Moving to Frankfort, Kentucky

Frankfort, Kentucky is a city situated in the Bluegrass region of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The city is located on the banks of the Kentucky River, in Franklin County. It is the state capital and has a population of approximately 25,000 people. Geographically speaking, Frankfort is situated between Lexington and Louisville. The terrain around this area is mostly rolling hills with some flat lands and forests.

The climate in Frankfort can be described as humid continental with hot summers and cold winters. Rainfall is abundant throughout the year but most abundant during the spring season.

Historically, Frankfort was founded in 1786 by James Wilkinson and Benjamin Logan who named it after Stephen Frank, a surveyor who had previously explored the area. It was officially incorporated as a city in 1820 and has been the seat of government since that time.

Politically speaking, Frankfort has been heavily involved in state politics since its inception with many politicians having called it home over its history including three former governors: Thomas Metcalfe, John J Crittenden and Louie B Nunn.

Economically, Frankfort has seen growth over recent years due to its proximity to Lexington and Louisville which have both seen an increase in population over recent years leading to increased economic activity for Frankfort as well as increased tourism revenue from visitors to these cities who often stop off at local attractions such as Buffalo Trace Distillery or Capitol View Park on their way through town.

Schools within Frankfort are overseen by Franklin County Public Schools which provides education to children from kindergarten through 12th grade at 13 different schools throughout the county including one high school (Franklin County High), two middle schools (Elkhorn Middle School & Hearn Middle School) and 10 elementary schools (Bridgeport Elementary School, Collins Lane Elementary School etc). The district also operates an alternative school for students with special needs or behavioral issues called Franklin County Opportunity Center (FCOC).

Finally, there are several notable landmarks within Frankfort such as Buffalo Trace Distillery which produces bourbon whiskey; Capitol View Park which provides stunning views of downtown; Old State Capitol Building which houses many of Kentucky’s historical artifacts; Liberty Hall Historic Site which preserves a collection of buildings once owned by US Senator John Brown; Thomas D Clark Center for Kentucky History which hosts exhibits highlighting Kentucky’s past; and finally State War Memorial Buildings which commemorate those who died fighting for their country during World War I & II.

Frankfort is located at 50km northwest of Lexington. It is located on the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the state capital. The city’s real show-stopper, though, is the huge new Kentucky History Center. Its interactive exhibits include a replica of a coal mine that you can walk through, and there are thousands of artifacts on display. The Liberty Hall Historic Site is a good choice: It contains both Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House .

Population: 27,741. Estimated population in July 2024: 27,210 (-1.9% change)
Males: 13,228 (47.7%), Females: 14,513 (52.3%)

Zip codes: 40601.

Demographics

Median resident age: 35.9 years
Median household income: $34,980
Median house value: $88,100

Population by Race

Races in Frankfort:

• White Non-Hispanic (81.1%)
• Black (14.7%)
• Two or more races (1.6%)
• Hispanic (1.5%)
• Other race (0.8%)
• American Indian (0.5%)

Ancestries: United States (20.0%), Irish (11.5%), English (11.2%), German (11.1%), Scotch-Irish (2.3%), Scottish (1.8%).

Elevation: 510 feet

Land area: 14.7 square miles

Population by Education

Frankfort, Kentucky is the capital city of the state of Kentucky and is located in Franklin County. The population of Frankfort was estimated to be 25,527 as of July 1, 2019 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The racial makeup of Frankfort is 79.3% White, 17.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos make up 2.2% of the population in Frankfort; this includes people from all racial backgrounds who identified as Hispanic or Latino heritage in the census data collected by the U.S Census Bureau in 2019.

The median age for people living in Frankfort is 37 years old with a gender ratio that is almost even between men and women; 49% male and 51 % female according to 2019 census data collected by the U.S Census Bureau as well as city-level data from City-Data.com. The median household income for residents of Frankfort was $50,917 in 2019 which was slightly lower than the median household income for all of Kentucky which was reported at $54,704 according to the U.S Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates report published in September 2020.. Additionally, 10 percent of households had an income below poverty level compared to 12 percent for all households statewide according to 2017 estimates provided by City-Data’s analysis team using data released by American Community Survey 5-year estimates report published in September 2020.

Frankfort also has a large percentage (10%) of its population comprised of veterans who served their country with honor according to City-Data’s analysis team using 2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates report published in September 2020.. In addition to veterans, there are a significant number (11%) of senior citizens who call Frankfort home with a median age range between 65 and 74 years old according to 2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates report published in September 2020.. There are also many families living within this capital city; approximately 29% have children under 18 living with them according to 2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates report published in September 2020.

For population 25 years and over in Frankfort

• High school or higher: 79.2%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.9%
• Graduate or professional degree: 9.0%
• Unemployed: 8.3%
• Mean travel time to work: 16.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Frankfort city

• Never married: 25.5%
• Now married: 48.0%
• Separated: 2.0%
• Widowed: 9.0%
• Divorced: 15.6%

2.3% Foreign born (0.9% Latin America, 0.5% Asia, 0.5% Europe, 0.3% Africa).

Population change in the 1990s: +736 (+2.7%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Frankfort:

• FRANKFORT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (299 KINGS DAUGHTERS DRIVE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Frankfort:

• BLUEGRASS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 14 miles; VERSAILLES, KY)
• NEW HORIZONS HEALTH SYSTEMS INC (about 19 miles; OWENTON, KY)
• GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; GEORGETOWN, KY)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Frankfort:

• BLUE GRASS (about 22 miles; LEXINGTON, KY; Abbreviation: LEX)
• CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL (about 60 miles; COVINGTON/CINCINNATI, OH, KY; Abbreviation: CVG)
• LOUISVILLE INTL-STANDIFORD FIELD (about 61 miles; LOUISVILLE, KY; Abbreviation: SDF)

Other public-use airports nearest to Frankfort:

• CAPITAL CITY (about 4 miles; FRANKFORT, KY; Abbreviation: FFT)
• GEORGETOWN SCOTT COUNTY – MARSHALL FLD (about 30 miles; GEORGETOWN, KY; Abbreviation: 27K)
• ROBINSON (about 41 miles; VEVAY, IN; Abbreviation: 8I1)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Frankfort:

• KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 1,842; Location: 400 E MAIN ST; Public; Website: www.kysu.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
• J M ACADEMY OF COSMETOLOGY INC (Full-time enrollment: 37; Location: 110-A BRIGHTON PK BLVD; Private, for-profit)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Frankfort:

• UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY (about 28 miles; LEXINGTON, KY; Full-time enrollment: 20,492)
• LEXINGTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 28 miles; LEXINGTON, KY; Full-time enrollment: 5,437)
• EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY (about 51 miles; RICHMOND, KY; Full-time enrollment: 11,214)
• UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE (about 57 miles; LOUISVILLE, KY; Full-time enrollment: 15,514)
• SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY (about 57 miles; LOUISVILLE, KY; Full-time enrollment: 2,342)
• BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY (about 57 miles; LOUISVILLE, KY; Full-time enrollment: 2,030)
• JEFFERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 62 miles; LOUISVILLE, KY; Full-time enrollment: 5,290)

Schools

Public high schools in Frankfort:

• FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 921; Location: 1100 E MAIN ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
• WESTERN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 720; Location: 100 DOCTORS DR; Grades: 09 – 12)
• FRANKFORT HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 320; Location: 328 SHELBY ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
• FRANKLIN COUNTY CAREER AND TECHNICAL CTR (Location: 1106 E MAIN ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Frankfort:

• MILLVILLE BAPTIST ACADEMY (Students: 42; Location: 5600 MCCRACKEN PIKE; Grades: 1 – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Frankfort:

• ELKHORN MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 731; Location: 1060 E MAIN ST; Grades: 06 – 08)
• BONDURANT MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 628; Location: 300 BONDURANT DR; Grades: 06 – 08)
• BRIDGEPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 547; Location: 555 BRIDGEPORT RD; Grades: PK – 05)
• COLLINS LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 537; Location: 1 COUGAR LN; Grades: PK – 05)
• SECOND STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 527; Location: 506 W 2ND ST; Grades: PK – 08)
• PEAKS MILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 516; Location: 100 PEAKS MILL RD; Grades: PK – 05)
• HEARN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 481; Location: 200 LARALAN AVE; Grades: PK – 05)
• ELKHORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 479; Location: 928 E MAIN ST; Grades: PK – 05)
• BALD KNOB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 175; Location: 285 FLAT CREEK RD; Grades: PK – 05)
• EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (Students: 45; Location: 1100 E MAIN ST; Grades: 06 – 12)

Private primary/middle schools in Frankfort:

• GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL (Students: 322; Location: 316 WAPPING STREET; Grades: KG – 8)
• CAPITAL DAY SCHOOL (Students: 163; Location: 120 DEEPWOOD ROAD; Grades: KG – 8)
• MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FRANKFORT (Students: 41; Location: 104 COVE SPRING; Grades: PK – 5)

Libraries

Library in Frankfort:

• PAUL SAWYIER PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $1,733,666; Location: 305 WAPPING STREET; 110,160 books; 7,084 audio materials; 4,510 video materials; 228 serial subscriptions)