Berea (/bəˈriːə/ bə-REE-ə) is a home rule-class city[4] in Madison County, Kentucky, in the United States. The town is best known for its art festivals, historic restaurants and buildings, and as the home to Berea College, a private liberal arts college. The population was 15,539 at the 2020 census. It is one of the fastest-growing towns in Kentucky, having increased by 27.4% since 2000. Berea is a principal city of the Richmond−Berea Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Madison and Rockcastle counties. It was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1890.[5]
The history of Berea is tied with the history of Berea College, which was founded in 1855.[6][7] The Berea railway station was created in 1882 as part of the Kentucky Central Railroad, and later the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N).[7] Berea was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1890.[5] In April 1996 a tornado went through the city, causing damage to about 800-1000 homes, with 20 percent of those being destroyed.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24 km2), of which 9.3 square miles (24 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.32%) is water. The city is located along Interstate 75, which runs to the west of downtown, with access from exits 76 and 77. Via I-75, Lexington is 40 mi (64 km) north, and Knoxville, Tennessee is 134 mi (216 km) south. U.S. Route 25 is the main highway through the center of town, leading north 14 mi (23 km) to Richmond, the Madison County seat, and south 17 mi (27 km) to Mount Vernon. Kentucky Route 21 also runs through the city as well, leading east 6 mi (9.7 km) to Bighill and northwest 10 mi (16 km) to Paint Lick.
Berea is located on the border of the Cumberland Plateau. The area has a mountainous appearance, but most outcroppings in the area have a maximum elevation of 2,500 feet or 760 metres.
Berea has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and relatively cold winters. Summers tend to be humid and sunny, with occasional storms, while winters are generally cold with many milder periods.
At the 2010 census,[12] there were 13,561 people, 5,119 households and 3,382 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,458.2 inhabitants per square mile (563.0/km2). There were 5,633 housing units at an average density of 612.3 per square mile (236.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.7% White, 4.00% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2 percent Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.7% of the population.
There were 5,119 households, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 47.1% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.92.
The age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 21, 53.2% from 21 to 62, 2.8% from 62 to 65, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.4 years. The population was 53.4% female and 46.6% male (81 males per 100 females).
The median household income was $38,333 and the median family income was $45,541. Males had a median income of $28,304 compared $12,163 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,003. About 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.6% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Berea has a lending library, a branch of the Madison County Public Library.[13]
Due to the high number of arts and crafts produced, Berea is a tourist attraction. It hosts several crafts festivals throughout the year. Berea also hosts a Spoonbread Festival in mid-September, which features a cornmeal bread traditionally served with a wooden spoon.[14] The annual Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music, started in 1974, takes place in mid-October and features traditional music as passed down by people in the Appalachian region.[15]
Foothills Express, operated by the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, provides the Berea Bus Service bus service within Berea, Madison County Connector service to Richmond, and local and intercity demand-responsive transport.[16]
