Kentucky County, Virginia facts for kids
Kentucky County was an important area in early American history. It was created by the state of Virginia in 1777. This county covered the western part of Virginia, beyond the Big Sandy River and Cumberland Mountains.
The name "Kentucky" came from a Native American word. This word was first linked to a river in central Kentucky, which is now called the Kentucky River. For almost four years, the main town of Kentucky County was Harrodstown. This town is known today as Harrodsburg.
Contents
Kentucky County During the Revolutionary War
Kentucky County existed during the American Revolutionary War. This area was a key battleground in the western part of the war. Many important events happened here.
For example, there were major battles like the siege of Boonesborough and the siege of Logan's Fort. Another big event was Bird's invasion of Kentucky. The Cherokee-American Wars also began in Kentucky in 1776.
In 1778 and 1779, General George Rogers Clark led his famous Illinois Campaign. He started this campaign from a base near the Falls of the Ohio River. During these four years, the number of people living in Kentucky County grew a lot. It went from about 300 people to almost 1,000 by 1780.
Land for Soldiers
In 1779, Virginia made a law about land in Kentucky County. This law was called the Land Act. It set aside a special area called the Military District. This district was for soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. Soldiers from earlier wars, like the French and Indian War, also received land.
These soldiers were given land instead of money for their service. The Military District was a large area between the Green River and the Carolina line. It covered over 35% of Kentucky County. Soldiers would build a cabin and plant corn to claim their land. Then, their land would be measured, and they would get an official document called a patent.
Becoming the State of Kentucky
Kentucky County officially ended on November 1, 1780. It was divided into three new counties: Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln.
After this, these new counties and others formed later were called the District of Kentucky. The people in these counties often asked Virginia and the Continental Congress to become a separate state.
Finally, they were successful! In 1792, the Commonwealth of Kentucky became the 15th state in the United States. The capital city was moved from Harrodsburg to Frankfort in the same year.
Important Leaders
Many important people helped lead Kentucky County. They were part of the county's local army, called the militia. Here are some of the key officers:
- John Bowman – He was a Colonel and the County Lieutenant of Kentucky County.
- George Rogers Clark – A Major who led important military campaigns.
- Anthony Bledsoe – Also a Major in the militia.
- John Todd – A Captain from Virginia.
- Benjamin Logan – A Captain from Kentucky County.
- Daniel Boone – A famous Captain from Boonesborough, Kentucky.
- James Harrod – A Captain from Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Kentucky (Virginia) para niños
