City: Silver Grove
City size: 1.64 square miles
Population: 1,186
Median Income: $59,420
Median Home Value: $108,310
Mayor: Neal Bedel
Incorporated: 1950
Everyone loves a good comeback story.
Silver Grove, a city quietly nestled along the Ohio River in northeast Campbell County, embodies the spirit of the comeback.
The community has adapted to changing economic situations, weathered multiple devastating floods, and coped with the closure of its independent school district.
What keeps the city bonded together is an overwhelming sense of community and resilience.
Joe Pelle, a city councilman and owner and proprietor of Pelle’s Bar and Restaurant, is a lifelong native of Silver Grove.
He grew up in the town, attended the local school system and operates a thriving business. He’s witnessed Silver Grove’s change since he was a boy.
“I believe it is the core people who never left this small town and have been a part of this story for many years,” Pelle said. “We’re doing what is best for the city and the citizens of Silver Grove as it continues to change.”
Grady Brown grew up in Silver Grove in the 1960s. He also graduated from the school system where he played basketball and baseball
“When I grew up, there was a lot of community involvement,” Brown said. “We had block parties. We had dances. That school. I mean, everybody was involved in that school. When I grew up, there was the PTA and everything. Both my grandmothers were present at PTA there before, you know, even before I was in school.”
Silver Grove was founded as a railroad town in 1911 for the C&O Railroad. It was described as a modern city in 1914 because it was one of the first cities in Kentucky to feature electric street lights, a modern fire department, its own school system, a spacious park, and an urban water and sewer system.
Local historian Lee Bass said Silver Grove’s namesake comes from a park that operated in the area around the 1890s. The park featured a grove of silver maple trees. The plot of land that became Silver Grove was deeded by King George of England in 1755. There’s been a record of that land since the French & Indian War.
In 1948, C&O asked to leave the city.
In 1950, Silver Grove became an incorporated city and elected Gerald Losey as its first mayor.
The main road leading in and out of Silver Grove is Kentucky Route 8, also known as the Mary Ingles Highway.
Campbell County’s economic development eventually shifted westward, away from the Ohio River toward Fort Thomas, Highland Heights, Cold Spring and Alexandria. This left small towns along Route 8, including Melbourne, Mentor, and Silver Grove, on an economic island of sorts. The importance of car travel adjacent the Ohio River waned as US 27 became the main transport road in the county.
On June 30, 2019, Silver Grove’s highly respected police captain of 62 years, Chief John Sayers, decided to hang up his badge. After his retirement, the Silver Grove City Council decided to reevaluate the city’s police department.
Silver Grove entered negotiations with the Campbell County Police Department. The city council determined the CCPD could provide more policing coverage for significantly less than the current budget. The Silver Grove Police Department then dissolved and the CCPD staffed officers to police Silver Grove.
In 1997, flooding forced residents to flee their homes. Water ravaged homes and buildings. It was the most consequential natural disaster in the city since the infamous flood of 1937.
The city has tried multiple routes to address flooding over the years.
“There is no ‘silver bullet answer’ for our flooding,” Pelle said.
For decades, Silver Grove’s Independent School District was one of the defining characteristics of the city. The school’s sports teams were aptly named “the Big Trains” in homage to the city’s railroad history. In many ways, the school district was the outward face of the community.
That changed in 2019, when the Silver Grove School Board voted to consolidate into the Campbell County School District.
“This city functioned around the school, Silver Grove Independent Schools, K through 12,” Pelle said. “Canteen Dances. Proms. Homecomings. Basketball games on Tuesdays & Fridays. Baseball games during the spring & early summer. Variety Shows. Senior Plays. Halloween Carnivals.”
Dwindling enrollment and poor academic performance ultimately doomed the school system.
“As long as there are people that know about that school, and can talk about that school, then the memories will stay alive,” Brown said. “There is going to come a day when there’s not going to be anybody who can do that. I have great memories of the place. My brother was in their largest graduating class ever.”
The consolidation has led to an unexpected development for Silver Grove as the taxpayers no longer have to prop up a school district. Coupled with plenty of affordable housing options, Silver Grove is becoming an attractive place for potential homeowners.
“By merging with Campbell County Schools, we now have a top 20 school district,” Pelle said. “This is a big draw for potential new homeowners.”
Mayor Neal Bedel, who is entering his 17th year in office, has continued to gameplan, in coordination with the city council, on how to continue to improve their city. More money in the annual budget allows the city council to dedicate more funds to improving infrastructure such as sidewalks and roadways.
“Our infrastructure and streets were in need of replacement and repair. We continue to replace our old blacktop streets with concrete while working with Sanitation District 1 and the water district to make improvements on their systems,” Bedel said. “There have been large upgrades made to our city park. We continue, as a council, to evaluate each year what we can do to make Silver Grove better than the year before. We are currently working on a couple projects that will make us more attractive to those seeking a place to call home.”
