Hazard, Kentucky
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Hazard is a city located in Perry County, Kentucky. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,806. It is the county seat of Perry CountyTemplate:GR.
The town of Hazard, as well as Perry County, is named after U.S. Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, known for his victory report during the War of 1812 stating, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." A post office named Perry Court House was established in the area in the 1820s, though some reports note that locals had always referred to the area as "Hazard". The town's name was officially changed to Hazard in 1854.
Long isolated by the surrounding mountains, Hazard met the outside world with the arrival of the railroad in 1912. Previously, the only ways in or out of the valley were 45 miles down the North Fork of the Kentucky River, or a 2-week trip over the surrounding mountains. The railroad brought boom times to the town, but the Great Depression saw prosperity end as quickly as it had begun.
Need details here, including the 1927, 1957 and 1963 floods, the rise and fall of the coal-based economy, and the building of State Highway 15, State Highway 80, and the Daniel Boone Turnpike (now the Hal Rogers Parkway).
The early 1980s CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard brought visitors to the town, even though the fictional "Hazzard County" was set in Georgia. During and after the popular show's run, members of the show's cast were frequent visitors to Hazard's annual Black Gold Festival.
In July, 1999, Hazard received the dubious honor of being the first stop on President Bill Clinton's tour of poverty-stricken communities that had failed to share in the boom of the 1990s.
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Geography
KYMap-doton-Hazard.PNG
Location of Hazard, Kentucky
Hazard is located at 37°15'21" North, 83°11'37" West (37.255910, -83.193706)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.2 km² (7.0 mi²). 18.2 km² (7.0 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density is 264.3/km² (684.6/mi²). There are 2,291 housing units at an average density of 126.0/km² (326.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 90.26% White, 6.58% African American, 0.08% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 0.46% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,946 households out of which 30.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% are married couples living together, 18.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% are non-families. 31.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.88.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $20,690, and the median income for a family is $27,226. Males have a median income of $34,398 versus $22,386 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,782. 30.5% of the population and 30.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 44.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Sources
- The City of Hazard's official web site (http://www.cityofhazard.com/)
- An unofficial but exhaustive site: http://www.hazardkentucky.com/
- Pictures and information about President Clinton's 1999 visit at Hazard Television Station WSGS (http://www.wsgs.com/visit1.htm)