Cynthiana, Kentucky

The settlement developed on both sides of the South Fork of the Licking River. It was named after Cynthia and Anna Harrison,{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA98 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=98}} daughters of Robert Harrison, who had donated land to establish the town center.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&pg=PA77| title=Kentucky Place Names | publisher=University Press of Kentucky | year=1987 | access-date=2013-04-28 | author=Rennick, Robert M. | pages=77}} Harrison County, on the other hand, was named after Colonel Benjamin Harrison, an early settler in the area who had served as sheriff of Bourbon County.{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Lewis|title=History of Kentucky|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F5FQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA321|year=1877|page=321}}

Two Civil War battles were fought in Cynthiana. The first on July 17, 1862, was part of a cavalry raid into Kentucky (which stayed in the Union) by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan; the second, on June 11 and 12, 1864, resulted in Union defeat of Confederate forces during Morgan's last raid into the state.{{cite web|url=http://www.trailsrus.com/civilwar/region4/cynthian.html|title=Civil War in Kentucky|website=www.trailsrus.com|access-date=12 April 2018}}{{cite book |last1=Penn |first1=William A. |title=Kentucky Rebel Town: Civil War Battles of Cynthiana and Harrison County |date=2016 |publisher=Univ. Press of Kentucky |location=Lexington |isbn=9780813167718 |pages=105, 175, 193, 205}}

On January 23, 1877, an LL chondrite meteorite fell in Cynthiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.meteoritehistory.info/FLIGHT/VIEWCD/CD200.HTM|title=A Chapter in the history of Meteorites by Walter Flight|website=www.meteoritehistory.info|access-date=12 April 2018}}

On March 2, 1997, the South Fork of the Licking River flooded, causing extensive damage in Cynthiana and neighboring communities.

In early March 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Cynthiana was reported to have the first case of the disease diagnosed in Kentucky. Four more cases soon followed, and by March 12, most businesses, schools and churches closed in an effort to prevent further spread.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/a-small-town-takes-a-big-hit-after-coronavirus-is-confirmed-in-its-midst/2020/03/12/52b674bc-63da-11ea-845d-e35b0234b136_story.html|title=A small town takes a big hit after coronavirus is confirmed in its midst|date=March 12, 2020}}

Cynthiana is located in southern Harrison County. U.S. Routes 27 and 62 pass through the city, passing west of the downtown area. US 27 leads north {{convert|56|mi}} to Cincinnati and south {{convert|14|mi}} to Paris, while US 62 leads northeast {{convert|46|mi}} to Maysville and southwest {{convert|21|mi}} to Georgetown. Lexington is {{convert|31|mi}} to the southwest via US 27 or {{convert|29|mi}} via Kentucky Route 353.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|10.5|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|10.4|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 1.09%, are water. The South Fork of the Licking River, a tributary of the Ohio River, flows south to north through the city, passing west of the downtown area.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cynthiana has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=899151&cityname=Cynthiana,+Kentucky,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Cynthiana, Kentucky Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=12 April 2018}}

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Cynthiana, Kentucky (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)

| Jan record high F = 74

| Feb record high F = 79

| Mar record high F = 88

| Apr record high F = 91

| May record high F = 94

| Jun record high F = 102

| Jul record high F = 105

| Aug record high F = 106

| Sep record high F = 103

| Oct record high F = 95

| Nov record high F = 83

| Dec record high F = 77

| year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 64.5

|Feb avg record high F = 68.8

|Mar avg record high F = 75.5

|Apr avg record high F = 82.2

|May avg record high F = 87.9

|Jun avg record high F = 92.5

|Jul avg record high F = 94.8

|Aug avg record high F = 93.6

|Sep avg record high F = 92.0

|Oct avg record high F = 84.1

|Nov avg record high F = 74.5

|Dec avg record high F = 66.0

|year avg record high F = 96.1

| Jan high F = 41.2

| Feb high F = 45.9

| Mar high F = 55.3

| Apr high F = 67.2

| May high F = 75.8

| Jun high F = 83.5

| Jul high F = 86.7

| Aug high F = 86.2

| Sep high F = 80.4

| Oct high F = 69.1

| Nov high F = 55.8

| Dec high F = 45.7

| year high F = 66.1

| Jan mean F = 32.0

| Feb mean F = 35.4

| Mar mean F = 43.7

| Apr mean F = 54.3

| May mean F = 64.1

| Jun mean F = 72.1

| Jul mean F = 76.0

| Aug mean F = 74.6

| Sep mean F = 67.9

| Oct mean F = 56.2

| Nov mean F = 44.3

| Dec mean F = 36.5

| year mean F = 54.8

| Jan low F = 22.7

| Feb low F = 24.9

| Mar low F = 32.2

| Apr low F = 41.4

| May low F = 52.3

| Jun low F = 60.6

| Jul low F = 65.2

| Aug low F = 63.0

| Sep low F = 55.3

| Oct low F = 43.3

| Nov low F = 32.9

| Dec low F = 27.4

| year low F = 43.4

|Jan avg record low F = 2.4

|Feb avg record low F = 8.5

|Mar avg record low F = 15.7

|Apr avg record low F = 26.7

|May avg record low F = 37.3

|Jun avg record low F = 47.3

|Jul avg record low F = 55.0

|Aug avg record low F = 53.1

|Sep avg record low F = 41.9

|Oct avg record low F = 30.0

|Nov avg record low F = 19.8

|Dec avg record low F = 10.0

|year avg record low F = -1.1

| Jan record low F = -34

| Feb record low F = -23

| Mar record low F = -8

| Apr record low F = 13

| May record low F = 23

| Jun record low F = 33

| Jul record low F = 44

| Aug record low F = 36

| Sep record low F = 31

| Oct record low F = 15

| Nov record low F = -6

| Dec record low F = -21

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.38

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.47

| Mar precipitation inch = 4.53

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.61

| May precipitation inch = 4.98

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.54

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.83

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.06

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.53

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.45

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.22

| Dec precipitation inch = 4.13

| year precipitation inch = 47.73

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 9.3

| Feb precipitation days = 7.9

| Mar precipitation days = 10.3

| Apr precipitation days = 11.2

| May precipitation days = 11.5

| Jun precipitation days = 10.5

| Jul precipitation days = 9.2

| Aug precipitation days = 7.9

| Sep precipitation days = 6.9

| Oct precipitation days = 7.1

| Nov precipitation days = 8.8

| Dec precipitation days = 9.5

| year precipitation days = 110.1

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=lmk

|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = November 18, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00151998&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = November 18, 2023}}

{{cite web

|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = xmACIS2

|access-date = November 20, 2023

}}

}}

• 28px US 27 is known otherwise as Paris Pike (going south from Cynthiana), and Falmouth Road (going north from Cynthiana).
• 28px US 62 is known otherwise as Leesburg Rd (going west from Cynthiana), and Oddville Pike (going east from Cynthiana).

• 28px KY 36 is also known locally as Williamstown Road (west of Cynthiana) and Millersburg Pike (east of Cynthiana).
• 28px KY 32 is also known locally as Connersville Pike (southwest of Cynthiana) and Millersburg Pike (east of Cynthiana). KY 32 and KY 36 merge downtown and leave Cynthiana concurrently.
• 28px KY 356 is also known as White Oak Road.

Cynthiana-Harrison County Airport is a public airport located 2 miles south of Cynthiana. It consists of a 3,850 by 75 ft asphalt runway.{{cite web |title=Cynthiana-Harrison County Airport |url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/0I8 |website=airnav.com |publisher=AIrNav |access-date=August 13, 2024}}

Cynthiana is served by the Harrison County School District with a total of seven public schools located within the county limits:

• High schools:
• Harrison County High School
• Technical Schools
• KY Tech Harrison Area Technology Center (ATC)
• Middle schools:
• Harrison County Middle School
• Elementary schools:
• Eastside Elementary
• Westside Elementary
• Northside Elementary
• Southside Elementary

Cynthiana has one private school:

• St. Edward School (Pre-k-5)

Maysville Community and Technical College has an extended campus located in Cynthiana

• Maysville Community and Technical College: Licking Valley Campus

Cynthiana has a public library, the Cynthiana-Harrison Public Library.{{cite web | url=https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111202017/https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 January 2019 | title=Kentucky Public Library Directory | publisher=Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives | access-date=5 June 2019}}

{{US Census population

| 1800 = 78

| 1810 = 369

| 1830 = 975

| 1840 = 798

| 1860 = 1237

| 1870 = 1771

| 1880 = 2101

| 1890 = 3016

| 1900 = 3257

| 1910 = 3603

| 1920 = 3857

| 1930 = 4386

| 1940 = 4840

| 1950 = 4847

| 1960 = 5641

| 1970 = 6356

| 1980 = 5881

| 1990 = 6497

| 2000 = 6258

| 2010 = 6402

| 2020 = 6333

| estyear = 2022

| estimate = 6441

| estref = {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-21.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date= May 26, 2023}}

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 6,258 people, 2,692 households, and 1,639 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,873.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,909 housing units at an average density of {{convert|870.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.43% White, 5.29% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.

There were 2,692 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,519, and the median income for a family was $34,691. Males had a median income of $27,704 versus $20,659 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,227. About 13.3% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

3M established a factory in Cynthiana in 1969. Post-it notes were developed in 1972 by Arthur Fry and Spencer Silver. Until patents expired in the late 1990s, the 3M factory in Cynthiana was the only production site of Post-it notes worldwide. Today, it still accounts for nearly all of the world's production.{{cite news |title=KY Plant makes the most Post-It Notes in the world |url=https://www.wdrb.com/news/ky-plant-makes-the-most-post-it-notes-in-the/article_31ab1706-4dcd-5dcd-8e94-3645f3b2cb81.html |access-date=30 January 2019 |work=WRDB News |date=13 July 2014}}

The Cynthiana Democrat, owned by Paxton Media Group, formerly by Landmark Community Newspapers.

Subscription-based weekly newspaper, printed every Thursday with in-home delivery.

Has been in print since 1868. Also is available at www.cynthianademocrat.com

• William A. Welch, civil engineer, environmentalist, and first general manager of the Palisades Interstate Park system
• Celia Ammerman, model and star of America's Next Top Model (cycle 12)
• William Tell Coleman, founder of the Harmony Borax Works, Death Valley, California
• Richard Gruelle, painter and member of the Hoosier Group
• Joe B. Hall, University of Kentucky men's basketball coach 1972–85; coached Wildcats to 1978 national championship
• Robert Kirkman, comic book writer, co-creator of The Walking Dead{{cite news |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2010/10/28/1498836/kentuckians-zombie-comic-strip.html |title=Kentuckian's zombie comic strip leads to AMC series |newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=2010-10-28 |last=Sloan |first=Scott |access-date=2011-10-29}}
• This is also where the original The Walking Dead comic characters Rick Grimes, Lori Grimes, Carl Grimes, Shane Walsh, and Morgan Jones lived prior to the events of the series
• Bill McKinney, jazz drummer and bandleader
• Tony Moore, comic book artist
• Betty Slade, IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Lawrence Pressman, actor
• Anna Rankin Riggs (1835–1908), social reformer
• Pythias Russ, baseball player in the Negro leagues
• Walter E. Scott, namesake of Death Valley National Park's Scotty's Castle
• Marcus A. Smith, United States Senator from Arizona
• Chris Snopek, Major League Baseball player
• Mac Swinford, federal judge
• Phil Wagner, retired American professional basketball player who spent one season (1968–69) in the American Basketball Association for the Indiana Pacers
• Justin Wells, country and roots rock musician
• Caleb Walton West, last governor of Utah Territory

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.cynthianaky.com/ City of Cynthiana official website]

{{Harrison County, Kentucky}}

{{Kentucky county seats}}

{{authority control}}

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Category:Cities in Kentucky

Category:Cities in Harrison County, Kentucky

Category:County seats in Kentucky