Covington is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers, across from Cincinnati, Ohio to the north and Newport to the east. It is the largest city in Northern Kentucky and the fifth-most populous city in the state with a population of 40,691 at the 2020 census. Covington is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area and is one of Kenton County's two seats, along with Independence. Covington is a home-rule class city under Kentucky law.
History
In 1814, John Gano, Richard Gano, and Thomas Carneal purchased The Point, of land on the west side of the Licking River at its confluence with the Ohio, from Thomas Kennedy for $50,000, and laid out the settlement of Covington the next year. It was named in honor of Gen. Leonard Covington,. who was killed at the Battle of Crysler's Farm during the War of 1812. The town was formally incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly a year later and raised to city status in 1834.
The city prospered as an emporium for Kentucky's tobacco and cigar production. In 1862, Stewart Iron Works was established; for a time, it was the largest iron fence maker in the world and still exists today as part of the Huseman Group of Cincinnati. There were also distilleries, glassworks, and stove factories. Like nearby Cincinnati, Covington's factories and businesses were particularly staffed by Catholic and German immigrants. Its Catholic church was eventually raised to the level of a diocese.
The city was determined as the center of the country's population by the U.S. Census Bureau for the 1880 census.
By 1900, Covington was the second-largest city and industrial region in Kentucky. At the time, its population of almost 43,000 was about 12% foreign-born and 5% Black. By this time, it was connected to the Chesapeake & Ohio and Louisville & Nashville railways, and companies offered steamboat service to other ports on the Ohio River. Its factories had expanded to include cotton goods, machinery, and cordage.
Covington even boasted a Federal League baseball team, the Covington Blue Sox, during the 1913 season. The present-day circuit courthouse is located at the site of its former grounds, Federal Park, which is thought to have been the smallest stadium ever used by a professional baseball club.
It declined in importance during the Great Depression and the middle 20th century. The city has undergone some redevelopment during the late 20th and early 21st centuries as the most populous city in Kenton County.
The Covington Police Department has been sued 14 times in federal court since 2021. with half of those lawsuits involving the conduct of a single officer, Doug Ullrich.
Geography The city is on the south bank of the Ohio River with Cincinnati, Ohio across the river to the north. The Licking River forms the eastern boundary with Newport in the adjacent Campbell County.Covington, KY, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1981
According to the United States Census Bureau, Covington has a total area of , of which is land and (3.88%) is covered by water.
Neighborhoods
Covington claims 19 distinct neighborhoods, ranging in population from several hundred to 10,000 people. Many of the neighborhoods are located in 12 historic districts that are predominantly found in the northern portion of the city, but Covington annexed many areas to the south in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to significantly enlarge its land area. Most of the neighborhoods have active resident associations or block watches that are dedicated to involving residents in strengthening their neighborhoods and improving safety, housing, and beautification.
Climate Covington is located within a climatic transition zone; it is nestled within the southern end of the humid continental climate zone and the northern periphery of the humid subtropical climate of the Upland South, with hot, humid summers and cool winters. Evidence of both a humid subtropical and humid continental climate can be found here, particularly noticeable by the presence of plants indicative of each climatic region; for example, the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) from the subtropics and the blue spruce from cooler regions are successful landscape plants in and around Covington.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Covington had a population of 40,961 and a population density of 3,103.8 people per square mile (1,198.4/km2).
The median age was 35.7 years; 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 64.6% were 18 to 64, and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.2 males age 18 and over.
99.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 18,099 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 27.7% were married-couple households, 27.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.99.
There were 20,576 housing units, of which 12.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number PercentWhite 30,998 75.7%Black or African American 4,740 11.6%American Indian and Alaska Native 204 0.5%Asian 252 0.6%Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 49 0.1%Some other race 1,519 3.7%Two or more races 3,199 7.8%Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,868 7.0%
2016–2020 American Community Survey According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, for the period 2016–2020 the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $47,917, and the median income for a family was $60,224. About 23.9% of the population were living below the poverty line, including 37.9% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over. About 61.8% of the population were employed.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families resided in the city. The population density was . The 20,448 housing units averaged 1,556.5 per square mile (600.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 87.05% White, 10.14% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.38% of the population.
Of the 18,257 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were not families; 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.08.
The age distribution was 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,735, and the median income for a family was $38,307. Males had a median income of $31,238 versus $24,487 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,841. About 15.5% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Covington has some of the least expensive real estate in Kentucky; the median house price in Covington is around $95,430, while the median house price for Kentucky as a whole is $124,100.
Economy
According to Covington's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the principal employers in the city are:
# Employer # of Employees1 Internal Revenue Service - partially closed in 2019 3,9512 Fidelity Investments2,0693 Club Chef1,0394 Covington Board of Education9145 Crown Services Inc.5246 Rosedale Manor4887State of Kentucky4778 St. Elizabeth Hospital4089 Diocese of Covington Board of Education40310 Atkins & Pearce Mftg339
In September 2025, the new four-story, OneNKY Center, office and lab facility opened. The main tenant was LifeSciKY, which will operate a $15 million, 15,000-sq-ft facility with a biotech lab and incubator within the center. Beshear said, “With the opening of the center, we can support the many life sciences and biotech companies already in the region and welcome new innovators and startup companies to create more high-wage jobs and cutting-edge treatments right here in the commonwealth.”
Arts and culture
Covington has five churches listed on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption is a minor basilica under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington. It was built in 1895 and is famous for what is said to be the world's largest handmade church stained glass window, at . The Mother of God Roman Catholic Church is a historic German church built in 1869 and included in the Mutter Gottes Historic District. With . The church features twin renaissance towers and murals by Vatican artist Johann Schmitt. St. Augustine Church Complex is another German parish constructed in 1913. Holy Cross Church and School Complex-Latonia was constructed between 1906 and 1908 with the elementary school added in 1914, rectory in 1924, the high school in 1930 and the convent in 1941. Trinity Episcopal Church was constructed between 1857 and 1859.
The Daniel Carter Beard Boyhood Home is a National Historic Landmark located in the Riverside Drive Historic District. The home was built in 1821 and is one of the two oldest buildings in Kenton County. Daniel Carter Beard, a founder of the Boy Scouts of America, grew up here in the mid-19th century.
Government
Covington is a home-rule class city. As of 2026, Ron Washington is the mayor of Covington, having been elected in 2024 after serving four years on the Covington Board of Commissioners. Washington made history by being the first African-American mayor of Covington. Covington is served by a four-member Board of Commissioners.
As of 2026, Covington is represented in the Kentucky General Assembly by Christian McDaniel (R) and Shelly Funke Frommeyer (R) of the 23rd and 24th districts in the Kentucky Senate, and by Kim Banta (R), Kimberly Poore Moser (R), and Stephanie Dietz (R) of the 63rd, 64th and 65th districts in the House of Representatives. Federally, Covington is located in Kentucky's 4th congressional district, represented in the 119th United States Congress by Congressman Thomas Massie (R)
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky maintains a divisional office in Covington. The Kenton County Fiscal Court also maintains a courthouse in Covington, where it meets monthly.
Education Public education within much of Covington is provided by Covington Independent Public Schools, the largest independent school district in Kentucky. Its high school, Holmes Junior/Senior High School, is the oldest public high school in the state.
Southern portions of the city are in the Kenton County School District. - Text list
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington operates two high schools in the city, Covington Latin School and Holy Cross High School. Two Catholic high schools, the all-boys' Covington Catholic High School and all-girls' Notre Dame Academy, moved to neighboring Park Hills in the 1950s. Calvary Christian School, a Baptist school, is also located in Covington.
Media
The Kentucky Educational Television station for Northern Kentucky, WCVN-TV (channel 54), is licensed to Covington, along with gospel station WCVG (1320 AM).
Infrastructure