Frankfort, Kentucky

The town of Frankfort likely received its name from an event that took place in the 1780s. Native Americans attacked a group of early European colonists from Bryan Station, who were on their way to make salt at Mann's Lick in Jefferson County. Pioneer Stephen Frank was killed at the Kentucky River and the settlers thereafter called the crossing "Frank's Ford". This name was later elided to Frankfort.{{cite web|url=http://www.frankfort.ky.gov/About/About-Frankfort/City-History/city-history.html|title=City History|publisher=City of Frankfort, Kentucky|work=Official website|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718152323/http://www.frankfort.ky.gov/About/About-Frankfort/City-History/city-history.html|archive-date=July 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}

In 1786, James Wilkinson purchased a {{convert|260|acre|ha|abbr=off|adj=on}} tract of land on the north side of the Kentucky River, which developed as downtown Frankfort. He was an early promoter of Frankfort as the state capital. Wilkinson felt Frankfort would be a center of transportation using the Kentucky River to ship farm produce to the Ohio River and then to the Mississippi and on to New Orleans.

After Kentucky became the 15th state in 1792, five commissioners from various counties were appointed, on 20 June 1792, to choose a location for the capital. They were John Allen and John Edwards (both from Bourbon County), Henry Lee (from Mason), Thomas Kennedy (from Madison), and Robert Todd (from Fayette). A number of communities competed for this honor, but Frankfort won. According to early histories, the offer of Andrew Holmes' log house as capitol for seven years, a number of town lots, £50 worth of locks and hinges, 10 boxes of glass, 1,500 pounds of nails, and $3,000 in gold helped the decision go to Frankfort.[http://kentucky.gov/kyhs/hmdb/MarkerSearch.aspx?mode=Subject&subject=134 "Kentucky Historical Marker 1774"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818090817/http://kentucky.gov/kyhs/hmdb/MarkerSearch.aspx?mode=Subject&subject=134 |date=August 18, 2006 }}. Kentucky Historical Society Website

File:Frankfort bird eye.jpg

Frankfort had a United States post office by 1794, with Daniel Weisiger as postmaster. On 1 October 1794, Weisiger sent the first quarterly account to Washington.Rennick, Robert M. (1993) Kentucky's Bluegrass: A Survey of the Post Offices, pp. 91 & 99. Lake Grove, Oregon: The Depot, {{ISBN|0-943645-31-X}}. Post Office Department records were destroyed by a fire in 1836.

John Brown, a Virginia lawyer and statesman, built a home now called Liberty Hall in Frankfort in 1796. Before Kentucky statehood, he represented Virginia in the Continental Congress (1777−78) and the U.S. Congress (1789−91). While in Congress, he introduced the bill granting statehood to Kentucky. After statehood, he was elected by the state legislature as one of the state's U.S. Senators.{{Cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/|title=Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Retro Search|website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}

In 1796, the Kentucky General Assembly appropriated funds to provide a house to accommodate the governor; it was completed two years later. The Old Governor's Mansion is claimed to be the oldest official executive residence still in use in the United States. In 1829, Gideon Shryock designed the Old Capitol, Kentucky's third, in Greek Revival style. It served Kentucky as its capitol from 1830 to 1910. The separate settlement known as South Frankfort was annexed by the city on 3 January 1850.Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Frankfort, Kentucky". Accessed July 25, 2013.

The Argus of Western America was published in Frankfort from 1808 until 1830.{{Cite web|url=http://steveinskeep.com/77-the-argus-of-western-america/|title=How Politicians Bought the 19th Century Media|date=May 4, 2015|website=Steve Inskeep: NPR Host and Author}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

During the American Civil War, the Union Army built fortifications overlooking Frankfort on what is now called Fort Hill. The Confederate Army also occupied Frankfort for a short time, starting on 3 September 1862, the only such time that Confederate forces took control of a Union capitol.

The Clinton Street High School, a segregated public school for African American students in Frankfort operated from either 1882 or 1884 until 1928.{{Cite web |title=African American Schools in Frankfort and Franklin County, KY |url=https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/2647 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, University of Kentucky Libraries, University of Kentucky}}{{Cite book |last=Boyd |first=Douglas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N2YiDiKWa_0C |title=Crawfish Bottom: Recovering a Lost Kentucky Community |date=2011-08-01 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=978-0-8131-3409-3 |pages=93–96 |language=en}}

File:Kentucky - Frankfort through Hickman - NARA - 23940289 (cropped).jpg

On 3 February 1900, William Goebel was assassinated in Frankfort while walking to the capitol on the way to the Kentucky Legislature. Former Secretary of State Caleb Powers and several others were later found guilty of a conspiracy to murder Goebel, however all were later pardoned.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zeY7uCxT0Q4C&pg=PA97 |title=Generations: An American Family|first=John|last=Egerton|date=April 10, 1983|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=0813127831|via=Google Books}}

The Mayo–Underwood School, the successor to the Clinton Street High School, was a public school for African American students in Frankfort and operated from 1929 until 1964. The school was torn down as part of an urban renewal plan,{{Cite news |date=1966-08-31 |title=Capital Plaza Authority Asks Mayo–Underwood School Site |pages=13 |work=The Lexington Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118061699/capital-plaza-authority-asks/ |access-date=2023-02-06}} and to make way for the Capital Plaza.

The Capital Plaza was comprised the Capital Plaza Office Tower, the tallest building in the city, the Capital Plaza Hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn, Frankfort), and the Fountain Place Shoppes. The Capital Plaza Office Tower opened in 1972 and became a visual landmark for the center of the city. By the early 2000s, maintenance of the concrete structures had been neglected and the plaza had fallen into disrepair, with sections of the plaza closed to pedestrian activity out of concerns for safety. In 2018 The Capital Plaza was demolished{{Cite web |title=Capital Plaza Tower Demolished in Frankfort – CTBUH |url=https://www.ctbuh.org/news/capital-plaza-tower-demolished-in-frankfort |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.ctbuh.org}} and a new state office building was constructed{{Cite web |title=The Mayo-Underwood Building |url=https://www.eopa.com/work/workplace/capital-plaza-reconstruction/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=EOP Architects |language=en-US}} to take its place. The new building was named The Mayo-Underwood State Office Building{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Mark Henderson |date=2019-08-13 |title=Capital Plaza Office Building Named Mayo-Underwood |url=https://www.eopa.com/capital-plaza-office-building-named-mayo-underwood/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=EOP Architects |language=en-US}} to honor the namesake school that was razed for the sake of the original Capital Plaza.

Frankfort grew considerably with state government in the 1960s. A modern addition to the State Office Building was completed in 1967. The original building was completed in the 1930s on the location of the former Kentucky State Penitentiary. Some of the stone from the old prison was used for the walls surrounding the office building.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5Mdua_lXBgC&pg=PA352 |title=Knight's Penny Magazine|date=April 10, 1834|publisher=Charles Knight & Company|via=Google Books}}

Although there was some rapid economic and population growth in the 1960s, both tapered off in the 1980s and have remained fairly stable since that time.{{Cite web |last=Jochim |first=Mark Joseph |date=2018-05-31 |title=Kentucky & Tennessee Statehood |url=https://stampaday.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/kentucky-tennessee-statehood/ |access-date=2021-01-10 |website=A Stamp A Day |language=en}}

In August 2008, state government officials recommended demolition of the Capital Plaza Office Tower and redevelopment of the area over a period of years. Ten years later, the demolition of the office tower was completed on Sunday, March 11, 2018,{{Cite web|title=Dates set for Frankfort Convention Center, Capital Plaza Tower demolition|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|last=Miller|first=Alfred|date=2018-01-14|url=http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/franklin-county/article194640249.html|access-date=2018-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135735/http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/franklin-county/article194640249.html|archive-date=January 16, 2018|url-status=live}} and was televised by WKYT-TV on WKYT-DT2, as well as streamed live on Facebook. Demolition of the nearby convention center, which opened in 1972 and has hosted sporting events, concerts, and other local events, was completed in spring 2018. State officials replaced the outdated office tower with a smaller building called the Mayo–Underwood Building (2019),{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2019 |title=State office building named after historic Frankfort African American school |url=https://www.state-journal.com/news/state-office-building-named-after-historic-frankfort-african-american-school/article_f350003e-be01-11e9-9889-e39ad6582370.html |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=The State Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-08-13 |title=New state office building in downtown Frankfort officially named |url=https://www.wtvq.com/new-state-office-building-downtown-frankfort-officially-named/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=ABC 36 News |language=en-US}} in order to create a more pedestrian-oriented scale at the complex, to encourage street activity.[http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/481397.html Redevelopment Plan"],{{dead link|date=January 2022}} Kentucky

Frankfort is home to three distilleries including the Buffalo Trace Distillery (Kentucky Bourbon), Castle & Key Distillery (spirits), and Three Boys Farm Distillery (bourbon and whiskey).{{Cite web|url=https://www.bourboncountry.com/plan-your-visit/bourbon-country-regions/frankfort/|title=Home of the Distilleries of Bourbon Country|website=Bourbon Country}}

In 2018, thousands of teachers protested at the city in response to Senate Bill 151 having been passed on 29 March 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article207665689.html|title=See the best video, photos as Kentucky teachers pack Frankfort, protest in the Capitol|website=kentucky|access-date=December 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223073517/https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article207665689.html|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live|first1=Linda |last1=Blackford}} The bill was shortly overturned on December 13, 2018, by the Kentucky Supreme Court as unconstitutional, which prevented the bill from going into effect on January 1, 2019.

File:Frankfort Kentucky.jpg

Frankfort is located in the (inner) Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky. The city is bisected by the Kentucky River, which makes an s-turn as it passes through the center of town. The river valley widens at this point, which creates four distinct parts of town. The valley within the city limits contains Downtown and South Frankfort districts, which lie opposite one another on the river. A small neighborhood with its own distinct identity, Bellepoint, is located on the west bank of the river to the north of Benson Creek, opposite the river from the "downtown" district. The suburban areas on either side of the valley are respectively referred to as the "West Side" and "East Side" (or "West Frankfort" and "East Frankfort").

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|14.6|sqmi|km2|sigfig=3}}, of which {{convert|14.3|sqmi|km2|sigfig=3}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} is water.

Frankfort does not have a commercial airport and travelers fly into Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, the closest; Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport near Covington or Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville. Capital City Airport serves general and military aviation.

Frankfort has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Winter is generally cool with some snowfall. Spring and fall are both mild and relatively warm, with ample precipitation and thunderstorm activity. Summers are hot and humid.

{{Weather box

|location = Frankfort Capital City Airport, Kentucky (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1996–present)

|single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 73

| Feb record high F = 80

| Mar record high F = 84

| Apr record high F = 87

| May record high F = 91

| Jun record high F = 100

| Jul record high F = 103

| Aug record high F = 103

| Sep record high F = 99

| Oct record high F = 97

| Nov record high F = 84

| Dec record high F = 73

| year record high F = 103

| Jan avg record high F = 65.0

| Feb avg record high F = 68.8

| Mar avg record high F = 76.0

| Apr avg record high F = 82.7

| May avg record high F = 87.5

| Jun avg record high F = 92.1

| Jul avg record high F = 94.0

| Aug avg record high F = 93.7

| Sep avg record high F = 91.8

| Oct avg record high F = 84.0

| Nov avg record high F = 73.8

| Dec avg record high F = 66.5

| year avg record high F = 96.0

| Jan high F = 43.1

| Feb high F = 47.6

| Mar high F = 57.2

| Apr high F = 68.5

| May high F = 76.7

| Jun high F = 84.7

| Jul high F = 87.6

| Aug high F = 87.1

| Sep high F = 81.1

| Oct high F = 69.5

| Nov high F = 56.7

| Dec high F = 46.8

| year high F = 67.2

| Jan mean F = 34.1

| Feb mean F = 37.8

| Mar mean F = 46.2

| Apr mean F = 56.7

| May mean F = 65.5

| Jun mean F = 73.7

| Jul mean F = 77.2

| Aug mean F = 76.1

| Sep mean F = 69.2

| Oct mean F = 57.6

| Nov mean F = 46.1

| Dec mean F = 38.1

| year mean F = 56.5

| Jan low F = 25.1

| Feb low F = 28.0

| Mar low F = 35.3

| Apr low F = 44.8

| May low F = 54.4

| Jun low F = 62.8

| Jul low F = 66.8

| Aug low F = 65.1

| Sep low F = 57.3

| Oct low F = 45.7

| Nov low F = 35.6

| Dec low F = 29.3

| year low F = 45.8

| Jan avg record low F = 2.0

| Feb avg record low F = 8.2

| Mar avg record low F = 14.9

| Apr avg record low F = 26.7

| May avg record low F = 37.0

| Jun avg record low F = 48.7

| Jul avg record low F = 55.7

| Aug avg record low F = 53.5

| Sep avg record low F = 43.1

| Oct avg record low F = 28.8

| Nov avg record low F = 18.9

| Dec avg record low F = 10.2

|year avg record low F = 0.0

| Jan record low F = −8

| Feb record low F = −21

| Mar record low F = −10

| Apr record low F = 21

| May record low F = 28

| Jun record low F = 42

| Jul record low F = 50

| Aug record low F = 48

| Sep record low F = 35

| Oct record low F = 22

| Nov record low F = 9

| Dec record low F = −3

| year record low F = −21

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.27

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.40

| Mar precipitation inch = 4.72

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.55

| May precipitation inch = 5.10

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.34

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.69

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.15

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.35

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.64

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.36

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.77

| year precipitation inch = 47.34

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 11.2

| Feb precipitation days = 11.4

| Mar precipitation days = 12.3

| Apr precipitation days = 12.9

| May precipitation days = 13.6

| Jun precipitation days = 12.6

| Jul precipitation days = 11.9

| Aug precipitation days = 10.9

| Sep precipitation days = 9.4

| Oct precipitation days = 10.1

| Nov precipitation days = 10.1

| Dec precipitation days = 12.0

| year precipitation days = 138.4

| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lmk

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 4, 2021

| archive-date = May 13, 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210513231311/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lmk

| url-status = dead

}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00053841&format=pdf

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| title = Station: Frankfort Capital City AP, KY

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| access-date = June 4, 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230512041419/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00053841&format=pdf

| archive-date = 2023-05-12}}

}}

{{Weather box

|location = Downtown Frankfort, Kentucky (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1895–present)

|single line = Y

|collapsed = Y

|Jan record high F = 80

|Feb record high F = 80

|Mar record high F = 87

|Apr record high F = 95

|May record high F = 99

|Jun record high F = 106

|Jul record high F = 111

|Aug record high F = 105

|Sep record high F = 106

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 84

|Dec record high F = 78

|year record high F = 111

|Jan high F = 41.5

|Feb high F = 46.0

|Mar high F = 55.8

|Apr high F = 66.5

|May high F = 75.2

|Jun high F = 83.6

|Jul high F = 87.3

|Aug high F = 86.7

|Sep high F = 80.4

|Oct high F = 69.5

|Nov high F = 57.3

|Dec high F = 45.0

|year high F = 66.2

|Jan mean F = 31.7

|Feb mean F = 35.3

|Mar mean F = 43.5

|Apr mean F = 53.5

|May mean F = 62.7

|Jun mean F = 71.5

|Jul mean F = 75.5

|Aug mean F = 74.6

|Sep mean F = 67.5

|Oct mean F = 56.2

|Nov mean F = 45.6

|Dec mean F = 35.4

|year mean F = 54.4

|Jan low F = 21.9

|Feb low F = 24.7

|Mar low F = 31.2

|Apr low F = 40.5

|May low F = 50.1

|Jun low F = 59.5

|Jul low F = 63.8

|Aug low F = 62.5

|Sep low F = 54.6

|Oct low F = 43.0

|Nov low F = 34.0

|Dec low F = 25.9

|year low F = 42.6

|Jan record low F = −27

|Feb record low F = −16

|Mar record low F = −3

|Apr record low F = 16

|May record low F = 27

|Jun record low F = 36

|Jul record low F = 48

|Aug record low F = 41

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 20

|Nov record low F = -1

|Dec record low F = −17

|year record low F = −27

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.70

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.07

|Mar precipitation inch = 4.39

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.74

|May precipitation inch = 4.01

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.06

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.14

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.45

|Sep precipitation inch = 2.90

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.53

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.29

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.49

|year precipitation inch = 42.77

|Jan snow inch = 3.4

|Feb snow inch = 2.8

|Mar snow inch = 1.2

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.4

|Dec snow inch = 1.6

|year snow inch = 9.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 11

|Feb precipitation days = 10

|Mar precipitation days = 11

|Apr precipitation days = 11

|May precipitation days = 11

|Jun precipitation days = 10

|Jul precipitation days = 9

|Aug precipitation days = 8

|Sep precipitation days = 7

|Oct precipitation days = 7

|Nov precipitation days = 9

|Dec precipitation days = 10

|year precipitation days = 114

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00153028&format=pdf

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| title = Station: Frankfort Lock 4, KY

| work = U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1981-2010)

| access-date = June 4, 2021}}

{{cite web

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

| publisher = Applied Climate Information System

| title = Monthly Highest Max Temperature and Monthly Lowest Min Temperature for Frankfort Downtown, KY

| access-date = June 4, 2021}}

|source 2 = Southeast Regional Climate Center (precipitation, snow 1895–2002){{cite web

| url = http://www.sercc.com/cgi-bin/sercc/cliMAIN.pl?ky3028

| title = General Climate Summary tables

| publisher = Southeast Regional Climate Center

| access-date = May 18, 2013

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140331020253/http://sercc.com/cgi-bin/sercc/cliMAIN.pl?ky3028

| archive-date = March 31, 2014

| url-status = live}}

}}

{{update|section|date=January 2022|reason=Newer information is available from the 2020 census report}}

{{US Census population

| 1800 = 628

| 1810 = 1099

| 1820 = 1679

| 1830 = 1682

| 1840 = 1917

| 1850 = 3308

| 1860 = 3702

| 1870 = 5396

| 1880 = 6958

| 1890 = 7892

| 1900 = 9487

| 1910 = 10465

| 1920 = 9805

| 1930 = 11626

| 1940 = 11492

| 1950 = 11916

| 1960 = 18365

| 1970 = 21902

| 1980 = 25973

| 1990 = 25968

| 2000 = 27741

| 2010 = 25527

| 2020 = 28602

| estyear = 2022

| estimate = 28391

| 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}}{{failed verification|reason=No mention of Frankfort at the given link|date=January 2022}} 2020{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/frankfortcitykentucky/PST045221|website=census.gov|access-date=2022-01-02|title=QuickFacts: Frankfort city, Kentucky}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} there were 28,602 people, 12,434 households, and 6,053 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1783|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 12,938 housing units at an average density of {{convert|885.1|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.1% White or European American (74.1% non-Hispanic), 13.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.2% of the population.

There were 12,434 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32,6% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.7% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.83.

The age distribution was 19.8% under 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,211, and the median income for a family was $43,949. Full-time male workers had a median income of $37,445 versus $34,613 for females. The per capita income was $29,288. About 19.8% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Frankfort is the focal point of a micropolitan statistical area consisting of Frankfort and Franklin County as well as adjacent Lawrenceburg and Anderson County. The city is also classified in a combined statistical area with Lexington and Richmond to the east.

Frankfort's municipal population makes it the fourth least populous capital city in the United States.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-21 |title=The 10 Least Populated State Capitals |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-10-smallest-state-capitals.html |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US}}

The city operates nine parks:{{Cite web|url=http://www.frankfortparksandrec.com/Parks/parks.html|title=Parks|website=www.frankfortparksandrec.com|access-date=May 18, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226040557/http://www.frankfortparksandrec.com/Parks/parks.html|url-status=usurped}}

• Capitol View—playing fields, nature trails, picnic areas
• Cove Spring Park—{{convert|240|acre|ha|abbr=off|sigfig=2}}, divided into three sections. The Lower Entrance features nature trails, picnic areas, and waterfalls. The Upper Entrance includes an archery range and the Sky Trail. The Middle Section consists of a wetland area with a walking trail leading to a scenic overlook with views of downtown Frankfort.
• Dolly Graham—basketball courts, picnic, community garden, playground
• East Frankfort—nature trails, dog park, picnic areas, playgrounds, volleyball court, 18-hole disc golf course.{{cite web|url=http://ldga.weebly.com|title=Lawrenceburg Disc Golf Association - Lawrenceburg (KY) Disc Golf Association|work=Lawrenceburg Disc Golf Association|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119230708/https://ldga.weebly.com/|archive-date=January 19, 2019|url-status=live}}
• Juniper Hill Park—{{convert|124|acre|ha|abbr=off|sigfig=3}}, pool, golf course, play areas, picnic areas, war memorials
• Lakeview (operated jointly with Franklin County{{Cite web|url=https://franklincounty.ky.gov/parks-recreation/|title=Parks & Recreation | Franklin County}})—ball fields, golf course, horse show arena, skatepark
• Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill—American Civil War battlefield, wilderness forest, forts, trails
• River View—picnic area along the Kentucky River, walking trail with historic cultural sites, amphitheatre, boat ramp, farmers market
• Todd Park—trail, picnic areas, community garden

Other recreation in the area:

• Walk/Bike Frankfort - Volunteer group to improve the city for pedestrians and cyclists.{{cite web |url=http://sites.google.com/site/walkbikefrankfort |title=Walk/Bike Frankfort |access-date=December 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219171612/http://sites.google.com/site/walkbikefrankfort/ |archive-date=February 19, 2010 |url-status=live }}
• Josephine Sculpture Park - Provides community arts education and creative experiences.{{cite web|url=http://josephinesculpturepark.org|title=Josephine Sculpture Park|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920180306/https://josephinesculpturepark.org/|archive-date=September 20, 2019|url-status=live}}
• The Folkbike Re-Cyclery - Volunteer organization that restores and repairs used bicycles, and then gives them to riders who cannot afford to buy one.{{cite web|url=http://folkbikerecyclery.org|title=The Folkbike Re-Cyclery - Join The Revolution - Frankfort, KY|work=folkbikerecyclery.org|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028033721/http://folkbikerecyclery.org/|archive-date=October 28, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite news | last = Staff | date = May 1, 2013 | title = How to Celebrate Kentucky Derby 2013 in Central Kentucky | url = http://www.aceweekly.com/2013/05/how-to-celebrate-kentucky-derby-2013-in-central-kentucky/ | work = Ace | access-date = June 8, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161013050617/http://www.aceweekly.com/2013/05/how-to-celebrate-kentucky-derby-2013-in-central-kentucky/ | archive-date = October 13, 2016 | url-status = live }}

Kentucky State University is located with the Frankfort city limits. KSU (also known as KYSU) is a public historically black university and an 1890 land-grant institution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.frankfort.ky.gov/322/Education|title=Education | Frankfort, KY|website=www.frankfort.ky.gov}}

Two public school districts serve the city,{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21073_franklin/DC20SD_C21073.pdf|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Franklin County, KY|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2022-08-11}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21073_franklin/DC20SD_C21073_SD2MS.txt Text list] - For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: {{cite web|url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/lrc/publications/ResearchReports/RR415.pdf |title=Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Frankfort ISD |work=Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer |publisher=Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission |location=Frankfort, KY |page=110 (PDF p. 124/174)|date=September 15, 2015 }} with three public high schools within the city limits.

Frankfort Independent School District serves the downtown neighborhoods including Downtown, South Frankfort, Bellepoint and Tanglewood. FIS operates The Early Learning Academy (a preschool), Second Street School (primary and middle grades), Frankfort High School, and Panther Transition Academy (a non-traditional high school program).{{Cite web|url=http://www.frankfort.k12.ky.us/|title=Frankfort Independent Schools|website=www.frankfort.k12.ky.us|access-date=2019-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124529/http://www.frankfort.k12.ky.us/|archive-date=February 9, 2019|url-status=live}}

Franklin County Public Schools serves the rest of the city and county, including seven elementary schools (Bridgeport, Collins Lane, Early Learning Village, Elkhorn, Hearn, Peaks Mill, Westridge), two middle schools (Bondurant, Elkhorn), and two high schools (Franklin County High School and Western Hills High School).{{Cite web|url=https://www.franklin.kyschools.us/|title=Franklin County Schools|website=www.franklin.kyschools.us}}

There are several private schools in the area, including Capital Day School, Frankfort Christian Academy, and Good Shepherd Catholic School.

Frankfort has a lending library, Paul Sawyier Public Library, named in 1965 after the watercolor artist Paul Sawyier whose many paintings document the history of the area.{{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=January 11, 2019 | title=Kentucky Public Library Directory | publisher=Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives | access-date=May 18, 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/250|title=Paul Sawyier Library|first=Amy|last=Roe|website=ExploreKYHistory|access-date=May 18, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pspl.org/event/paul-sawyier-art-exhibit/|title=Paul Sawyier Art Exhibit|date=September 8, 2018|website=pspl.org|access-date=May 18, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921222817/https://www.pspl.org/event/paul-sawyier-art-exhibit/|url-status=dead}}

File:Kentucky Old State Capitol - DSC09284.JPG

• Kentucky State Capitol building, built 1909
• Kentucky Governor's Mansion, residence of the Governor of Kentucky, built 1914
• Old State Capitol building, now a museum, built 1837
• Courthouse, built 1887
• Singing Bridge, a 125-year-old bridge that crosses the Kentucky River, built 1893
• Liberty Hall, historic house museum, built 1796
• Fort Hill, a hill overlooking downtown, American Civil War site, now a park
• Frankfort Cemetery, historic military monuments and final resting place of numerous statesmen and famous figures, established 1844
• Corner in Celebrities Historic District
• Buffalo Trace Distillery, built 1792
• Jesse R. Zeigler House (private), Kentucky's only Frank Lloyd Wright, built 1909
• Capital City Museum, a repository of the history of Frankfort and Franklin County{{Cite web |title=Capital City Museum {{!}} Frankfort KY |url=https://www.capitalcitymuseum.com/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=www.capitalcitymuseum.com}}
• Leestown, Kentucky (historical site established in 1775, currently in the city of Frankfort)

Frankfort Transit provides deviated fixed-route and demand-response transit service throughout the city.

U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 460 pass east–west through Frankfort. U.S. Route 127 and U.S. Route 421 pass north–south through Frankfort. Interstate 64 passes to the south of the city.

Capital City Airport, a public use airport, is {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|sp=us|spell=in|abbr=off}} southwest of the central business district of Frankfort. The nearest airport with commercial flights is Blue Grass Airport, {{convert|22|mi|km|sp=us|abbr=off}} southeast of Frankfort.

Frankfort Union Station was a medium scale hub passenger train station for north-central Kentucky. It served the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, the Frankfort and Cincinnati Railroad and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.Official Guide of the Railways, June 1921, p. 1294 Until the mid-1950s, Union Station served Louisville-Ashland sections of the C&O's Sportsman. Until 1971, the C&O's George Washington'' stopped in Frankfort.Chesapeake & Ohio timetable, June 1948 ,Tables 5, 6, 13, 14Louisville & Nashville timetable, December 1948, Tables 10, 20

File:02Sawyier.jpg

• William Wirt Adams (1819−88), brigadier general in the Confederate Army{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607−1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}
• Thomas Carlin, seventh Governor of Illinois{{cite web | title = Illinois Governor Thomas Carlin | publisher = National Governors Association | url = http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_illinois/col2-content/main-content-list/title_carlin_thomas.html | access-date = February 12, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130928020144/http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_illinois/col2-content/main-content-list/title_carlin_thomas.html | archive-date = September 28, 2013 | url-status = live }}
• Will Chase, actor and singer best known for Broadway musicals and ABC series Nashville
• Elijah Craig, Baptist preacher and early bourbon distiller, moved to Frankfort from Virginia in the 1780s
• Tim Farmer, outdoorsman and television presenter; host of Kentucky Afield
• William Goebel, 34th Governor of Kentucky
• John Marshall Harlan, U.S. Supreme Court justice
• Elizabeth Ann Hulette, professional wrestling manager
• Grover Land (1884−1958), professional baseball player
• Crit Luallen, lieutenant governor of Kentucky (2014 - 2015), Kentucky State Auditor (2004 - 2012)
• Archer Prewitt, musician and cartoonist
• J. T. Riddle, professional baseball player for the Minnesota Twins
• Green Pinckney Russell (1861/1863–1939), American school administrator, college president, and teacher{{Cite book |last=Mather |first=Frank Lincoln |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXSdrlAMBFsC |title=Who's Who of the Colored Race: A General Biographical Dictionary of Men and Women of African Descent; Vol. 1 |date=1915 |pages=236 |language=en}}
• Paul Sawyier (1865−1917), Kentucky Impressionist artist
• Arthur St. Clair, 1700s soldier and politician, after which St Clair Street is named
• Landon Addison Thomas (1799−1889), state legislator
• George Graham Vest (1830−1904), U.S. Senator from Missouri, best known for popularizing the notion that a dog is a man's best friend{{cite web | title = George Graham Vest: Tribute to the Dog | publisher = The History Place | url = http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/vest.htm | access-date = February 12, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161129202446/http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/vest.htm | archive-date = November 29, 2016 | url-status = live }}
• James Wilkinson, who named Mero St. after his paymaster, Louisiana Governor Esteban Rodríguez Miró.{{cite web |last1=Robert Brammer |title=General James Wilkinson, the Spanish Spy Who was a Senior Officer in the U.S. Army During Four Presidential Administrations |url=https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2020/04/general-james-wilkinson-the-spanish-spy-who-commanded-the-u-s-army-during-four-presidential-administrations/ |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318011056/https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2020/04/general-james-wilkinson-the-spanish-spy-who-commanded-the-u-s-army-during-four-presidential-administrations/ |archive-date=18 March 2021 |language=en |date=21 April 2020|quote=Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, where Wilkinson laid out the grid for many of the early streets. Wilkinson brazenly named one of those streets for a Spanish governor who was paying him, Mero Street (the correct spelling of the governor's name is Miro)}}
• Anne Elizabeth Wilson (1901–1946), writer, poet, editor
• George C. Wolfe (1954−), Broadway producer, playwright, and film director
• Logan Woodside, NFL Quarterback
• Wan'Dale Robinson, professional football player for the New York Giants

• {{flagdeco|Japan}} Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Japan{{Cite web|url=http://www.state-journal.com/2017/04/18/new-sister-city-official/|title=New sister city official {{!}} The State Journal|website=www.state-journal.com|access-date=2018-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227094254/http://www.state-journal.com/2017/04/18/new-sister-city-official/|archive-date=February 27, 2018|url-status=dead}}

File:KY Governors Mansion.png|Kentucky Governor's Mansion

Image:Floral Clock Frankfort KY.png|The floral clock near the Capitol building

File:Downtown frankfort ky.JPG|Downtown Frankfort

Image:Downtown_Frankfort_KY_at_night.JPG|Downtown Frankfort at night

Image:Frankfort_Cemetery.JPG|Grave site of pioneer Daniel Boone and his wife at Frankfort Cemetery

File:Singing Bridge Frankfort KY 1.jpg|Singing Bridge

File:Jackson Hall, Kentucky State University.JPG|Jackson Hall of Kentucky State University

File:Whitaker Bank Frankfort Kentucky.jpg|Whitaker Bank building

File:Gooch House — Frankfort, Kentucky.jpg|Gooch House

File:Buffalo trace distillery.jpg|Buffalo Trace Distillery

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

{{wikivoyage|Frankfort (Kentucky)|Frankfort, Kentucky}}

• [http://www.frankfort.ky.gov/ Official site]
• [http://apps.sos.ky.gov/land/cities/citydetail.asp?id=143&city=Frankfort&idctr=143 Frankfort Information page from Kentucky Secretary of State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311022209/http://apps.sos.ky.gov/land/cities/citydetail.asp?id=143&city=Frankfort&idctr=143 |date=March 11, 2007 }}
• {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Frankfort |short=x}}
• {{cite EB9 |wstitle = Frankfort (1.) |volume= IX | page=704 |short=1}}

{{Frankfort, Kentucky}}

{{Franklin County, Kentucky}}

{{Kentucky}}

{{Kentucky county seats}}

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{{KYLargestCities}}

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Category:Cities in Kentucky

Category:Cities in Franklin County, Kentucky

Category:County seats in Kentucky

Category:Populated places established in 1786

Category:Frankfort, Kentucky micropolitan area

Category:1786 establishments in Virginia

Category:State capitals in the United States