Valley Creek Baptist Church South Wilson Campus

Neighborhood 360º
Assessment
South Wilson Campus

WELCOME TO YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD 360º ASSESSMENT
Introduction
Neighborhood Snapshot
South Wilson Campus Origin Story
History of Elizabethtown
Local Insights
Demographics
Neighborhood Observations
Survey Results
Churches and Spiritual Life
Opportunities for Ministry
Reflective Questions
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INTRODUCTION
Valley Creek Baptist Church is a mission driven
church who exists to grow the kingdom of God
and build up new and young disciples for Christ.
We believe that the world is our mission field
and strive to live everyday with that as a driving
force of everything we do. Inside the church, we
work to make disciples who are readily
equipped to share the gospel and are
comfortable doing so in any situation.
To better understand Elizabethtown and the
current barriers and bridges that exist, we
commissioned a team of volunteers to conduct
an in-depth neighborhood study of the
neighborhoods surrounding Valley Creek Baptist
Church. Our goal was to become students of
Elizabethtown in order to become servants of
the community. We surveyed neighbors door-todoor,
conducted in-depth interviews, spent
hours walking to observe our streets, and
collected demographic, historical and cultural
data to complete this study.
This neighborhood study is intended to aid you,
your ministry team, your Life Groups, and our
church body to:
Build connections between Valley Creek Baptist
Church and the community
Guide strategic planning and the development
of new ministries
Draw on stories of motivation and vision in the
community
Understand the forces that affect the lives of
people in the community
Understand the community factors that will
influence ministry effectiveness
Understand how we as a church are affected by
the community
Discern how Valley Creek Baptist Church is
perceived by the community
Engage our neighbors through creative,
effective, and wise relationships
At the end of this booklet, you will find a series of
discussion questions. Our goal is not to prescribe
ministry opportunities to all of our members and
Life Groups but to provide this study as a means of
stimulating creative thinking. So, once you’ve read
through this study, gather a few friends and discuss
how your group or ministry can wisely and
effectively engage the people of Elizabethtown.
We are excited to see what God will do through our
presence in Elizabethtown!
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NEIGHBORHOOD SNAPSHOT
Valley Creek Baptist Church’s South Wilson campus is
located on South Wilson road near one of the busiest
areas of Elizabethtown. Our Neighborhood 360
Assessment focused on an area that fell within an
approximate 1 ½ mile radius from the campus. More
specifically, the focus area was established using the
following natural boundaries: Patriot Parkway to the
west, Rineyville-Big Springs Road to the north, Bewley
Hollow Road to the east, and Robinbrooke
Boulevard/Pear Hollow Road to the south.
Already one of the more densely populated areas in
Hardin County, the area surrounding the South Wilson
campus is poised to become increasingly populated in
the coming years due to the projected growth
accompanying multiple industries moving into
Elizabethtown and the surrounding areas. In the
summer of 2022, the City of Elizabethtown annexed
dozens of acres immediately surrounding the South
Wilson campus, rezoning the annexed property for
high-density residential housing.
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SOUTH WILSON CAMPUS ORIGIN STORY
Founded in 1872, Valley Creek Baptist Church has been a faithful presence in Elizabethtown for over 150
years. What began as a gathering of 25 constituting members meeting under an apple tree grew to a
gathering of several hundred people in attendance each Sunday.
Over the years, multiple construction and renovation projects were undertaken to accommodate a growing
congregation. As adequate space continued to be an issue, VCBC leadership began to consider the
possibility of expanding to a second location. As they focused on potential locations for a second campus,
one property quickly rose to the top – a 30,000+ square foot facility sitting on 3+ acres of land located
approximately 15-20 minutes northwest of the main campus.
HISTORY OF ELIZABETHTOWN
Elizabethtown, Kentucky is a city in Hardin County, situated in the central part of the state. It was
established in 1793 and named after Elizabeth Hynes, the wife of Colonel Andrew Hynes, who was a
settler in the area. The land where Elizabethtown was founded was originally part of a large parcel of
land granted by the state of Virginia to the Marquis de Lafayette in recognition of his service during the
American Revolution.
In the early days of Elizabethtown, it was a small trading center for local farmers, and the town grew
slowly. However, the establishment of a post office in 1800 helped to increase its importance as a
commercial hub. The town's location on the Louisville and Nashville Turnpike also made it an important
stop for travelers heading west.
During the Civil War, Elizabethtown played a strategic role due to its location on the major roads leading
to both Nashville and Louisville. In 1862, Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his troops occupied the
city for a short time, using it as a base of operations during their invasion of Kentucky. Union troops
eventually retook the city, and it was not until the end of the war that the town fully recovered.
Throughout the 20th century, Elizabethtown continued to grow and prosper. The establishment of Fort
Knox, a large military base nearby, brought many jobs to the area and helped to spur development.
Today, Elizabethtown is a thriving community. Its location along Interstate 65 makes it a popular stop for
travelers, and the city is home to a number of businesses and industries, including healthcare,
manufacturing, and education. There are also many cultural and recreational opportunities in the area,
including the summer concert series at Freeman Lake Park, organized sports, and the Heartland Festival.
The City Seal, with the inscription "Elizabethtown, Strong and Growing Since 1779" still rings true today.
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LOCAL INSIGHTS
Elizabethtown (or Etown/E-town/E’town as the locals call it) has something to offer for everyone,
whether you are doing business, visiting or living here. While the City of Elizabethtown has a population
of over 31,000 residents, we discovered that the average daytime population doubles due to the
regional attraction as a place to work, shop, dine and entertain. It’s a great place to live. Elizabethtown
is a diverse community with annual festivals, award-winning schools and a thriving historic downtown.
Elizabethtown, aptly nicknamed “Hub City,” is situated at the crossroads of several major thoroughfares
– (I-65, Western Kentucky Parkway, and Bluegrass Parkway). On a broader scale, Elizabethtown is
centrally located just a few hours drive (or less) from several major U.S. cities, including Louisville,
Indianapolis, Nashville, and St. Louis.
Additionally, due to its close proximity to Fort Knox, Elizabethtown is home to military families and
individuals from a variety of backgrounds, which contributes to a community that is increasingly diverse
across a variety of spectrums.
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DEMOGRAPHICS
POPULATION HIGHLIGHTS
Total Population: 31,298
Total Households: 13,296
AGE
65+: 12%
40-64: 33%
22-39: 24%
18-21: 5%
0-17: 25%
RACE
White 25,038 (80.4%)
Black: 3,393 (11.2%)
Asian: 757 (2.5%)
Hispanic: 1,665 (5.5%)
Other: 123 (0.4%)
GENDER
Female: 50.6%
Male: 49.4%
EDUCATION
Higher Degree: 28.7%
High School: 91.3%
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Elizabethtown: $57,163
Kentucky: $52,295
EMPLOYMENT
Employed: 54.9%
Unemployed: 4.7%
Not in the Labor Force: 36%
MARITAL STATUS
Never Married: males 30%, females 22%
Married: males 54%, females 52%
Separated/Divorced: males 14%, females 17%
Widowed: males 2%, females 9%
FAMILY HOUSEHOLD TYPE
Percentage of family households with children under the age of 18.
Married: 52.4%
Single Moms: 12%
Single Dads: 4.9%
NOTABLE FEATURES
Here are some insights about how
Elizabethtown compares to the Kentucky
state average:
Unemployment percentage
significantly below state average.
Black race population percentage
above state average.
Hispanic race population percentage
above state average.
Median age below state average.
Renting percentage above state
average.
Length of stay since moving below
state average.
Institutionalized population
percentage above state average.
Percentage of population with a
bachelor's degree or higher above
state average.
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NEIGHBORHOOD OBSERVATIONS
INREASING DIVERSITY
The area immediately surrounding the South Wilson campus
has become increasingly diverse through the years across a
variety of spectrums (race/ethnicity, socioeconomic, religious
affiliation). This was revealed through neighborhood
observations, interviews with community stakeholders, and
anecdotal evidence from members of the assessment team
involved in the local school system.
INCREASING ACTIVITY
In addition, we discovered that our neighborhoods transformed
from the easy pace of country living to subdivisions in the last
decade, as the housing boom spread and continues to spread
beyond large metropolitan cities like Louisville. The residents
in our community are thrifty but many are willing to carry some
debt and are already investing in their futures. We also
discovered that they rely on their smartphones and mobile
devices to stay in touch and pride themselves on their
expertise.
TRANSIENT AND DISCONNECTED
NEIGHBORS
Neighborhood conversations revealed that most neighbors
have either lived in the area 30+ years or were relatively new
to the area. The combination of military families, lower-income
families, and rental properties leads to a local population that
is largely transient in nature. This trend is likely to continue as
additional rental apartments and housing are being built in the
area to accommodate the projected growth in population to
Elizabethtown and the surrounding areas.
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As a result, many local residents have little-to-no relationship with their neighbors. Additionally, a
Family Resource Coordinator with the local elementary school pointed out that the transient nature
of the population results in social obstacles and difficulty building relationships for children. It is
also worth noting that, other than the three local schools located in close proximity to the S. Wilson
campus (New Highland Elementary School, Bluegrass Middle School, and John Hardin High School),
there is no obvious gathering place for local residents.
A RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION
Multiple large industries moving into the area has generated a buzz regarding the increase in population.
Some local forecasters have even gone so far as to project the population of Elizabethtown to double in the
next 5 years. While all of Elizabethtown and the surrounding communities will feel the effects of the
increase in population, early indications are that the area surrounding the S. Wilson campus will continue
to increase in population density as multiple properties have already been purchased, annexed, and
rezoned for high-density residential housing.
AN INTEREST AND CONCERN FOR KIDS
An interview with the Family Resource Coordinator at the local elementary school provided the following
helpful insights:
An estimated 70% of students qualify for reduced/free lunch.
There is a significant number of children being raised in single-parent and fatherless homes.
Similarly, there is a considerable number of children being raised by grandparents or adults other
than biological parents.
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SURVEY RESULTS
Over 100 interviews were conducted in Elizabethtown. We went door to door and asked questions of area
residents. The outcome of these interviews and surveys can be summarized by the following remarks.
1. Help building and maintaining relationships. Due to the high population of military families as well
as low-income families, much of the population surrounding the South Wilson campus is transient in
nature. Families – especially children and students – might benefit from relationship-building
environments. Some of these environments might include:
Mentoring Programs where adults can mentor children and youth. These programs (ie. Hope
Collaborative) can provide a one-on-one relationship where children and youth can receive
guidance, support, and encouragement from caring adults.
2. Assistance with financial management and similar practical skills. Feedback received from surveys in
the local school system indicated that there are families in the community that would greatly benefit
from financial management education as well as training in other practical life skills. Training and
support in this area may look like and/or include things like:
Financial Education Workshops: A church can organize financial education workshops for the
community, where experts can teach attendees about budgeting, saving, investing, and other
financial management skills.
3. Lack of adult male presence. According to information provided by the local school system, many of
the children and students in the community surrounding the South Wilson campus are growing up in
single-parent households, specifically homes without the presence of an adult male. Here are ways a
caring church can help:
Practical Assistance: Single parents may need help with practical tasks, such as grocery shopping,
home repairs, or transportation. A church can offer volunteer services to help with these tasks,
such as organizing a carpool or handyman service.
4. After School Youth Programming. There were many mentions of the many different types of afterschool
programs that a church can run for kids including homework help, sports, arts and crafts.
Overall, we believe that the residents we talked with want the church to make a significant positive
impact in our neighborhoods by providing support, guidance, and community engagement opportunities.
By taking an active role in our community, we can help build stronger relationships and foster a greater
sense of unity and belonging.
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CHURCHES AND SPIRITUAL LIFE
There are multiple smaller churches located in close proximity to the South Wilson campus. It is unknown to
what extent they are involved in the surrounding community. Most of the individuals we met during
neighborhood surveys were either unchurched or attended a church outside of our target area.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY
POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS
1.Opening facility/grounds for community events.
2. Allocating property for playground and/or for green space for children and families.
3. Partnering with local schools to help families who need help with a variety of practical life skills.
4. Hosting events open to the community for the purpose of connection and relationship building.
5. Establishing partnership with new apartment offices by organizing teams of church members to help
move new residents into housing.
6. Establishing partnerships with incoming industries to provide community welcome packets to
employees who are new to the area.
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REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
We are excited to be on this journey with you as we work to get some new programs and events for
our congregation and our community. Christ has gifted each of us with gifts and talents for us to use
to serve our community. Help be a part of our legacy to love our neighbors and share the good news.
1. What, if anything, has changed in your understanding of the community around Valley Creek
Baptist Church?
2. What new opportunities do you see for Valley Creek Baptist Church to love and connect with our
community as a result of this study?
3. How do you imagine this study will change or impact our church?
4. How might your Life Group use the insights in this study to engage and connect with the
community around you?