Ravenna, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Ravenna is a city in Estill County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The population was 693 at the 2000 census.
In 2008, Ravenna conducted the first Ravenna Railroad Festival, its first festival in 50 years.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Before it was incorporated, Ravenna was known only as "The Village".
The Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company (L & N) was responsible for the name of Ravenna, the building of the Shops, Yard, Office Building, Passenger & Freight Station, and many other things that were built for the establishment of a railroad terminal in Estill County just east of the county seat Irvine, Kentucky. After the completion of the terminal in 1915, the county decided it would call it Ravenna which stems from the word "Ravine" but it was reported by early railroad officials that an Italian foreman and interpreter with a construction crew of approximately 60 Italian men building the railroad yards, requested that the railroad officials name the station in honor of his birthplace, Ravenna
, Italy
and it was so granted by the railroad officials in charge of such matter.
A thriving village sprang up in 1915, when the railroad started construction of its shops; and five years later in the 1920, Ravenna was incorporated into a 6th Class City by the Estill County Circuit Court
.
In 1924 Ravenna was declared a 5th Class City by an act of the Kentucky State Legislature due to an increase in population. This also entitled them to have a Mayor, six councilmen and city clerk, as it still stands today, complete with modern fire department and police department.
Ravenna is also the home of the local VFW Post# 8019 and the original & current National Guard Armory that is home to C CO, 1-149th IN(M), 149th BDE, and Estill County Veterans Memorial in the Ravenna Veterans Memorial Park.
The City of Ravenna hosted the Ravenna Railroad Festival in August 2008, to showcase the history of the railroad, and included tours of the historic Fitchburg & Cottage Furnaces. The Ravenna Railroad Festival coincided with the Estill County Bicentennial, a yearlong celebration of the county's 200th birthday.
Independent film maker Russell Parks, internationally known as The HillJack, shot his directorial debut, Nightmare Fuel, in October 2008 at the site of the Ravenna Elementary School, where he attended as a student.
in Ravenna, Italy. Christ is shown as a young beardless man clothed in purple robe and tunic embroidered with gold, flanked by two Archangels, clothed in white robes representing the sacred bodyguard. Christ holds the seven seals in his left hand and with his right, offers the crown of martyrdom.
The tile is still on display at Ravenna City Hall.
Ravenna, along with the nearby City of Irvine, are known as the "Twin Cities".
of 2000, there were 693 people, 301 households, and 207 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,873.0 people per square mile (723.2/km²). There were 323 housing units at an average density of 873.0 per square mile (337.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.55% White, 0.58% African American, 0.72% Native American, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
There were 301 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the citywas $30,583, and the median income for a family was $33,438. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,089. About 16.0% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Estill County, Kentucky
Estill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1808. As of 2000, the population was 15,307. Its county seat is Irvine, Kentucky. Formed in 1808, the county is named after Captain James Estill, a Kentucky militia officer killed in the Battle of Little Mountain...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 693 at the 2000 census.
In 2008, Ravenna conducted the first Ravenna Railroad Festival, its first festival in 50 years.
Geography
Ravenna is located at 37°41′9"N 83°57′5"W (37.685772, -83.951399).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
History
Ravenna, A True Railroad TownBefore it was incorporated, Ravenna was known only as "The Village".
The Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company (L & N) was responsible for the name of Ravenna, the building of the Shops, Yard, Office Building, Passenger & Freight Station, and many other things that were built for the establishment of a railroad terminal in Estill County just east of the county seat Irvine, Kentucky. After the completion of the terminal in 1915, the county decided it would call it Ravenna which stems from the word "Ravine" but it was reported by early railroad officials that an Italian foreman and interpreter with a construction crew of approximately 60 Italian men building the railroad yards, requested that the railroad officials name the station in honor of his birthplace, Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and it was so granted by the railroad officials in charge of such matter.
A thriving village sprang up in 1915, when the railroad started construction of its shops; and five years later in the 1920, Ravenna was incorporated into a 6th Class City by the Estill County Circuit Court
Kentucky Circuit Courts
The Kentucky Circuit Courts are the state courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Kentucky.The Circuit Courts are trial courts with original jurisdiction in cases involving capital offenses, felonies, land disputes, contested probates of wills, and civil lawsuits in disputes with an...
.
In 1924 Ravenna was declared a 5th Class City by an act of the Kentucky State Legislature due to an increase in population. This also entitled them to have a Mayor, six councilmen and city clerk, as it still stands today, complete with modern fire department and police department.
Ravenna is also the home of the local VFW Post# 8019 and the original & current National Guard Armory that is home to C CO, 1-149th IN(M), 149th BDE, and Estill County Veterans Memorial in the Ravenna Veterans Memorial Park.
The City of Ravenna hosted the Ravenna Railroad Festival in August 2008, to showcase the history of the railroad, and included tours of the historic Fitchburg & Cottage Furnaces. The Ravenna Railroad Festival coincided with the Estill County Bicentennial, a yearlong celebration of the county's 200th birthday.
Independent film maker Russell Parks, internationally known as The HillJack, shot his directorial debut, Nightmare Fuel, in October 2008 at the site of the Ravenna Elementary School, where he attended as a student.
About the Ravenna Tile
A design on a glazed tile was sent to the City of Ravenna, KY from the City of Ravenna, Italy as a token of sympathy of the tornado disaster of June 9, 1961. The Placard was sent to the City from the Mayor of Ravenna, Italy and was a copy of one of the famous mosaic panels in the Church of San VitaleBasilica of San Vitale
The Church of San Vitale — styled an "ecclesiastical basilica" in the Roman Catholic Church, though it is not of architectural basilica form — is a church in Ravenna, Italy, one of the most important examples of early Christian Byzantine Art and architecture in western Europe...
in Ravenna, Italy. Christ is shown as a young beardless man clothed in purple robe and tunic embroidered with gold, flanked by two Archangels, clothed in white robes representing the sacred bodyguard. Christ holds the seven seals in his left hand and with his right, offers the crown of martyrdom.
The tile is still on display at Ravenna City Hall.
Ravenna, along with the nearby City of Irvine, are known as the "Twin Cities".
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 693 people, 301 households, and 207 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,873.0 people per square mile (723.2/km²). There were 323 housing units at an average density of 873.0 per square mile (337.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.55% White, 0.58% African American, 0.72% Native American, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
There were 301 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the citywas $30,583, and the median income for a family was $33,438. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,089. About 16.0% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Noted natives
- Kevin RichardsonKevin Richardson (musician)Kevin Scott Richardson is an American singer and a former member of the Backstreet Boys, model, actor, and composer. He was the oldest member of the band during his tenure.- Early years :...
- Member of the Backstreet Boys, attended and graduated Ravenna Elementary School. - HillJack Russell Parks - Writer, Director & Film Maker attended and graduated Ravenna Elementary School.