City of Southgate, Kentucky

Southgate is located south of Newport in the hills of northeastern Campbell County along U.S. 27 and North of I-471. The city was named after notorious land owner Richard Southgate by local politician Albert S. Berry.

The city of Southgate is prosperous in history, the area first came into local news in the Fall of 1862 when Confederate soldiers threatened to invade NKY and Cincinnati. One of the defenses quickly erected was the Shaler Battery named in honor of Nathaniel Southgate Shaler. The battery was located in what’s now Evergreen cemetery, Campbell’s County’s largest cemetery.

Southgate shared in the gambling and dinner club business with Newport in the 1930’s through the 1960’s. On February 3, 1936, Peter Schmidt, a convicted moon shiner, opened the Beverly Hills Supper Club. The Beverly Hills was the scene of a devastating fire that killed 161 patrons on Memorial Day 1977.

Landmarks of Southgate also include the two Mile Inn – later called the Heidelberg Inn, El Greco Restaurant, The Rock Bar; which featured live boxing and the Black Orchid Nightclub.

Southgate also had a Volunteer Fire Department that dates back to 1909. A group of residents united to form what was once know as the Southgate Welfare Association. The Southgate Volunteer Fire Department has come a long way since it’s modest beginning. It has done so due to the hard work and devotion of hundreds of eager Southgate citizens who offer time and effort to it’s success. Due to strong-willed citizens of the community the Southgate Volunteer Fire Department has weathered all adversities in superior tradition.