Greenville, Kentucky

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.[5] It was incorporated as a city in 1848.[6]

The city was probably named for the Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene.[7] Local lore holds it was named by Campbell's wife after the abundant forests seen from the town's hilltop location.[5]

Greenville is located in central Muhlenberg County at 37°12′26″N 87°10′35″W (37.207158, -87.176499).[8] It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Powderly.

U.S. Route 62 passes through Greenville as Main Street and Hopkinsville Street. It leads northeast through Powderly 7 miles (11 km) to Central and west 17 miles (27 km) to Nortonville. Kentucky Route 189 passes through the northern part of Greenville and bypasses the downtown to the northwest; it leads southwest 33 miles (53 km) to Hopkinsville. Kentucky Route 181 joins US 62 through the center of Greenville but leads north 16 miles (26 km) to Sacramento and south 30 miles (48 km) to Elkton. Kentucky Route 171 also leads south to Elkton but by a longer western route. Kentucky Route 178 leads east 7 miles (11 km) to Drakesboro.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Greenville has a total area of 5.27 square miles (13.6 km²), of which 5.14 square miles (13.3 km²) are land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km²), or 2.62%, are water.[1] It is drained by Caney Creek, which flows eastward through the northern part of the city toward Pond Creek, a tributary of the Green River.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 4,398 people, 1,859 households, and 1,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 921.7 inhabitants per square mile (355.9/km²). There were 2,047 housing units at an average density of 429.0 per square mile (165.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.88% White, 8.75% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 1,859 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75.

The age distribution was 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,521, and the median income for a family was $35,571. Males had a median income of $37,454 versus $18,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,708. About 14.2% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

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.[12]

Greenville has a lending library, a branch of the Muhlenberg County Public Library.[13] Schools located in town include Greenville Elementary School and Muhlenberg South Middle School.

• Other places named Greenville

• Official website
• Greater Muhlenberg Chamber of Commerce