Ulysses, Kentucky

Williamstown, Kentucky

Williamstown is a home-rule-class city in Grant and Pendleton counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 3,925 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 3,227 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grant County.[4]

When Grant County was formed in 1820, William Arnold offered land for the county seat. Arnold was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and settled in the area in 1795. The town built there was named after him when it incorporated in 1825.[5]

The county grew slowly, reaching a population of just 281 by 1870. The Cincinnati Southern Railway was built through the county in 1877, and Williamstown Lake was created in 1957. Finally, Interstate 75 was built in the 1960s.

Upton, Kentucky

Upton is a home rule-class city in Hardin and LaRue counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 683 at the 2010 census.[2] Its entire area is included in the Elizabethtown–Fort Knox Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Upton was one of the targets of Confederate John Hunt Morgan during the Civil War. Upton was on the L&N Railroad, one of the key north-south rail roads for the Union. The train station and nearby bridges were attacked during the day on December 26, 1862. The Union forces were quickly defeated and Morgan took advantage of the telegraph station in Upton to gather intelligence on Union troop disposition. Morgan then left Upton to destroy bridges at nearby Bacon Creek in Bonnieville and on the Nolin River.[4]

Upton is located on the Hardin County/LaRue County line at 37°27′44″N 85°53′43″W / 37.46222°N 85.89528°W / 37.46222; -85.89528 (37.462175, -85.895335),[5] near the southeast and southwest corners, respectively, of the two counties. U.S. Route 31W passes through the center of the city and follows the county line. The two-lane highway leads north 4 miles (6 km) to Sonora and south 6 miles (10 km) to Bonnieville. Much of Upton is concentrated around the intersection of US 31W and Kentucky Route 224, which runs westward in the direction of Leitchfield. Interstate 65 runs along Upton's eastern boundary, with access from Exit 76. I-65 leads north 17 miles (27 km) to Elizabethtown, the Hardin County seat, and south 24 miles (39 km) to Cave City.

Wilmore, Kentucky

Wilmore is a home rule-class city in Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States.[3] The population was 5,920 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), all of it land.

In 1882, the Southern Railway established a line through the county and located a flag stop at Wilmore which was briefly called "Scott's Station". It was named for John D. Scott, the owner of the site. The station's name was soon changed to Wilmore.[4]

By the 1890s, Wilmore was a prosperous settlement with a population of about 600. Wilmore was an important shipping point for cattle, hogs, grain and other produce, and the settlement had a blacksmith, carriage repair shops, two drug stores, three doctors, three large stores, a hardware store, two butcher shops, a livery stable, a school, several churches, a glass mill, and a grist mill. Asbury University (formerly Asbury College) was founded in 1890.[5]

Silver Grove, Kentucky

Silver Grove is a railroad town founded in 1911 for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. In 1914, a newspaper described it as a modern town, because it boasted electric lights, an urban water and sewer system, a modernized fire department, a school, and a spacious park. In 1948, C&O wanted out of the city. In 1951, Gerald Losey was selected as the first mayor.[6]

Silver Grove is located in northeastern Campbell County at 39°2′13″N 84°23′55″W / 39.03694°N 84.39861°W / 39.03694; -84.39861 (39.036902, −84.398652), on the south bank of the Ohio River.[7]Kentucky Route 8 passes through the city, leading northwest (downstream) along the river 8 miles (13 km) to Dayton and southeast 32 miles (51 km) to Augusta. Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, is 10 miles (16 km) to the northwest via Interstate 471.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Silver Grove has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km2), of which 1.1 square miles (2.9 km2) is land and 0.54 square miles (1.4 km2), or 31.61%, is water.[8]

Vanceburg, Kentucky

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Vanceburg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[4]

Founded in 1797, Vanceburg is named for a cofounder of the city, William Vance. Joseph Baird and William Vance received land rights and divided the area into parcels for sale. While Baird was the header of the project, the two agreed that Baird’s idea for the town name, Bairdstown, too closely resembled the already established city of Bardstown, KY. After reaching this conclusion the pair settled on Vanceburg. The city and surrounding area originally thrived on salt productions and mines located along and in Salt Lick Creek, which flows through the city and inland through much of the heart of the county. Vanceburg was once a thriving production city, with a small train station and a bustling downtown area. In 1937 the city was flooded as were many cities along the Ohio river. The river crested at 75 feet. A crest mark could once be found marked on the old Lock and Dam building west of Vanceburg on KY 8 but is no longer visible. During the flood all of downtown Vanceburg was under water. As a result, 1st Street of Vanceburg was washed into the river. The section of bank on which the homes and businesses once sat slid into the raging stream. Now, one will notice that there is no “1st Street” in the city, only “Front Street.” The city streets were renamed according to their order back from Front Street. Front Street now is the nearest street to the river and sets nearly directly on the river bank.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,731 people, 672 households, and 411 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,502.4 people per square mile (581.2/km²). There were 752 housing units at an average density of 652.7 per square mile (252.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.38% White, 0.64% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

Winchester, Kentucky

Winchester is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Clark County, Kentucky, United States.[2] The population was 18,368 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Winchester is located northwest of the center of Clark County, 18 miles (29 km) east of Lexington and 15 miles (24 km) west of Mt. Sterling. Kentucky Route 1958 (Bypass Road) is an outer loop around the town. Kentucky Route 627 (Boonesborough Road) leads towards Richmond, 21 miles (34 km) to the south and Paris to the north. U.S. Route 60 (Winchester-Lexington Road/Lexington Avenue) runs through downtown Winchester. Interstate 64 passes through the northern part of the city, with access from exits 94 and 96. The Mountain Parkway turns off I-64 just northeast of Winchester and leads 75 miles (121 km) east to Salyersville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Winchester has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km2), of which 7.8 square miles (20.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.67%, is water.[3]

Smithland, Kentucky

Smithland is a home rule-class city in Livingston County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. The population was 301 at the 2010 census, a drop from 401 in 2000. It is the county seat of Livingston County.[2]

The Gower House built in about 1780 is located in Smithland. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[3] It was built as an inn for travelers, on the south bank of the confluence of the Cumberland and Ohio rivers.[4]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 401 people, 157 households, and 105 families residing in the city. The population density was 647.7 people per square mile (249.7/km²). There were 188 housing units at an average density of 303.7 per square mile (117.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.75% White, 0.25% African American, 0.75% from other races, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

Versailles, Kentucky

Versailles (/vərˈseɪlz/) is a home rule-class city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States and is located near Lexington. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,568 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Woodford County.[2] The city's name is pronounced /vərˈseɪlz/ vər-SAYLZ, not like the French city of the same name.

Versailles was founded on June 23, 1792, on 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land owned by Hezekiah Briscoe, at the time only a child. His guardian, Major Marquis Calmes, named the town after Versailles, France, in honor of General Lafayette, a family friend. In the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, which became known for its thoroughbred horses and other livestock, the city was officially incorporated on February 13, 1837. It was briefly occupied during the American Civil War by both Confederate and Union forces.

Most of the small-town scenes in the movie Elizabethtown (2005) locations were filmed here. Versailles was also the setting of the movie Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005). The cemetery scene in the film, Secretariat (2010) about one of Kentucky's major horses, was filmed at Pisgah Pike Church. The Flim-Flam Man (1967) was filmed at several locations near Versailles, of them. The opening sequence was filmed at Paynes Depot and a car chase was filmed on Clifton Rd.[3]Flim-Flam Man filming locations

Somerset, Kentucky

Somerset was first settled in 1798 by Thomas Hansford and received its name from Somerset County, New Jersey, where some of the early settlers had formerly lived. Somerset became the Pulaski County seat in 1802, and it was incorporated as a city in 1887. A significant Civil War battle was fought in January 1862, at Mill Springs (now "Nancy") about 8 miles (13 km) west of Somerset, and a museum is at the site. A smaller battle was fought nearby at Dutton's Hill in 1863. In 1875 tracks for the Southern Railroad were completed and Somerset saw a sudden population growth and an increase in industry.[2] In the late 1930s and early 1940s, library services were provided by the pack horse library.[3][4] The completion of Lake Cumberland in 1950 transformed Somerset from a sleepy rural community into one of the largest recreation centers in Kentucky, drawing more than 1.7 million visitors annually, especially between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays.

Somerset is located at 37°4′59″N 84°36′34″W / 37.08306°N 84.60944°W / 37.08306; -84.60944 (37.082966, -84.609387),[5] and the downtown (central) part of the city is at an elevation of 974 feet above sea level. The city is located at the eastern end of Kentucky's Mississippian Plateau (or Pennyroyal Plateau); however, the micropolitan area extends eastward into the Appalachian Plateau (or Eastern Kentucky Coalfield), and northward to Kentucky's Outer Bluegrass region. Thus, the area shows significant variations in landforms and scenery.

Nearby Lake Cumberland is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world (101 miles in length, with an average depth of 85 feet (26 m) and a normal pool containing more than 2 trillion gallons of water). Somerset is also near Cumberland Falls and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; its tourism industries are, in part, due to its scenic and varied landscape.[6]