Welcome
l Location
l Homes
l Business & Industry
l Commerce
l Agriculture
Education
l Government
l Healthcare
l Recreation/Tourism l
Culture l
Worship
l Close
An
Overview of Murray-Calloway County. A brief summary of the people, companies,
institutions and attractions that make up this special corner of the
world
The People
According to the 2000 Census, the population in Murray, Ky. is almost
15,000; it grew by about 3.5 percent from 1990 to 2000. The population
of Calloway County is a little over 34,000; it grew by a little over
11 percent during the 1990s. There are almost 14,000 households in Calloway
County. The median age is currently around 35.
The annual per capita income is almost $24,000, which puts Calloway
County in the top 20 counties in Kentucky. The median household income
is almost $30,000 per year. Incidently, the unemployment rate is only
3.2 percent, which is significantly below Kentucky’s overall rate
of 4.1 percent.
The Workforce
Calloway County has a total workforce of almost 18,000. As a center
for manufacturing, retail activity, higher education, government and
healthcare, the community has an unusually diverse employee base.
About a quarter of the workforce in Calloway County is involved in manufacturing,
with an additional 20 percent involved in the wholesale/retail business.
About 18 percent are involved in governmental work at all levels, whereas
farming and the service sector each account for about 13 percent of
the workforce. The remainder of the workforce is involved in finance,
insurance, and real estate, construction, and transportation/utility
work.
The largest employers are Murray State University, with slightly over
1,300 employees; Murray-Calloway County Hospital, with just over 1,050
employees; Briggs and Stratton, with almost 1,000 employees; and Paschall
Truck Lines, with almost 900 employees. Several additional companies
and schools employ over 300 employees each.
Education
Due to two excellent local school systems, Calloway County Schools and
Murray Independent Schools, Murray-Calloway County residents 25 years
old and older rank 5th among the state’s 120 counties for the attainment
of four year degrees and 16th for the attainment of high school diplomas.
And for those who wish to pursue their education beyond the secondary
level while staying close to home, there are the Murray-Calloway County
Area Technology Center and Murray State University; both are convenient
and prestigious. Incidently, for the 8th consecutive year, Murray State
University has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s
Best Colleges
and Universities.
Health Care
Given a choice, most patients prefer to stay close to home when medical
care is needed. This being the case, the region is equipped to deal
with just about
any medical concern imaginable. Murray-Calloway Hospital, is a public,
not-for-profit medical complex with a total of 366 beds and a workforce
of over 1,000 medical, support and administrative staff. The facility
has over 65 full-time physicians on staff, representing some 28 specialty
areas. In addition to having the latest technology, Murray-Calloway
County Hospital is especially equipped to deal with cancer treatment.
The Murray/Calloway County region also has 15 dentists, 7 chiropractors,
2 nursing homes, and 2 retirement centers.
Outdoor Recreation
Calloway County is known for its access to outdoor recreational facilities.
Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, the largest man-made lakes in the country,
are both less than 20 minutes from downtown Murray. In addition, the
Land Between the Lakes offers 170,000 acres of splendid scenery and
attractions. Fishing, boating, camping, hiking and water skiing are
popular with local residents and tourists alike. There are four golf
courses in Calloway County, including the Frances E. Miller Golf Course,
which is listed as one of the top courses in the nation. Other recreational
facilities include a 104-acre city/county park system, 3 swimming pools,
a skating rink, a bowling alley, and over 50 restaurants.
Cultural Attractions
Murray features several cultural, educational, artistic, and entertainment
outlets. Murray State University routinely sponsors events that appeal
to a wide range of individual interests. Galleries include the Clara
Eagle Gallery and the Curris Center Art Gallery; the Murray Art Guild
features exhibitions at these and other locations from time to time.
Theatres include Community Theatre’s Playhouse in the Park and
the Murray State University Theatre. Other attractions in the area include
the Murray Civic Music Association, the Pogue Special Collections Library,
the Calloway County Public Library, the Wrather West Kentucky Museum,
and the Wickliffe Mounds Archaeological Site. Murray is also home to
a 7-screen cinema, an 8,800-seat regional special events center, and
a 23,000 square-foot arena.
Access
Murray-Calloway County’s central location is within a day’s
drive from most of the eastern United States. Interstate 24 is only
28 miles from downtown Murray via four-lane U.S. Highway 641. The Murray-Calloway
County Airport provides corporate and charter service to companies and
individuals in the region. The Barkley Regional Airport, which offers
commercial airline service through Northwest Airlink and American Connection
is only 50 miles away in Paducah, Kentucky. Moreover, Murray is only
two hours from Nashville International Airport. Access to Amtrack is
less than an hour away in Fulton, Kentucky, and the Mayfield depot for
Greyhound Bus Lines is only 25 miles away. Locally, the Murray-Calloway
County Transit Authority features routes through the city and county
throughout the week.
Climate
The average annual temperature is about 59 degrees, with a monthly average
high temperature of around 69 degrees and a monthly average low temperature
of about 48 degrees. It is generally in the 80s during the summer months
and in the upper 30s during the winter months. The average annual precipitation
is about 49 inches and the average annual snowfall is about 8 inches.
The relative humidity averages a comfortable 60 percent.
Additional Information
This brief “Community Profile” is meant to be a general summary
of the Murray/Calloway County area. More detailed information about
Murray-Calloway County, including information on media outlets, church
availability, real estate, local government, and the local tax structure
is available from the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce. The
Chamber can be reached at (270) 753-5171 or visit their website at www.murraylink.com.
Ask for the publication, Community Profile: What Sets Us Apart.
