Berea, Kentucky

Berea, Kentucky
Berea City Hall
Nickname: 
The Folk Arts And Crafts Capital Of Kentucky
Motto: 
"Where Art's Alive"
Location of Berea in Madison County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 37°35′25″N 84°17′23″W / 37.59028°N 84.28972°W / 37.59028; -84.28972
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyMadison
Government
  MayorBruce Fraley
Area
  Total
16.58 sq mi (42.95 km2)
  Land16.51 sq mi (42.76 km2)
  Water0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation
958 ft (292 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
15,539
  Estimate 
(2022)
15,494
  Density941.13/sq mi (363.36/km2)
DemonymBerean
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
40403-40404
Area code859
FIPS code21-05842
GNIS feature ID2403858
Websitebereaky.gov

Berea (/bəˈrə/ bə-REE) is a home rule-class city in Madison County, Kentucky, in the United States. The town is best known for its art festivals, historic restaurants and buildings, and as the home to Berea College, a private liberal arts college. The population was 15,539 at the 2020 census. It is one of the fastest-growing towns in Kentucky, having increased by 27.4% since 2000. Berea is a principal city of the Richmond−Berea Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Madison and Rockcastle counties. It was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1890.