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Boyd County Kentucky
Boyd County Kentucky Map

 

County Introduction
Boyd county was established in 1860 and named after Linn Boyd (1800-1859). He was the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and he elected the Kentucky Lt. Governor. However, he died before completing the entire tem. The county seat is Catlettsburg.



 

County Origins
Boyd County, Kentucky was formed from Carter County, Greenup County, and Lawrence County. It was created on 25 Apr 1860.


 

Roadside Historical Markers

Roadside historical markers introduce the history of each Kentucky Highlands County. These markers provide interesting facts about many important events, people and places throughout the Highlands.

Marker TitleMarker LocationMarker Information
Civil War Army BaseCatlettsburg, 26th & Louisa, US 23, 60 USA post located here to protect Ohio River traffic. Became supply base and communication center for Union forces in the Big Sandy region. In winter 1861-62, troops under Col. J. A. Garfield, later 20th President U.S., drove CSA from area by victory at Middle Creek. Area cleared of CSA again in 1864 by USA Kentucky forces under Col. George W. Gallup.
County Named, 1860Catlettsburg, Courthouse lawn, US Business 23, 60 For Linn Boyd. Born Tenn., 1800. Came to West Ky. in youth. Kentucky Legislature, 1827-1831. Congress, 1835-1837, 1839-55, and Speaker, 1851-55. Author of Resolution to annex Texas. The Kentucky delegation proposed Boyd for Vice President at Democratic Convention, 1856, but convention chose Breckinridge of Ky. Boyd elected Lt. Gov., 1859. He died before taking office.
Indian Mounds13th & Galloway Sts., Ashland, US 23, 60 One and one-half miles NE in Central Park is an irregular row of mounds, part of a chain built by prehistoric men who were the forerunners of American Indians. Many of remains of that ancient people which once dotted this area were leveled as the town expanded. Some of these were burial mounds; others contained artifacts such as arrowheads and stone utensils.
Buena Vista FurnaceKY 5 at KY 784 Built by William Foster and Co. in 1847, 21/4 miles west, named for Mexican War battle that year. It was an important factor in the Hanging Rock iron industry until dismantled in 1876. Its 1874 iron production was 4113 tons. Stone stack was 40 feet high with a maximum inner diameter of 10 ft., and burned charcoal. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Ashland FurnaceWinchester Ave. at 6th St., Ashland When dismantled in 1962, world's oldest known operating blast furnace. Built in 1869 by Ashland Coal and Iron Railway Co., then 60 ft. high, 15 ft. diameter inside. Daily capacity 40 tons of iron, increased by rebuilding to 550 tons. Operated after 1921 by Armco Steel Corp. as Sixth Street Furnace. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Norton FurnaceWinchester Ave. at 23rd St., Ashland, US 23, 60 In 1967, the world's oldest known operating blast furnace. Built by Norton Iron Works Co. in 1873, an iron shell stack 67 ft. high with maximum inner diameter of 18 ft., burning "stone coal." It produced 10,502 tons of iron in 1874. Its 1884 capacity was 20,000 tons yearly. Operated after 1928 by Armco Steel Corp. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Sandy FurnaceKY 3 at KY 773 Built 1853 by Young, Foster & Co. (Dan and John Young, Wm. Foster, Irwin Gilruth), 4 mi. west on a 19,000 acre tract. Stone stack originally 32 ft. high, 101/2 ft. across inside. In 1854, its last year of operation, made 1000 tons of iron, which had to be hauled by oxcart across country to Big Sandy River. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Princess FurnacePrincess, KY 5 Built here in 1876-77, by Thomas W. Means (1803-90), for 50 years the leading figure in the iron industry of this area, owner of furnaces in Ky., Ohio, Va., Ala. This iron-jacketed stack burned "stone coal" because Buena Vista Furnace nearby had used all the charcoal timber on 6000 acres. Last blast, 1878. See the other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Amanda FurnaceE. of Greenup Co. line, US 23 When built, 1963, by Armco Steel Corp., rated as the ideal blast furnace, with a hearth diameter of 301/2 ft., daily capacity of 3340 tons of iron. Set American record of 110,515 tons in March, 1966. Rebuilt, in 1968, to produce 4020 tons daily with 331/2 ft. hearth. Named for pioneer furnace a mile west. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Clinton FurnaceUS 60 at KY 538 Stood one mile east. Its stone stack was 10 ft. across inside, about 35 ft. high, built in 1832 by George, William, Thomas H., and Hugh A. Poage. In 270 days of 1838, it used 2992 tons of ore, 247,000 bushels of charcoal to make 950 tons of iron. In 1857, produced 1500 tons. Operations ceased before 1867. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Oakland FurnaceUS 23 at KY 538 Stood 2 miles west. Built in 1834 by John C. and Jacob Kouns, it was a stone stack with air blast machinery powered by steam. It made 600 tons of iron in 1838, consuming 2100 tons of ore and 180,000 bushels of charcoal fuel. The iron was shipped in pigs by river boat. Furnace not operated after 1849. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
AshlandGreenup Ave. at 17th St., Ashland, US 23, 60 Settled by 1799 by members of the Poage family of Virginia. Known as Poage's Landing until named in 1854 for Henry Clay's Lexington estate, by the owners, Ky. Iron, Coal and Manufacturing Company. It engaged M. T. Hilton to lay out a town, then auctioned lots. City incorporated by act of Ky. Legislature, Feb. 13, 1856. Presented by the City of Ashland.
Presbyterian ChurchWinchester Ave. at 16th St., Ashland Organized June 11, 1819, at home of Maj. Jas. Poage, north of this spot, as Bethesda Presbyterian Church by Rev. Robert Wilson with 20 members. First a mile SW on Pollard Rd.; moved 1828 to Beech Grove, 1/2 mile W, and in 1858 to this corner as First Presbyterian Church, oldest Boyd County church building and congregation, 1971. Marker presented by Church members.
Gov. Simeon Willis (1879-1965)Between 1608 and 1612 Bath Ave., Ashland Judge on Kentucky's highest court 1927-1933; Governor 1943-1947. His administration extended State Park System, increased funding for education, expanded TB hospitals, ended most toll bridge charges, founded Postwar Planning Comm. and Comm. on Negro Affairs. Born in Ohio, he moved to Ky. as a child and later practiced law in Ashland, living at 1608 and 1612 Bath Ave.
Putnam StadiumAshland, 2800 Kansas St. This stadium served the Ashland Public Schools. Built in 1937 for $6,500 as a WPA project, it was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day that same year. The Ashland High School Tomcats' record of success includes 11 state championships. In 1944, the Tomcats played under the lights at Putnam Stadium for the first time. Presented by Representative John Vincent.
Mary Elliott FlaneryCatlettsburg, 2716 Panola St. (Elliott Hall) The first woman elected to Kentucky legislature, 1921. Mary E. Flanery elected to House of Representatives from Boyd County. She had worked for woman suffrage; was concerned with marriage and divorce laws and educational reform. At her death, 1933, a bronze marker was placed at her seat, No. 40, in house chamber. See over. Presented by The Democratic Woman's Club of Ky.

 

Historical Items For Sale