| County Introduction |
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| Clark county was established in 1807 and named after Gen. Green Clark (1757-1826) He was a military leader in the War of 1812 and he representative of Kentucky County in the Virginia General Assembly. Additionally, he was a cousin of Henry Clark. The county seat is Winchester. |
| County Origins |
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| Clark County, Kentucky was formed from Bourbon County and Fayette County. It was the 14th county and was created in 1792. |
| County Lines Redrawn |
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| In 1796, a part of Clark County was used to form Montgomery County. |
| In 1808, a part of Clark County was used to form Estill County. |
| In 1852, a part of Clark County was used to form Powell County. |
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 Title | Marker Location | Marker Information |
|---|---|---|
| Canewood - 1-1/4 miles | 61/2 mi. N. of Winchester, KY 627 | Home of two Revolutionary War officers: built about 1793 by Col. Nathaniel Gist 1735-1796 and Gen. Charles Scott 1739-1813, Governor of Kentucky 1808-1812 who married the widow Gist, 1807. |
| Governor James Clark | Colby Rd., Winchester, KY 627 | Home and monument of James Clark 1779-1839. Governor of Kentucky, 1836-1839. Member of Congress; Judge, Court of Appeals. As Circuit Judge he rendered his famous decision which set off the old and the new court fight in 1821. |
| Lulbegrud Creek | Clark-Powell Co. line, KY 15 | Near site of winter camp of Daniel and Squire Boone, Alexander Neeley, and John Stuart, 1769-70. Creek named by these pioneers after "Lorbrulgrud" of Gulliver's Travels, first known book brought to Kentucky. Corrupted to Lulbegrud. |
| Morgan's Men Here | Winchester, Courthouse lawn, US 60 & KY 627 | CSA Gen. John H. Morgan's cavalry first raided Kentucky July, 1862. Took Cynthiana but, faced by large USA forces, withdrew. Destroyed arms here on 19th and went to Richmond. On last raid, June 1864, after two battles at Mt. Sterling, they moved by here to Lexington and to Cynthiana where they met defeat on 12th and retreated to Virginia. See map on other side. |
| Roy Stuart Cluke | 6 mi. W. of Winchester on KY 1927 | Site of home and farm from which Cluke enlisted in the Confederate army. Commissioned Colonel of 8th Regt. Ky. Cavalry CSA, Sept. 1862. Immediate action in Ky. won the confidence of Gen. John H. Morgan; was with Morgan in Dec. 1862 and July 1863 raids when captured in Ohio. He died December 31, 1863, in U.S. prison, age 39. Buried near Morgan in Lexington Cemetery. |
| Rare 1860 Tombstones | 3 mi. S. of Winchester, KY 15 | In the burial ground, one-fourth mile east, are two rare Carrara marble tombstones carved in Italy by Joel Tanner Hart, the world renowned sculptor. He brought the stones to America, 1860, at time of unveiling of his great statue of Henry Clay in Richmond, Va. Visiting his birthplace near here, he placed stones in memory of his parents, Josiah and Judith Hart. |
| Sculptor's Birthplace | 1 mi. E. of Winchester, US 60 | Birthplace of Joel Tanner Hart, 1810, sculptor and poet. Began as stone-cutter, 1830. Went to Florence, Italy, 1840. Famed for busts: John Jordan Crittenden, Cassius M. Clay, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson. Marble statues: Woman Triumphant, Il Penseroso, Henry Clay, Angelina and others. Died, Italy, 1871. By Legislative Act, reburied Frankfort, 1887. |
| Spring Hill | 6-1/2 mi. W. of Winchester on Colby Rd. | Home of Hubbard Taylor, soldier, surveyor, politician. Born, Va., 1760; in Am. Revolution, 1776-78. Came to Ky. as surveyor, 1780. In 1790 brought family, built this home. In first Ky. Const. Conv., 1792; in Ky. Senate, 1796-1800 and 1815-19. Presidential elector six times. Died in 1840. His kinsman, Pres. James Madison, visited here; also Henry Clay, other statesmen. |
| Hanson Home Site | Lexington Ave., Winchester, US 60 | Here lived five Hanson brothers, Civil War soldiers, USA and CSA. For USA: Col. Charles S., hero of Battle of Lebanon, July, 1863; Pvt. Samuel K.-died in service. For CSA: Brig. Gen. Roger, mortally wounded in the Battle of Stone's River, Jan. 2, 1863; Pvt. Richard H. and Pvt. Isaac S. Sons of the Hon. Samuel and Matilda Hickman Hanson. |
| Capt. John Strode | 1 mi. W. of Winchester, US 60 | Came from Va. to Boonesborough, 1776. Builder of Strode's Station, 1779, the largest and most important fortified area in Clark County during the early settlements and bloody Indian wars. Indians attacked station 1781, and later. Two men killed first attack, none in later ones. Old burial ground unearthed, 1965, and the remains reinterred in Winchester Cemetery. |
| Captain John Holder | Athens-Boonesboro Rd., Howard's Creek | An outstanding pioneer at Fort Boonesborough, 1776-81. Among the rescuers of Callaway and Boone girls captured by Indians. Named colonel of militia, 1779. Engaged in expeditions against Indians. In 1781 built Holder's Station and operated boatyard at the mouth of Howard's Creek. Led in the Battle of Upper Blue Licks, 1782. Trustee of Winchester, justice Co. Court. |
| Old Providence Church | 5 mi. S. Winchester-Richmond Rd., at Old Stone Rd. | Daniel Boone attended; Squire, Jr., Samuel and Mary Boone baptized here. Church name changed, 1790, from Howard's Creek to Providence. William Bush, a member of Boone's second Kentucky expedition, built the present stone structure of native limestone. United Baptists formed here in 1801. Building was passed to Negro Baptists, 1870. Restored after slight fire damage, 1949. |
| County Named, 1793 | Winchester, Courthouse lawn, US 60 | For General George Rogers Clark, who came to Kentucky territory from Virginia, 1775. He commanded expedition into Illinois territory in 1778-79, taking the British forts which held the northwest for future US settlement, and capturing commander of area. Originally taken from Bourbon and Fayette; covered area of 5 present counties and parts of 8 others. |
| Indian Old Fields | 11 mi. SE of Winchester, KY 15 | Site of Eskippakithiki, sometimes called "Kentake," located on the Warrior's Path. This meeting place for traders and Indian hunters was the last of the Kentucky Indian towns. Occupied by the Shawnees, ca. 1715-1754. John Finley had a store here and traded with the Indians, 1752. Daniel Boone viewed "the beautiful level of Kentucky" from this point on June 7, 1769. |
| Caveland | Jones Nursery Rd., 7 mi. N. of Hootentown-Fayette Co. Line Rd. | Home of Richard Hickman. Born in Va., 1757. Built house in 1797. Clark County's first legislative representative, 1793-98. Member 1799 Ky. Constitutional Convention. General in the Kentucky Militia. State senator, 1800-8, 1811-12, 1819-22. Lt. Gov., 1812-16, serving briefly as Governor in 1813 while Gov. Shelby led Ky. troops in War of 1812. Died in 1832. Buried here. |
| Clark County Hemp | 5 mi. W. of Winchester, US 60 | One of the ten Bluegrass counties which produced over 90 percent of the entire country's yield in late 1800s. Production increased from 155 tons in 1869 to over 1,000 tons in 1889, valued at about $125 per ton. In 1942, Winchester selected as site of one of 42 cordage plants built throughout country to offset fiber shortage during war. See over. |
| Colbyville Tavern | 5 mi. W. of Winchester, Colby Rd., KY 927, at Jct. of Becknerville Rd. | Built in 1820s by Colby Taylor as a place of rest and entertainment on stage road from Winchester to Lexington. In 1832, President Andrew Jackson visited here on his trip to Winchester. During antebellum heyday in late 1840s, popular stop for those on way to Olympian Springs in Bath Co. These grounds were used as muster-and-drill area for the Winchester Light Infantry. |
| East Broadway Cemetery | E. Broadway & Park Ave., Winchester | In 1833 town trustees bought about an acre for $45 for public burial ground. First cholera epidemic in U.S. reached here. Seventy-five victims were buried here in 1833. John Ward, town trustee and a leader in forming cemetery, and his wife were both plague victims. The cemetery used until 1854. Maintained as a memorial of that terrible tragedy. |
| East KY. Power Cooperative | 4758 Lexington Rd., Winchester | On July 7, 1941, thirteen of Kentucky's rural electric co-ops formed East Kentucky Power Cooperative to relieve the electric power shortage common in rural areas. In 1951, Hugh L. Spurlock became EKPC's first general manager. Construction began soon after on its first power plant, William C. Dale Station. |
| Historical Items For Sale |
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