West Point, Kentucky
West Point is a city of 1,025 people in Hardin County, Kentucky, founded in 1789.
Why visit West Point
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 2 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Tioga Falls, Abraham Ditto House, Applegate-Fisher House and Fort Duffield Park and Historic Site.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in West Point
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West Point
West Point is a home rule-class city in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States, near the edge of Fort Knox military reservation on Dixie Highway. It is located in a former meander bend of the Ohio River. The population was 952 as of the 2020 Census, up from 797 from the 2010 census, but still down from 1,100 at the 2000 census.
From the Wikipedia article West Point, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks9
Abraham Ditto House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
Applegate-Fisher House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
United States historic house in West Point, Kentucky
Ditto-Prewitt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
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Fort Duffield
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
West Point Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic district in Kentucky, USA
Louisville and Nashville Turnpike
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes2
History
West Point was founded by pioneer James Young, who built a cabin at the site in 1789 and, in 1797, built a brick house and inn that is still standing today. In 1803, Lewis and Clark passed nearby and recruited West Point citizen John Shields to join their Corps of Discovery.
West Point sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Salt rivers, a strategic position that led Union forces to construct a fort here during the Civil War to protect their supply routes. Fort Duffield is the state's largest and best-preserved earthen fortification from the period.
West Point also retains many of its other historic resources, and a large portion of the community is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
One of the newest preservation projects in West Point is the rehabilitation of the West Point Independent Colored School (1926), one of the "Rosenwald Schools" built by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to educate African-Americans in rural areas. Plans call for using the one-room school as a visitor, educational, and research facility.
West Point commemorated the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's visit with a heritage festival that celebrated local history and drew heritage tourists. Year-round, Fort Duffield is an important tourist destination, and the city recently secured a grant to fund walking trails at the site.
From the History section of West Point, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship3
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries1
Map of West Point
24 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 23°F | 4.0 in |
| Feb | 47°F | 25°F | 3.5 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 33°F | 4.9 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 42°F | 5.4 in |
| May | 76°F | 53°F | 6.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.5 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.9 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 63°F | 3.6 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 3.8 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.9 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 34°F | 4.0 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 27°F | 4.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Brandenburg (9 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
Hardin County has had 19 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-04-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Godman Army Airfield (FTK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Fort Knox 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
- Doe Valley 8 mi west, about 13 min by car
- Radcliff 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Vine Grove 12 mi south, about 19 min by car
- Brandenburg 12 mi west, about 20 min by car
- Shepherdsville 14 mi east, about 22 min by car
- Brooks 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Hillview 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Shively 17 mi northeast, about 27 min by car
- Louisville/Jefferson County 21 mi northeast, about 34 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
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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
- REC13 (1552), Figmig, CC BY-SA 3.0
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