• Newspaper
  • Community
  • History

    The State Journal was born through the merger of two Frankfort newspapers — The Kentucky State Journal, which was established on Jan. 7, 1900, and The Frankfort News, which was established on Feb. 9, 1911. The name was changed to The State Journal on June 20, 1912, and has been a family-owned newspaper from its beginnings.

    The Dix family from Wooster, Ohio, purchased The State Journal from the Perry family in 1962. Longtime Publisher Albert E. Dix steered the ship until his retirement when his son Troy Dix and daughter Ann Dix Maenza took over. Ann remained publisher until the paper was sold Sept. 1, 2015, to Boone Newspapers Inc., another family-owned publishing company.

    Circulation

    6,100 – 7,300, distributed Sunday morning and Monday through Friday afternoon in Franklin, Anderson, Shelby and Woodford counties.

  • Market

    The State Journal covers the most influential market in the state, Frankfort/Franklin County. The Capital City is the site of Kentucky’s lawmaking, as well as the heart of the political, economic and social life of the Commonwealth.

    Geographic Location

    Frankfort is situated 25 miles west of Lexington and 54 miles east of Louisville — the largest cities in Kentucky. Frankfort is nestled in a valley along the Kentucky River in the heart of bourbon, horse and wine country. Interstate 64 offers three entrances into Franklin County: U.S. 151, U.S. 60 and U.S. 127.

    Population

    Frankfort and Franklin County have a combined population of 49,804 with 27,590 residing in the City of Frankfort. The Frankfort Micropolitan Statistical Area includes the neighboring counties of Anderson and Owen, and boasts a combined population of more than 70,000 people.

    Climate

    The area has an average annual 57.6 degrees and average precipitation 42.62 with an annual average of 13 inches of snow.

    Major employers

    The Commonwealth of Kentucky employs more than 9,000 with 4,000 of those workers living in Franklin County. Additionally, there are about 6,630 state retirees in Frankfort/Franklin County. The second largest employer, Montaplast of North America has 760 employees. Montaplast manufactures precision plastic car parts for several automotive companies like Toyota, which has a manufacturing facility 20 minutes away in Georgetown. The bourbon industry employs more than 650 area workers at facilities including Buffalo Trace and Jim Beam.

    Education

    Kentucky State University was chartered in May 1886 as the State Normal School for Colored Persons, only the second state-supported institution of higher learning in Kentucky. Kentucky State University is a public institution with an enrollment of approximately 1,600 students and 135 full-time faculty members. The university’s 882-acre campus includes a 204-acre agricultural research farm and a 306-acre environmental education center. Frankfort and Franklin County is served by two public school systems and several private schools.

    Recreation

    Recreational opportunities abound in Frankfort and Franklin County with nearly 1,000 acres dedicated to public parks including a new outdoor aquatic center with water slides diving boards, lap pool and so much more. There are three public and one private golf course’s to enjoy. The Kentucky River and Elkhorn Creek offer the water enthusiast opportunities from canoeing, swimming, power boating, water skiing and just about anything your imagination will allow. The rich history of the Capital City abounds with museums and historic buildings like the State Capitol, Old State Capitol, Kentucky History Museum, Capital City Museum and the many historic sites throughout the county.