Covington, Kentucky

Covington, Kentucky
City

Downtown Covington skyline

Seal

Location 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[1]
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
 • Density 2,966.4/sq mi (1,148.0/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
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. It is 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 5th-most-populous city in Kentucky.[2] It is one of its county's two seats,[3] along with Independence.

History

Daniel Carter Beard Boyhood Home

In 1814 when 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 founded the European-American town of Covington.[4] The city was formally incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly a year later.

Stewart Iron Works was established in 1862 and became the largest iron fence maker in the world. Covington experienced growth during most of the 19th century, only to decline during the Great Depression and the middle 20th century.[4] The city has seen some redevelopment during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Long the most populous city in Kenton County,

Covington Blue Sox

In 1913, city leaders tried to acquire a baseball franchise in the Class D Blue Grass League; the Cincinnati Reds, whose park was just five miles away across the Ohio River, decided against the move. Instead (after several larger cities backed out), Covington was awarded a team in the new "outlaw" circuit, the Federal League.[5]

The city raised $12,500, with $6,000 budgeted to build the ballpark. Bernard Wisehall, a prominent local architect, designed Federal Park (also known as Riverbreeze Park) with a capacity to 6,000. The playing field (bounded by East 2nd Street, East 3rd Street, Madison Avenue and Scott Boulevard[6]) was tiny, believed to be smallest for any pro baseball park ever built: just 194 feet down the right-field line, 267 feet to dead center and 218 feet down the left-field line.[5] (Modern rules dictate no pro ballpark may have a fence closer than 325 feet, even down the foul lines.) Construction did not begin until a month before Opening Day; after starting the season on a long road trip, the Blue Sox managed to sell out their home opener in early May, with thousands of fans turned away.[5]

However, the Covington area did not have the population to support such an ambitious endeavor; although drawing 6,000 fans to their opener, the Blue Sox could only manage an average attendance of 650 for the remainder of their initial nine-game home stand. By June, Covington was seeing only a few hundred fans per contest (all told, the Blue Sox drew about 14,000 to their twenty home games). On June 26, the team moved to Kansas City and ownership of the team reverted to creditors. Federal Park was used for other events the next few years (including boxing and auto polo), but was torn down in 1919, with a tobacco warehouse put up in its place. (The Kenton County Circuit courthouse occupies the spot today.) Covington has not hosted a professional team in any sport since.

Neighborhoods

Covington claims 19 distinct neighborhoods,[7] 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 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.[8]

Demographics

The Ascent at Roebling's Bridge
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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. 201540,997[9]0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile (1,274.4/km²). There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 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.

There were 18,257 households out of which 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 non-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]

Top employers

According to Covington's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[13] the top employers in the city are: (Does not include Internal Revenue Service with employment of approximately 4,000)

# Employer # of Employees
1 St. Elizabeth Healthcare 6,300
2 Fidelity Investments 3,900
3 Covington Independent Schools 925
4 Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington 800
5 ACNielsen 400
6 Commonwealth of Kentucky 360
7 Omnicare 325
8 Club Chef 300
9 NorthKey 280
10 Atkins & Pearce 225

Transportation

Delta (Comair) Planes at CVG Concourse C

Bus Transit is served by TANK.[14]

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 super-hubs, serving destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, making it the 7th 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,[15] 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

  1. ↑ City of Covington, KY > Government > Mayor & Commissioners. Covingtonky.gov. Retrieved on October 16, 2016.
  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. 1 2 Our History City of Covington. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Federal Park / Covington Blue Sox | Visits". Ballparkdigest.com. November 4, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Riverbreeze Ballpark (Historical) – Covington". RecreationParks.net. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington". Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "MONTHLY AVERAGES for Covington, KY". 'The Weather Channel. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 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. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  13. ↑ City of Covington CAFR Retrieved March 11, 2013
  14. ↑ TANK Destinations Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  15. ↑ City of Covington CAFR. (PDF) . Retrieved on October 16, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Interview with Artist Jamour Chames". Noragouma.com. Retrieved on October 16, 2016.
  17. ↑ "John H. McNeely, "Holding Institute"". The Handbook of Texas. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
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