Kentucky in Africa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kentucky in Africa
1828–c. 1847
Status	Colony (American Colonization Society)
Capital	Clay-Ashland
Historical era	Imperialism
• Established	1828
• Disestablished	c. 1847
Area
• Total	100 km2 (39 sq mi)
Preceded by American Colonization Society
Today part of	Liberia

Kentucky in Africa was a special place in what is now Liberia, a country on the west coast of Africa. It was started in 1828 by people from the United States who were once enslaved or were born free. This colony was a project of the American Colonization Society, an organization that helped African Americans move to Africa.

What Was Kentucky in Africa?

Kentucky in Africa was a small colony, about 40 square miles (100 square kilometers) in size. It was located along the Saint Paul River, not far from where Liberia's capital city, Monrovia, is today. The land was bought by the Kentucky State Colonization Society. This group was part of the larger American Colonization Society.

The Kentucky society raised money to help people move from Kentucky to Africa. These were often free Black people who volunteered to go. Sometimes, enslaved people were set free if they agreed to leave the United States and move to Liberia.

Clay-Ashland Settlement

The main town in Kentucky in Africa was called Clay-Ashland. It was named after Henry Clay, an important American politician, and his home, Ashland Plantation. This town became the center of life for the people who settled there.

Important Leaders from the Colony

Even though Kentucky in Africa was a small colony, some of its residents became very important leaders in Liberia. After the colony joined Liberia, these individuals helped shape the new country.

• Alfred Francis Russell was one of these notable people. He later became the 10th President of Liberia.
• William D. Coleman was another important figure. His family moved to Clay-Ashland from Fayette County, Kentucky. He later became the 13th President of Liberia.

Joining Liberia

Kentucky in Africa existed as a separate colony for about 19 years. Around 1847, it became part of the larger country of Liberia. This was part of a bigger movement where many smaller settlements in the region joined together to form the independent nation of Liberia.