Rivals, Kentucky facts for kids
Rivals is a small, quiet community in Spencer County, Kentucky, United States. It's a rural area, not a city or town with its own government. It sits by the banks of Brashear's Creek, about 5 miles north of Taylorsville.
Rivals' Early Days
Rivals has a long history, going back to the late 1700s. The Carland family settled here in 1796. They started a general store, which was a very important place for people to buy supplies.
Another early settler was Peter Van Dyke. He and his sons opened a grist mill in 1789. A grist mill grinds grain, like corn or wheat, into flour. This was a vital business for farmers in the area. The road leading into Rivals is still called Van Dyke Mill Road today. Old newspapers even called the area "Van Dyke Mills." At one time, there was more than one mill and even a factory that processed wool.
While the old store and mill are no longer open, the building that was once the store and post office still stands. It is now used for storage.
How Rivals Got Its Name
The community of Rivals got its name in a very interesting way! When people wanted to open a post office there, they had to suggest a name. They also needed a second choice, just in case their first name was already being used somewhere else.
The store owner looked around for ideas for the second name. He saw a box of ammunition on his shelves. The brand name on the box was "Rivals." It turned out that the first name choice was already taken. So, "Rivals" became the official name for the post office, and soon, for the whole community!
Life in Rivals Today
Today, Rivals is still mostly farmland. Farmers here grow crops like tobacco, corn, wheat, and soybeans. They also raise animals such as cattle and goats.
Over the last 25 years, some of the larger farms have been divided into smaller pieces of land. These are often called "mini-farms." People can live on these properties and still have a few animals or grow some crops.
Even with these changes, Rivals is still home to many families who have lived there for generations. Families like the Allgeier, Harp, Jeffiers, Jeffries, Prewitt, Travis, Yates, and Wills have deep roots in the community.
