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Carter County Kentucky E-mail
Carter County Kentucky Map

 

County Introduction
Carter county was established in 1838 and named after Col. William Grayson Carter (?-1850), a Kentucky State Senator. The county seat is Grayson.



 

County Origins
Carter County, Kentucky was formed from Greenup County and Lawrence County. It was created on 10 Apr 1838.


 

County Lines Redrawn
In 1860, a part of Carter County was used to form Boyd County.
In 1869, a part of Carter County was used to form Elliott 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 TitleMarker LocationMarker Information
Saltpeter CaveCarter Caves State Park, KY 182 Saltpeter mined here from which gunpowder was made that was used by Kentucky riflemen during the War of 1812. There are remains of those works in cave. Reputed rendezvous for counterfeiters in early years. Artifacts and Indian graves found in cavern.
Civil War ReunionKy. Christian College Campus, Old US 60, Grayson In their blue and gray uniforms, for over forty years, Civil War veterans gathered here annually. Around campfires, with song and story, friends and former foes revived war memories, and always a pilgrimage to graves of their comrades in cemetery on the hill.
A Masterful Retreat6 mi. S. of Grayson, KY 7 Retreating from Cumberland Gap, General George W. Morgan's Union force of 8,000 men camped here September 1862. CSA Morgan's Raiders harassed USA, 30 miles along here; skirmishing, felling trees across roads and preempting food and supplies. Covering 200 miles in 16 days, USA reached Greenup on Ohio River Oct. 3, on way to Camp Dennison, Ohio. Map on other side.
Home of Gov. Fields1 mi. E. of Olive Hill, US 60 "Honest Bill from Olive Hill." Home of Gov. William Jason Fields, 34th Governor of Kentucky, 1923-27. He promoted Kentucky's first grant of Federal aid for road construction, consolidation of schools, teacher-training colleges at Murray and Morehead. Member U.S. Congress, 1911-23, Commonwealth Attorney, 1932-33. Born 1874 and died 1954 in Carter County. Buried Olive Hill.
A Masterful RetreatGrayson, US 60 As Gen. George W. Morgan's Union force, 8,000 when here, retreated from Cumberland Gap, they were harassed from West Liberty by CSA General John H. Morgan's Raiders. Failure of reinforcements to reach here caused Confederates to leave October 1, 1862 and rejoin main CSA force in Lexington. Union forces reached Greenup Oct. 3, 200 miles in 16 days. See map other side.
Mount Savage FurnaceE. of Grayson, Jct. US 60 & KY 1 Six miles south, site of famous iron furnace, erected, 1848, by R. M. Biggs and others. Operated 37 years, averaging 15 tons pig iron daily which was hauled by ox teams to Ohio River for shipment. Iron produced here was used for rails, plows, cannon, machines. Industry declined as limestone, charcoal, and ore supplies ran out. Last blast here occurred in 1885.
Boone FurnaceKY 2 at KY 1773 A stone blast furnace 3.5 miles west, built by Sebastian Eifort and others in 1856. Its last blast was in 1871. It produced 1400 tons of iron that year. It was originally 44 feet, 7 inches high, with a maximum diameter inside of 10.5 feet and a single tuyere, or pipe, for the steam-powered air blast. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Iron Hill FurnaceIron Hill, KY 7 Later Charlotte, built in 1873 by Iron Hills Furnace and Mining Co. It has an iron shell stack 49 ft. high, with a maximum diameter inside of 121/2 ft. Largest blast furnace intended to use charcoal fuel in the Hanging Rock Iron Region, it produced only 962 tons of iron for first owners. Ceased operating before 1884. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Hunnewell FurnaceUS 60 at KY 207 Originally Greenup Furnace five miles north. Built 1845 by John Campbell, John Peters and John Culbertson. As rebuilt in 1870, it was 47 ft. high, 12 ft. across inside. Its yearly capacity 6000 tons of iron, mainly carried to Ohio River in ox carts, later by E. K. Railroad, which bought furnace. Last blast 1885. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Star Furnace2 mi. W. of Boyd Co. line, US 60 Built in 1848 by A. McCullough and Lampton Brothers. Its stone stack was 36 feet high, 111/2 feet across inside at widest point, and burned "stone coal" rather than charcoal. It was served by its own railroad spur. In 1866 it produced 2600 tons of iron, 1958 tons in 1871. The last blast was in 1874. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Pactolus FurnacePactolus, KY 1 Built in 1824 by Joseph McMurtry and David L. Ward, on the site of an earlier bloomery forge. Its stone stack used charcoal fuel, and its air blast machinery was powered from a dam, 51/2 ft. high, in Little Sandy River. Capacity was about three tons of iron daily, mainly shipped via Ohio River. Last blast before 1835. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
Beckham CountyOlive Hill, US 60 Created from parts of Carter, Lewis and Elliott counties with county seat here by legislative act signed February 9, 1904, by Governor J. C. W. Beckham, for whom it was named. C. C. Brooks appointed County Judge. On April 29, 1904, the Court of Appeals ruled that it failed to meet constitutional standards of size and population and ordered it dissolved.
Aviation PioneerUS 60 & KY 182 Matthew Sellers, among first to experiment with gliding and power flight. Did this research at his home and laboratory, 6 mi. south, 1897-1911. Built most advanced wind tunnel of his day, 1903, to study lift and drag of various wing designs; and developed first use of retracting wheels, 1908, on powered plane said to be lightest ever flown. See over.
County Named, 1838Grayson, Courthouse lawn, US 60 For Col. William Grayson Carter, state senator, 1834-1838. The 88th Ky. county formed, 32nd in area, Carter was created from Greenup and Lawrence. Noted in early years for 5 iron furnaces, its clay products industry developed in late 1800's. Carter Caves, a major source of saltpeter during War of 1812, has been important tourist attraction since 1924.
Eastern Kentucky RailwayGrayson, at city park, Carol Malone Boulevard, KY 1 & 7 E. K. Railway purchased 25,000 acres of land in Little Sandy Valley at close of the Civil War. Tracks laid to this site June 10, 1871. Grayson was location of depot and repair shops. Stinson Branch was laid, 1893, with more straight track than any similar length in E. K. Railway main line. Service on E. K. Rwy. ended January 1933. Presented by Eastern Ky. Railway Historical Society and Collis P. Huntington Railway Historical Society.

 

Historical Items For Sale
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