Covington, city, one of the seats of Kenton county (the other being Independence), north-central Kentucky, U.S. It is situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers, adjoining Newport (east) and opposite Cincinnati, Ohio. The site, originally given to George Muse in return for military services, was traded (1780) for a keg of whiskey. It was laid out in 1815 and was named for General Leonard Wales Covington, who died in the War of 1812. With the surge of river traffic and the opening of the Covington-Georgetown Turnpike in 1819, it began to flourish as a trading centre. Covington is an agricultural market (tobacco, corn [maize], and livestock). Manufactures include fabricated metal products, textiles, security sound systems, machine tools, and corrugated packaging.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption (1910) is styled on Notre-Dame in Paris. Northern Kentucky University (1968) is in Covington. Works by artist Frank Duveneck, a native son, are displayed in the public library. The birthplace of Daniel Carter Beard, a founder of the Boy Scouts of America, is a national historic landmark. Kincaid Lake State Park is to the southeast. Inc. 1834. Pop. (2000) 43,370; (2010) 40,640.