Cave City, Kentucky
The Wigwam Village Motel is one of Cave City's unique attractions
Location of Cave City, Kentucky
Coordinates: 37°8′14″N 85°57′25″W / 37.13722, -85.95694
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Barren
Area
- Total	4.3 sq mi (11.2 km²)
- Land	4.3 sq mi (11.2 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	633 ft (193 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,880
- Density	435.2/sq mi (168.0/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	42127
Area code(s)	270
FIPS code	21-13492
GNIS feature ID	0489114

Cave City is a city in Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,880 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Cave City is located at 37°8′14″N, 85°57′25″W (37.137130, -85.956958)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 1,880 people, 844 households, and 544 families residing in the city. The population density was 435.2 people per square mile (168.0/km²). There were 914 housing units at an average density of 211.6/sq mi (81.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.74% White, 7.13% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 844 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,257, and the median income for a family was $30,179. Males had a median income of $28,098 versus $20,214 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,346. About 18.6% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 24.9% of those age 65 or over.

Business and Economy

Cave City's main industry is tourism, thanks to its proximity to Mammoth Cave National Park. A number of motels and restaurants are located at the interchange of Interstate 65 and state routes 70 and 90, which cater to tourists visiting the area or just passing through. The city operates a small convention center that is popular with church groups and other family-related organizations, mainly because of the area's lack of crime and abundance of tourist attractions. Cave City has long been a gateway to Mammoth Cave; in the era of passenger rail travel, trains of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad would discharge tourists there, who would then be shuttled to the cave.

Aside from tourism, the city's economy is largely agricultural.

Political

Cave City is governed by a mayor and an elected city council. The current mayor (as of 2006) is Bob Hunt, owner of a local funeral home, who is starting his fourth term in office. Hunt recently attracted attention by casting the tie-breaking vote against an ordinance considered by the council, which would have banned the use of tobacco in public places. (The region around Cave City is one of the largest tobacco-producing areas in the world.)

Liquor in Cave City

On November 8th, 2005 Cave City voters passed a Liquor-by-the-Drink Referendum that for the first time in over 50 years will allow alcohol to be served in restaurants that meet certain qualifications. The Sahara Steakhouse, owned by Brian and Emily Dale, was the first restaurant in Cave City to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages in the city limits a year after it was made legal.

El Mazatlan, a Mexican restaurant owned by Sydney Bunnell, now has a license as well.

References

1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• cavecity.com - Cave City Convention Center and Tourism Bureau site

• Cave City, Kentucky is at coordinates 37°08′14″N 85°57′25″W / 37.13713, -85.956958 (Cave City, Kentucky)Coordinates: 37°08′14″N 85°57′25″W / 37.13713, -85.956958 (Cave City, Kentucky)

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