Covington, Kentucky

Covington is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It sits where the Ohio and Licking rivers meet, right across from Cincinnati, Ohio to the north and Newport to the east. It is the largest city in Northern Kentucky and was the fifth-most populous city in the state as of the 2020 census, with a population of 40,691 people.

Covington is part of the bigger Cincinnati metropolitan area. Together with Independence, it serves as one of the two main cities, or "seats," for Kenton County. Under Kentucky law, Covington is what is called a "home-rule class city," which gives it special ways to manage its own affairs.

History

Main article: History of Covington, Kentucky

In 1814, three men bought land where the Licking River meets the Ohio River and started a settlement they named Covington. They named it after a general who had died fighting in the War of 1812. The town became official a year later and grew into a city in 1834.

Covington became known for making tobacco and cigars. It also had factories for iron fences, glass, stoves, and more. Many people from Germany and Catholic families worked there. By 1900, it was one of Kentucky’s bigger cities with almost 43,000 people. It had trains and steamboats, and even had its own baseball team for a short time.

The city faced hard times during the Great Depression but has seen some new development in recent years.

Geography

Covington is located on the south bank of the Ohio River, with Cincinnati, Ohio directly across the river to the north. The Licking River forms the eastern boundary with Newport in Campbell County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Covington covers a total area of 13.7 square miles (35 km²). Of this, 13.1 square miles (34 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is water.

Covington has 19 different neighborhoods, with populations ranging from a few hundred to 10,000 people. Many neighborhoods are in 12 historic districts mainly in the northern part of the city. Covington also expanded southward in recent years to grow its size. Most neighborhoods have groups of residents working together to improve their areas.

Covington lies in a special climate zone where a humid continental climate meets a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and cool winters. You can see plants from both climate types growing there, like the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and the blue spruce.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Covington had a population of 40,961. The median age was 35.7 years. About 22% of residents were under the age of 18, and 13% were 65 or older. Most people lived in urban areas.

There were 18,099 households. About 25% had children under 18 living in them. The average household size was 2.21.

There were 20,576 housing units, and about 12% were empty.

2016–2020 American Community Survey

From 2016 to 2020, the median annual income for a household was $47,917. About 24% of people lived below the poverty line, including 38% of those under age 18.

2000 census

In the year 2000, 43,370 people lived in Covington. The racial makeup was mostly White, with some African American, Native American, Asian, and other groups.

Of the households, 29% had children under 18. The average household size was 2.31.

The median income for a household was $30,735. About 15% of families and 18% of people lived below the poverty line, including 25% of those under age 18.

Economy

Covington, Kentucky, is home to many important jobs and businesses. In 2025, a new big building called the OneNKY Center opened. It has four floors and will be used for offices and labs. A company named LifeSciKY will use part of this building for their $15 million biotech lab. This will help create new jobs and new ways to help people in the state.

Arts and culture

Covington is home to five special churches that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of them is St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, which was built in 1895. It is known for having a very large handmade stained glass window. Another important church is the Mother of God Roman Catholic Church, built in 1869. It has tall towers and beautiful wall paintings.

There is also the Daniel Carter Beard Boyhood Home, a very old house where a founder of the Boy Scouts of America grew up. It is one of the oldest buildings in the area.

Education

Covington, Kentucky, has several schools that help students learn and grow. Most of the city’s public schools are part of the Covington Independent Public Schools. The oldest public high school in Kentucky, Holmes Junior/Senior High School, is located here.

Some parts of southern Covington are served by the Kenton County School District. There are also private schools, including two high schools run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington: Covington Latin School and Holy Cross High School. Other private schools nearby include Covington Catholic High School and Notre Dame Academy, which are in the nearby town of Park Hills. Additionally, Calvary Christian School, a Baptist school, is located in Covington.

Media

Covington has its own educational television station called WCVN-TV. This station, which is part of Kentucky Educational Television, broadcasts on channel 54 and serves the Northern Kentucky area.

Infrastructure

Covington, Kentucky, has important transportation links. Major highways like U.S. Route 25, Interstate 71, and Interstate 75 pass through the city. The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) provides bus services. Covington is also served by the large Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which handles many flights and cargo.

The city has several important bridges, including the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects to Cincinnati. Plans are underway to build a new bridge to help with traffic. The Covington Fire Department has been protecting the city since 1864.

Government

Covington is a special kind of city called a home-rule class city. Ron Washington is the current mayor, elected in 2024 after four years on the Covington Board of Commissioners. He made history as the first African-American mayor of Covington. The city is served by a four-member Board of Commissioners. The current members are Shannon C. Smith (Mayor Pro Tem), Tim Downing, Tim Acri, and James Toebbe.

Covington is represented in the Kentucky General Assembly by Christian McDaniel and Shelly Funke Frommeyer in the Senate, and Kim Banta, Kimberly Poore Moser, and Stephanie Dietz in the House of Representatives. The city is part of Kentucky’s 4th congressional district, represented in the United States Congress by Congressman Thomas Massie.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has a divisional office in Covington. The Kenton County Fiscal Court also has a courthouse there, meeting every 4th Tuesday of the month.

Notable people

Covington, Kentucky, has been home to many interesting people over the years. Some well-known individuals from the city include Mike Battaglia, an announcer for horse races, and Gary Bauer, a former candidate for president. Others include Daniel Carter Beard, a writer and artist, and Adrian Belew, a musician known for his work with the band King Crimson. The city also saw the birth of Steve Cauthen, a famous horse racer, and David Justice, a player in Major League Baseball. Many more notable figures have ties to Covington, contributing to its rich history.