Tourism to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Creates Over 13 Million in Economic Benefit

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Date: April 24, 2015
Contact: Stacy Humphreys, 270-358-3137

Hodgenville, KY. - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 241,264 visitors to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in 2014 spent $13 million dollars in communities near the park. That spending supported 227 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of Hodgenville, Kentucky.

"Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world," said Acting Superintendent Stacy Humphreys. "We are delighted to share the story of this special place and the experience it provides.  We also feature the park as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers.  National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service, and it's a big factor in our local economy as well.  We appreciate the partnership and support of our partners and neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities."

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U. S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and National Park Service economist Lynne Koontz. The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park.  This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally; 235,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities.  The cumulative benefit to the U. S. economy was $29.7 billion.

According to the 2014 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (30.6 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.3 percent), gas and oil (11.9 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.9 percent).

To download the report visit https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.

The report includes information for visitors spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Kentucky and how the National Park Service works with Kentucky communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/KENTUCKY.  



Last updated: December 31, 2022

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Hodgenville, KY 42748

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270 358-3137

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