Who Makes Up My Community

Berea, Kentucky, is a beautiful rural area. It is where the hills meet the Appalachian Mountains. Centrally located, the people of Berea take pride in their Appalachian heritage. There is beautiful farmland that hosts livestock and cash crops. You don’t have to travel far to find outdoor adventure. Public trails circle the town and allow its citizens to exercise and experience the outdoors. Berea is the arts and crafts capital of Kentucky. You can easily find beautiful creations from broom-making, jewelry designers, blacksmiths, painters, and many others. I find it beneficial to know who makes up my community. I’ve recently completed a bit of research that has helped me to better understand Berea, even though Berea is in my blood.

Berea College

Berea College is the focal point of the town. It rests in the city’s center, and visitors pass through it to experience the historical Boone Tavern. Berea College is one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges. The student body is exceptionally diverse, and students come from around the world. High-end academia and rural conservatism exist together to create a fascinating town dynamic.

Berea Demographics

Berea is part of Madison County, which also includes Richmond, Kentucky. Madison County is a large central Kentucky territory. According to The Cabinet of Economic Development, Berea is south of Richmond and has a population of 15,748. There is an aging population, with many citizens being 65+. The second largest age group is 20-29, probably due to college enrollment. Berea has two high schools, two middle schools, and four elementary schools. Other universities, such as Eastern Kentucky and The University of Kentucky, are less than 35 miles from town. There is plenty of opportunity for academic growth post-high school.

Berea Diversity

I don’t consider Berea to be a diverse town. Most citizens are white, with a total of 12,697. The second largest group is Asian, with 1,332 citizens. The next two largest ethnic groups are Hispanic, with 490 citizens, and 361 Black citizens. There is a larger female population than male. These numbers are an indicator of who makes up my community.

Berea Education

Berea is an educated town, and many of its citizens are employed. Most citizens are high school graduates or have completed their Bachelor’s Degree. The labor force status has a total of 6,704. Only 280 are unemployed. According to census.gov, 21.3% of the population is in poverty. The average value of owner-occupied housing is $130,000. The most common industries in Berea, according to city-data.com, are Educational Services at 26.4%, Health Care at 7.0%, Construction at 5.9%, Transportation Equipment at 5.2%, and Accommodations and Food Services at 4.7%.

Berea Faith

Many citizens of Madison County are affiliated with a church. According to city-data.com, 24,041 people are considered Evangelical Protestant when combining Berea and Richmond. 4,596 classify as Mainline Protestant, and 2,005 people are considered Catholic.

Wrap Up

Berea is a fantastic place to live, and it’s where we’ve chosen to live and raise our family. Many people who grow up in Berea decide to remain here. There is an opportunity for personal and family development, and because it is centrally located, it is easy to travel to Lexington and other larger cities. Berea continues to grow in industry and remains appealing to outsiders. I am encouraged even more to know who makes up my community.

References

U.S. Census Bureau quickfacts: Berea City, Kentucky. United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bereacitykentucky

Berea, Kentucky. Berea, Kentucky (KY) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.city-data.com/city/Berea-Kentucky.html

Applied Geographic Solutions. (2021). Team kentucky. Team Kentucky | Cabinet for Economic Development. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://ced.ky.gov/