on the NRHP. ==Geography==

Georgetown is located north of Lexington in the Bluegrass region of the state. Major highways that run through the city include Interstate 75 and US Routes 25, 62, and 460. Numerous state highways run through the city. I-75 runs to the east of downtown, with access from exits 125, 126, 127, and 129. Via I-75, downtown Lexington is south, and Cincinnati, Ohio is north. US 25 runs through the center of town, leading south to Lexington and north to Corinth. US 62 runs along the southern and eastern part of the city as a bypass, leading northeast to Cynthiana and southwest to Midway. US 460 runs east−west through the town, leading east to Paris and west to Frankfort, the state capital. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Climate Georgetown has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with warm summers and moderately cold winters. Precipitation is relatively well spread (although the late spring and summer months are typically wetter), with an average of . ==Demographics==

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Georgetown had a population of 37,086. The median age was 33.1 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.1 males age 18 and over. There were 13,979 households in Georgetown, of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.9% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 14,800 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. 2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 29,098 people 10,733 households, and 7,452 families in the city. The population density was . There were 11,957 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 87.5% White, 7.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.3% of the population. There were 10,733 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09. The age distribution was 27.9% under 18 and 8.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.7 years. The median income for a household in the city was $51,692. The per capita income for the city was $24,376. About 13.9% of the population was below the poverty line. ==Economy==

, is manufactured in Georgetown Top employers According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are: ==Sports==

Georgetown is home to Toyota Stadium. Toyota Stadium hosts Georgetown College's Football Team. The city used to host Lexington SC, of the USL Championship before they moved to Lexington SC Stadium. ==Education==

on campus of Georgetown College. Georgetown College is a private liberal arts college located in the downtown area of Georgetown. Baptist Seminary of Kentucky is a seminary in Georgetown. Public education in Georgetown and Scott County consists of a preschool center serving special needs and economically at-risk students aged 3–5, nine elementary schools (grades K–5), three middle schools (grades 6–8) and two high schools (grades 9–12). These schools are all part of the Scott County Schools system. Plans had been in progress for an additional high school and middle school within the city limits during the 2010s due to the expanding population. The district chose not to build a new middle school, opting instead to expand one of its three existing middle schools, but opened a new high school and a new elementary school in 2019. Elkhorn Crossing School, which had been a detached campus of Scott County High before the 2019 opening of Great Crossing High School, provides some sophomores and juniors at both high schools with a curriculum that integrates academic and career-based disciplines. Public schools located within Georgetown and Scott County include: • Creekside Elementary School • Garth Elementary • Northern Elementary • Southern Elementary • Eastern Elementary • Western Elementary • Anne Mason Elementary • Stamping Ground Elementary • Lemons Mill Elementary • Royal Spring Middle School • Georgetown Middle School • Scott County Middle School • Great Crossing High School • Scott County High School • Phoenix Horizon Academy Private education in Georgetown and Scott County includes St. John elementary and middle school, Providence Christian Academy elementary and middle school, and Keystone Montessori elementary school. Georgetown also has a lending library, the Scott County Public Library. ==Media==

Georgetown's newspaper, the Georgetown News-Graphic, prints on Tuesday and Friday. Residents of the area commonly subscribe to this locally geared newspaper in addition to the larger Lexington daily newspaper, the Lexington Herald-Leader. Z-Rock 103.3 FM WXZZ Georgetown is a 24/7/365 classic rock/new rock radio station. ==Infrastructure==

Healthcare Georgetown has one hospital, Georgetown Community Hospital, operated by LifePoint Health. UK HealthCare and Baptist Health Lexington have regional campuses in Georgetown. Georgetown also has many nursing facilities, including Signature HealthCARE of Georgetown, Windsor Gardens Retirement Community, Dover Manor Nursing Home, and Ashton Grove Assisted Living. ==Notable people==

• William E. Applegate (1851–1928) – thoroughbred bookmaker, breeder, racer and track owner. Born in Georgetown. • Mike Ayers (1948– ) – former football coach for East Tennessee State University and Wofford College • Benjamin Franklin Bradley (1825−1897) – politician, representative to the Confederate States Congress from Kentucky. Born in Georgetown. • Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge (1826–1907) – wife of Vice President John C. Breckinridge. Born in Georgetown. • Stephen G. Burbridge (1831–1894) – U.S. Army major general during the Civil War. Born in Georgetown. • Benjamin T. Cable (1853–1923) – politician, US Representative from Illinois. Born in Georgetown. • J. Campbell Cantrill (1870–1923) – politician, US Representative from Kentucky. Born in Georgetown. • James E. Cantrill (1839–1908) – politician, Lt. Governor of Kentucky, judge • Jean Murrell Capers (1913−2017) - Ohio state judge and Cleveland City Council member. Born in Georgetown. • Patricia Cooksey (1958– ) – jockey and horse racing commentator • Joe Cowley (baseball) (1958– ) – former Major League Baseball pitcher, who threw a no-hitter • Elijah Craig (1738−1808) – early Baptist preacher, educator and entrepreneur; worked on protecting religious freedom with James Madison of Virginia • Basil W. Duke (1838−1916) – lawyer and Confederate general officer during the Civil War. Born in Georgetown. • Sandford C. Faulkner (1803–1874) – composer of the song "The Arkansas Traveler". Born in Georgetown. • James Marion Frost (1848–1916) – pastor and author. Born in Georgetown. • A. W. Hamilton (1980− ) – head men's basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University • William H. Hatch (1833−1896) – politician, US Representative from Missouri. Born in Georgetown. • John Hunter Herndon (1813–1878) – Texas lawyer, judge and railroad president. Born in Georgetown. • Harrison E. Howe (1881–1942) – chemical engineer, editor and author. Born in Georgetown. • Tom L. Johnson (1854−1911) – US Representative from Ohio 1891–95, Mayor of Cleveland 1901–1909. Born in Georgetown. • James McHall Jones (1823–1851) – US District Judge. Born in Georgetown. • Larry D (1984– ) – professional wrestler and promoter • Broadus Mitchell (1892–1988) – historian, author and professor. Born in Georgetown. • Fountain E. Pitts (1808–1874) – influential Methodist minister. Born in Georgetown. • Charles Edward Pogue (1950– ) – screenwriter, playwright and actor • Dale Polley (1965– ) – former Major League Baseball pitcher • Phillip Pratt (1955– ) – politician in the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 62nd district • Clifton Blackburn Prewitt (1826–1902) real estate developer, formerly enslaved • Ryan Quarles (1983– ) – president, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, former two-term Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, former state representative, 2023 candidate for governor • Dallas Robinson (1982– ) − 2014 Olympian-soldier; sole Olympian from Kentucky in the Sochi Russia Games • James Fisher Robinson (1800−1882) – politician, 22nd Governor of Kentucky. Federal governor during the Civil War. Cardome in Georgetown was his family home. • John McCracken Robinson (1794−1893) – politician, US Senator from Illinois. Born in Georgetown. • Jackson Showalter (1859–1935) – five-time U.S. chess champion • Nellie Showalter (1870–1946) – American women's chess champion • Gustavus Woodson Smith (1821−1896) – General in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; Confederate Secretary of War in 1862 • Hayden Stevenson (1877–1952) – film actor. Born in Georgetown. • Barton W. Stone (1772−1844) – Presbyterian and Restorationist preacher of the Second Great Awakening • Steve Zahn (1967− ) – actor; lives on a farm in Scott County. ==Photo gallery==

File:City Hall; Georgetown, Kentucky.JPG|Georgetown City Hall File:Scott County Courthouse; Scott County, Kentucky.jpg|Scott County Courthouse File:Royal Spring1.jpg|Royal Spring File:Cardome3.JPG|Cardome Centre File:Georgetown & Scott Co Museum.jpg|Georgetown & Scott County Museum File:Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, Tokugawa Gates.jpg|Yuko-En on the Elkhorn ==Sister city==

Georgetown has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International: • Tahara, Aichi, Japan ==References==