Russell Springs, Kentucky
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Russell Springs, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| Main Street (KY 379) Main Street (KY 379) | |
| Location of Russell Springs in Russell County, Kentucky. Location of Russell Springs in Russell County, Kentucky. | |
| Coordinates: 37°03′03″N 85°04′39″W / 37.05083°N 85.07750°WCoordinates: 37°03′03″N 85°04′39″W / 37.05083°N 85.07750°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Russell |
| Incorporated | 1936[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | Template:Infobox settlement/areadisp |
| • Land | Template:Infobox settlement/areadisp |
| • Water | Template:Infobox settlement/areadisp |
| Elevation | Template:Infobox settlement/lengthdisp |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 2,715 |
| • Estimate (2024)[4] | 2,807 |
| • Density | Template:Infobox settlement/densdisp |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 42642 |
| Area codes | 270 & 364 |
| FIPS code | 21-67494 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404656[3] |
| Website | russellsprings |
Russell Springs is a home rule-class city[5] in Russell County, Kentucky, in the United States. The city is the gateway to Lake Cumberland, one of the largest man-made lakes in the region, created by Wolf Creek Dam. It is the largest city in the county; as of the 2020 census, Russell Springs had a population of 2,715.[6]
History
The present city grew out of a resort centered on a local chalybeate spring. Rennick relates that Samuel Patterson was generally credited with settling the site and that the community was known as Big Boiling Springs by 1850.[7] The post office was established in 1855 as "Russell Springs" after the county, but was discontinued in 1865 and reopened as Kimble (after local businessman George Kimble) in 1888. The community restored the name Russell Springs in 1901[7] and incorporated in 1936.[1]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km2), all land.
Russell Springs is situated in a hilly area in western Russell County, a few miles north of Lake Cumberland (part of the Cumberland River). The city's historic district is concentrated along Kentucky Route 379 (Main Street) at its intersection with Jamestown Street. The city of Jamestown lies just to the south. U.S. Route 127 passes through the eastern part of the Russell Springs, connecting it with the Lake Cumberland area and Tennessee to the south, and the city of Liberty to the northeast. The Cumberland Parkway also traverses Russell Springs, connecting it with Columbia to the west and Somerset to the east.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Russell Springs had a population of 2,715. The median age was 38.2 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.2 males age 18 and over.[8][9]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[10]
There were 1,129 households in Russell Springs, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.2% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[8]
There were 1,276 housing units, of which 11.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.[8]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 2,434 | 89.7% |
| Black or African American | 18 | 0.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 20 | 0.7% |
| Asian | 38 | 1.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.0% |
| Some other race | 94 | 3.5% |
| Two or more races | 110 | 4.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 201 | 7.4% |
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 2,399 people, 1,157 households, and 673 families residing in the city.[11] The population density was 520.4 inhabitants per square mile (200.9/km2). There were 1,280 housing units at an average density of 277.7 per square mile (107.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.79% White, 0.17% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 1,157 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.71.
The age distribution was 20.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,600, and the median income for a family was $26,464. Males had a median income of $23,480 versus $14,508 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,660. About 21.8% of families and 27.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.7% of those under age 18 and 24.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Russell Springs has a lending library, a branch of the Russell County Public Library.[12]
Notable people
- Tara Conner, Miss Kentucky USA 2006, Miss USA 2006
- Vernie McGaha, Former Kentucky State Senator
- Doug Moseley, later a Kentucky state senator, was pastor of the Russell Springs First United Methodist Church from 1958 to 1960
- Steve Wariner, country music singer and songwriter. Kentucky State Route 80 is named in his honor.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State: Land Office. "Russell Springs". Accessed 8 July 2013.
- ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Template:GNIS
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP-21)". May 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rennick, Robert. Kentucky Place Names, p. 259. University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1987. Accessed 4 October 2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
External links
Media related to Russell Springs, Kentucky at Wikimedia Commons- Lake Cumberland Area Guide
