Glens Fork, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glens Fork
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 Glens Fork
Location in Kentucky
Glens Fork
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Adair |
| Elevation | 810 ft (250 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
42741
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| Area code(s) | 270 and 364 |
| GNIS feature ID | 492906 |
Glens Fork is a small community in Adair County, Kentucky, United States. It is an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Glens Fork sits about 810 feet (247 meters) above sea level.
Contents
Understanding the Land Around Glens Fork
The area around Glens Fork is special because it's made of limestone. This type of rock can dissolve over time, creating interesting landforms.
Sinkholes and Caves
Because of the limestone, the ground in Glens Fork has many sinkholes and small caves. Sinkholes are like big dips or holes in the ground.
Karst Landscape Explained
Most of this region is a karst landscape. This means that rainwater doesn't flow into rivers or streams directly. Instead, it goes straight into the ground through sinkholes and cracks in the rock. There are also some undeveloped caves nearby, like the Helms Caves, where American Indian artifacts have been found.
A Look at Glens Fork's History
The community of Glens Fork has a long and interesting past. It has been known by a few different names over the years.
How Glens Fork Got Its Name
Glens Fork was named for its location on a stream called Glens Fork of Russell Creek. This creek was named after David Glenn, an early pioneer. David Glenn was part of a hunting group that camped here. They were gathering supplies for George Rogers Clark's important military campaigns in the Illinois area.
As early as 1777, David Glenn and another hunter, William Stewart, had a cabin here. They used it to store meat for the settlers living in Harrodstown (now Harrodsburg). David Glenn was one of the pioneers who helped found Harrodsburg in 1774.
Post Office and Early Records
The first official record for this area at the Adair County courthouse is a deed from June 29, 1802. A post office was opened in Glens Fork on September 2, 1857. However, it closed on July 31, 1863, because of the American Civil War. After the war, the post office reopened on October 10, 1865, and has been serving the community ever since. The name "Hardscratch," which was another name for the community, might have come from a Civil War campsite where life was very difficult.
When Glens Fork Was a Town
On March 25, 1872, the area was officially made a town called Glenville by the Kentucky General Assembly. The town's borders were set to extend a quarter of a mile in every direction from the northeast corner of the Masonic Hall, which was considered the center of town. At some point later, the town government stopped operating, and Glens Fork became an unincorporated community again.
