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Lexington Kentucky |
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Lexington, Kentucky is the
second-largest city in Kentucky next to Louisville, and is located
in the heart of the Bluegrass region. In 2005, the population
estimate given by the U.S. Census Bureau was 268,080. Lexington is
known as the "Horse Capital of the World," since it is home to the
Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland racecourse and the Red Mile
racecourse. The area is noted for its beautiful fertile soil;
bluegrass (known as poa pratensis) is plentiful in the limestone
rich soils. As a result, the city has an amazing natural beauty and
excellent pastures with wonderful horse and stock farms. Numerous
small creeks rise and flow into the Kentucky River. Since one of the
biggest industries in Lexington is tourism, there are strict zoning
regulations to protect the fertile farmlands. Lexington is a fine
city for education. There are three public universities and five
private colleges. The University of Kentucky is known for its
diverse range of courses, including its cooperative extension
service for Agricultural Studies, and its Department of Medicine. In
addition, Lexington is a huge center of corporations, including two
Fortune 500 companies. Amazon.com, Lexmark and Toyota are just a few
of the major corporations located in this area. In addition, for
peanut butter fans, Lexington's JIF peanut butter plant produces
more peanut butter than any factory in the world!
The history of Lexington Kentucky is an interesting one. Lexington
was founded in June 1775 in Virginia, seventeen years before
Kentucky became a state. Daniel Boone was one of the first white men
to explore the area and helped establish Kentucky's first forts.
William McConnell, a leader of a group of frontiersmen, stopped at a
campsite at what is now known as McConnell Springs, on the middle
fork of Elkhorn Creek. Lexington was actually named after Lexington
Massachusetts because the group was so inspired by the colonists'
victory in the battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. A
blockhouse was built, cabins and houses soon followed.
The town of Lexington was established on May 6, 1782, by an act of
the Virginia General Assembly. By 1820, Kentucky was one of the
largest and wealthiest towns west of the Allegheny Mountains, and
was named the "Athens of the West" because of its culture and rich
lifestyle. John Wesley Hunt, an entrepreneur, became the first
millionaire west of the Alleghenies. Also because of its wealth,
Lexington had the highest number of slaves in the state. By 1850, so
many slaves were being used as laborers, field hands and domestic
servants in Kentucky that one fifth of the state's population was
slaves. In spite of that, the state attempted to remain neutral
during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, spent
time in Lexington and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln was born and
raised in Lexington. In addition, Confederate President Jefferson
Davis was also born in Kentucky (less than one year and 100 miles
apart from Lincoln), and attended Transylvania University in 1823
and 1824.
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The Little House On Lincoln Ave
Where mom spent the first 6 years of her life
and where her grandmother passed away. |
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Kentucky Facts |
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State Flower: Goldenrod
State Animal: Grey Squirrel
State Tree: Tulip Tree
State Bird: Cardinal
State Song: My Old Kentucky Home
State Insect: Viceroy Butterfly
State Fossil: Brachiopod
Nickname: Bluegrass State
State Gemstone: Fresh water pearl
Origin of name: Iroquois Indian word "Ken-tah-ten," which means
"land of tomorrow."
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My Old
Kentucky Home |
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The sun shines bright on my
old Kentucky home
Tis summer, the darkies are gay
The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in bloom
While the birds make music all the day
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
All merry, all happy and bright
By 'n by hard times come a-knocking at the door
Then my old Kentucky home good night
Weep no more, my lady
Oh, weep no more, today
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home
For the old Kentucky home far away.
They hunt no more for the 'possum and the coon,
On meadow, the hill and the shore,
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by that old cabin door.
The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight.
The time has come when the darkies have to part,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night.
The head must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the poor folks may go
A few more days and the trouble will end,
In the field where sugar-canes may grow.
A few more days for to tote the weary load,
No matter, 'twill never be light
A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night.
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Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate
Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852)
was a nineteenth-century American statesman and orator who represented
Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate. He was a dominant
figure in both the First Party System to 1824, and the Second Party System
after that. Known as "The Great Compromiser" for his ability to bring others
to agreement, he was the founder and leader of the Whig Party and a leading
advocate of programs for modernizing the economy, especially tariffs to
protect industry, a national bank, and internal improvements to promote
canals, ports and railroads. As a War Hawk in Congress demanding the War of
1812, Clay made an immediate impact in his first congressional term,
including becoming the Speaker of the House.
Although his multiple attempts at the presidency were unsuccessful, largely
he defined the issues of the Second Party System. He was a major supporter
of the American system, and had success in brokering compromises on the
slavery issue, especially in 1820 and 1850. He was part of the "Great
Triumvirate", or the "Immortal Trio", along with his colleagues Daniel
Webster and John C. Calhoun. In 1957, a Senate committee chaired by John F.
Kennedy named Clay as one of the five greatest Senators in American history.
The Privy
The downspout.
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