Kenton County, Kentucky

Austinburg Historic District Battery Bates and Battery Coombs Bavarian Brewing Company Beard, Daniel Carter, Boyhood Home Beechwood Historic District Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption Central Ludlow Historic District Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Covington Downtown Commercial Historic District Covington Downtown Commercial Historic District Covington Downtown Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) Covington Downtown Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) Dixie Highway Historic District Duveneck, Frank, House and Studio Eleventh District School Elmwood Hall Emery Row Emery-Price Historic District Erlanger Proper Subdivision Historic District Fifth District School Fort Mitchell Heights Historic District Fourth District Elementary School GAR Monument in Covington Hearne House Helentown Historic District Hellman Lumber and Manufacturing Company Highland Cemetery Historic District Holy Cross Church and School Complex-Latonia House at 855-857 Oak Street House at 859 Oak Street JOHN W. HUBBARD (sternwheeler) Kenney's Crossing Kenton County Library Kruempelman Farmhouse LaSalette Academy Lee-Holman Historic District Lewisburg Historic District Licking Riverside Historic District Lincoln-Grant School Linden Grove Cemetery Ludlow Lagoon Clubhouse Ludlow Theater, The Maxwell House Merry, Prettyman, House Metcalfe-Stephens House Moser Family Houses Mother Of God Roman Catholic Church Mutter Gottes Historic District Mutter Gottes Historic District (Boundary Increase) Northern Bank of Kentucky Odd Fellows Hall Ohio Riverside Historic District (Boundary Increase) Old Fort Mitchell Historic District Park Hills Historic District Patton, Robert, House Peaselburg Neighborhood Historic District Pleasant Run Stone House I Pleasant Run Stone House II Ritte's Corner Historic District, Latonia Ritte's Corner Historic District, Latonia (Boundary Increase) Ritte's East Historic District Riverside Drive Historic District Seminary Square Historic District Shinkle, Amos, Summer Residence St. Augustine Church Complex Trinity Episcopal Church Veteran's Monument in Covington Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing Company Wallace Woods Area Residential Historic District West Fifteenth Street Historic District West Side-Main Strasse Historic District Yeager, William A., and Edward Mohr Farmstead
Kenton County, located in northern Kentucky, is rich in history and has shaped the development of the region over the centuries. The area was originally home to Native American tribes, including the Shawnee and Miami, until European settlers arrived in the late 1700s. It was named after Simon Kenton, a frontiersman and one of the early pioneers of Kentucky.

In the early 1800s, Kenton County became an important transportation hub with the construction of the Covington and Lexington Turnpike, a major road connecting the two cities. This led to the growth of Covington, the county seat, as a bustling river port and industrial center. The county's location along the Ohio River also made it a strategic point during the Civil War, with both Union and Confederate forces vying for control.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kenton County experienced significant industrial and population growth. The city of Covington was a center of manufacturing, including tobacco, machinery, and textiles. The completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in 1889 further stimulated economic development, as it provided easy access to Cincinnati, just across the river.

In recent decades, Kenton County has focused on revitalizing its communities and promoting economic growth. Covington, Newport, and other cities have undergone urban renewal projects to attract businesses, tourists, and residents. Today, the county's economy is diverse, with sectors such as healthcare, education, and technology playing a major role. Kenton County continues to embrace its rich history while looking towards the future.
Brief timeline of the history of Kenton County, Kentucky:

  • 1794: Kenton County is established by the State of Kentucky.
  • 1810: Covington is founded as the county seat of Kenton County.
  • 1835: The city of Covington is incorporated as a municipality.
  • 1861-1865: Kenton County residents serve in the American Civil War.
  • 1870: The Cincinnati Southern Railway is completed, connecting Covington to Cincinnati.
  • 1937: The Ohio River flood devastates Covington and other areas in Kenton County.
  • 1963: The Brent Spence Bridge, connecting Covington to Cincinnati, is opened.
  • 1970s: The development of shopping malls and suburbanization changes the landscape of Kenton County.
  • 2001: The Bank of Kentucky Center, a multi-purpose arena, is opened in Highland Heights.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Kenton County, Kentucky.

Audiobooks about the history of Kentucky.