Rabbit Hash, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rabbit Hash, Kentucky
Census-designated place (CDP)
Official Name: Carlton (until December 1847)
Rabbit Hash General Store in late 2022.
Nickname(s):  Carlton Voter Precinct, Rabbit Hash (official name since 1847)
Motto(s):  "Rabbit Hash Is Full Of Cash"
Location within Boone County and the state of Kentucky
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Boone
Area
• Total	6.94 sq mi (17.96 km2)
• Land	5.10 sq mi (13.21 km2)
• Water	1.83 sq mi (4.75 km2)
Elevation	525 ft (160 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	254
• Density	49.79/sq mi (19.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	41091, 41005
Area code(s)	859
FIPS code	21-63804
GNIS feature ID	2629670

Rabbit Hash is a small, special community in Boone County, Kentucky, United States. It's not a big city, but a unique place where about 254 people lived in 2020. This town is famous for a few cool things. It has a very old general store, and it's known for having dogs as its mayors! Rabbit Hash is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a place with important history.

Why Is It Called Rabbit Hash?

This little town was first called Carlton. But mail kept getting mixed up with another town named Carrollton. So, the name had to change. Even today, the area is still called the Carlton Voter Precinct for voting.

The name Rabbit Hash might come from how people used to eat a lot of rabbits there. In the early 1800s, the town was well-known for a meal called rabbit hash.

There's a fun story about how the name came to be. In December 1847, people were talking about their Christmas dinners. One man joked that he would be serving rabbit hash. People started calling him "Rabbit Hash" as a funny nickname. Soon, the whole village became known by that name. Even steamboats on the nearby Ohio River would stop and ask for the famous hash, calling the town "Rabbit Hash."

The Famous General Store

The most famous building in Rabbit Hash is its General Store. It was built around 1831 and was known as "the best-preserved country store in Kentucky." This store was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

The whole area around the store, called the Rabbit Hash Historic District, was added to the National Register in 2003. This district covers a large area and includes 12 buildings, 6 structures, and 3 objects.

The Fire and Rebuilding

Sadly, on February 13, 2016, the famous General Store was destroyed by a fire. Firefighters thought the fire was an accident, possibly started by an old stove inside. Luckily, the store's front sign and some bigger items were saved. Only three walls and the floor were left, but this original foundation was used to rebuild the store.

To help rebuild, the mayoral election in 2016 raised almost $9,000! The store was rebuilt and opened again on April 1, 2017. They used some of the original materials and also wood from other old buildings nearby. This helped the store keep its historic status.

Dog Mayors of Rabbit Hash

One of the most unique things about Rabbit Hash is that its mayors are dogs! People vote for their favorite canine, and the money raised from these votes goes to local causes.

Goofy Borneman-Calhoun

The first elected dog mayor was Goofy Borneman-Calhoun. He was a mixed-breed dog who became mayor in 1998 and served for four years. His election was even featured in a movie! Goofy passed away in July 2001 when he was 16 years old.

Junior Cochran

After Goofy, the town didn't have a mayor until 2004. That's when Junior Cochran, a black Labrador, took office. Junior faced a bit of trouble when the health department said he couldn't go inside the General Store. Many of his fans were upset! Junior passed away in May 2008 at the age of 15.

Lucy Lou

On August 31, 2008, a special election was held, and Lucy Lou, a border collie, won! She became the town's first female mayor. Mayor Lucy Lou was very popular. She appeared on TV shows, accepted a special check from a magazine, and led parades. She was also the only mayor who didn't pass away while in office. Lucy Lou died in September 2018 at 12 years old.

Brynneth "Brynn" Pawltro

In the November 2016 election, Brynneth "Brynn" Pawltro, a pit bull, won first place. She helped raise over $3,300 for the General Store's rebuilding. The dogs who came in second and third place, Bourbon and Lady Stone, were given special roles as "Ambassadors" for Rabbit Hash. They help out if the mayor can't make an event.

Wilbur Beast

The most recent mayor is Wilbur Beast, a French bulldog. He was elected in November 2020 with the most votes ever in a Rabbit Hash election – over 13,000! Jack Rabbit the Beagle and Poppy the Golden Retriever came in second and third. They also became Rabbit Hash Ambassadors, along with Lady Stone.

List of Mayors

Notable People from Rabbit Hash

Emma Bell Miles, a talented writer, poet, and artist, lived in Rabbit Hash when she was a young child.

See also

In Spanish: Rabbit Hash (Kentucky) para niños