Monticello, Kentucky
Monticello is a city of 5,753 people in Wayne County, Kentucky, founded in 1801.
Why visit Monticello
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 15 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Fairchild House and Hotel Breeding.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Monticello
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Monticello
Monticello is a city in Wayne County, Kentucky, United States. It is the seat of its county. Its population was 5,753 at the time of the 2020 United States census.
From the Wikipedia article Monticello, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Museums and landmarks6
Fairchild House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
House in Monticello, Kentucky
Hotel Breeding
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic building in Monticello, Kentucky, USA
Monticello Historic Commercial District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Old Wayne County High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Wayne County Historical Museum
Museum · 0.7 mi
The Wayne County Historical Society is located in the old Breeding Hotel. This hotel was constructed in 1939 by R. G. Breeding to...
75 North Main Street, Monticello
Wayne County Doughboy
Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi
Located in the middle of the intersection of Main and Columbia Streets, one will find the Doughboy Memorial.”Doughboy” is the name given...
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes15
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 0.7 mi
1215 North Main Street, Monticello
Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 1.5 mi
2010 East Highway 90 By-Pass, Monticello
Mo-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-23:00; Su 08:00-22:00
Wendy's
Fast food · Burger · 1.2 mi
2098 North Main Street, Monticello
Mo-Th 06:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 06:30-22:00; Su 06:30-21:30
3 more on the map.
History
Monticello was designated as the county seat when the Wayne County was formed in 1800. The first Wayne county clerk, Micah Taul, named the town after Thomas Jefferson's plantation and home; Jefferson was elected President of the United States that year. Joshua Jones, a surveyor and Revolutionary War veteran, laid out the town on 13 acres owned by William Beard. By 1810, the population numbered 27.
In the late 1800s, oil was discovered in Wayne County, creating an economic boost. Drilling began in these local oil fields in the 1880s, and was renewed in 1921 and 1922.
Electricity was introduced to the city in 1905. City water was installed in 1929. Manufacturing dominated the economy from the late 1950s and 1960s until the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
In 1973, Belden Corporation (wire and cable) employed 300 people, Gamble Brothers (wood products) employed 161 people, Waterbury Garment (clothing) employed 271 people, and Monticello Manufacturing (clothing) employed 240 people. Each of these companies has left Monticello.
From the History section of Monticello, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship6
Saint Peter Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.1 mi
1139 KY 3106, Monticello
Wayne County First Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.7 mi
2124 E highway 90, Monticello
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Wayne County Public Library
Library · 1.0 mi
157 Rolling Hills Boulevard;Rolling Hills Blvd, Monticello
Healthcare3
Map of Monticello
61 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 26°F | 4.5 in | 4.3 in |
| Feb | 49°F | 28°F | 4.3 in | 4.2 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 35°F | 5.2 in | 2.9 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 43°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 53°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 57°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 36°F | 3.6 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 30°F | 5.0 in | 2.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Monticello 3 Ne (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Wayne County has had 18 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2026-05-29: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-05-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (SME) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.
- Jamestown 16 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- Somerset 22 mi northeast, about 35 min by car
- Burkesville 29 mi west, about 46 min by car
- Columbia 31 mi northwest, about 50 min by car
- Liberty 33 mi north, about 54 min by car
- Corbin 42 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Campbellsville 44 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Edmonton 44 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Greensburg 46 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- London 47 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Wayne County Kentucky courthouse, W.marsh, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 05, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 03, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 13, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 14, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 09, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 02, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 12, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 06, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 16, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 01, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 07, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 11, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 17, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 08, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 15, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 04, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Houseboat on the move Monticello, KY 10, Sealle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FAIRCHILD HOUSE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- HOTEL BREEDING, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- County Named, 1800 historical marker, Nyttend, Public domain
- A.j. Lloyd Memorial School, Gabrieldrake08, CC BY-SA 3.0
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