1606

The first Virginia charter includes territory that became Kentucky (April 10)

1654

Kentucky explored to the Mississippi by Colonel WoodKentucky Prehistory Cherokee Chickasaw Iroquois Potawatomi Sauk and Fox Shawnee First Nations Histories

1751

Christopher Gist, representing the Ohio Company, explores as far as present-day Clark County

1754

Eskippakithiki (ca. 1718-1754), possibly last Indian permanent settlement in historic Kentucky, abandoned. Location is in Indian Old Fields in Clark County, Kentucky. Occupants were Piqua, of the Shawnee nation.

1754 or 1755-1763

French and Indian Wars

1769

Daniel Boone, John Finley and others cross the Appalachians into the region that includes present-day Clark County, Kentucky. They camped beside Lulbegrud Creek.Daniel Boone: Myth and Reality in American Consciousness The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon by Daniel BoonDaniel Boone Information Central Mrs. William Price's life history

1772

Fincastle County Virginia organized; includes all of Kentucky. Deeds index 1773-1777 Surveyors record index

1775

The Cherokee sell eastern and central Kentucky to Colonel Richard Henderson of the Transylvania Land Company for 10,000 pounds. His ownership claim is overturned by the Virginia legislature.

Daniel Boone and "a company of 30 men with axes" connect old paths into the Wilderness Road

1775-1783

American Revolution

1776

Kentucky County formed from Fincastle County, Virginia (31 December)

John Strode migrates from Berkeley County, Virginia, settling about one mile west of Winchester on present US60

1779

Colonel Robert Patterson ( 1753-1827) begins fort construction at Lexington by building a blockhouse at the corner of what are now Main and Mill streets. His cabin is preserved on the Transylvania University campus.

Bryan Station established

Boone Station Historical Site

John Strode brings Boonesboro settlers also from Berkeley County, Virginia, to his location where they built a station with about 30 cabins and a defensive wall.

1780

Ruddle's and Martin's stations surrender to BritishRuddle's and Martin's Forts Captive List: Ruddle's and Martin's Forts

Kentucky County Virginia divided into Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln counties (May). Fayette County named for the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834)

1782

General Assembly of Virginia charters Lexington

Virginia establishes judicial district of Kentucky

End of major settler-Indian conflict in Kentucky

1785

Boone's Creek Baptist Church founded

1786

Bourbon County formed from Fayette County (01 May)

1792

Kentucky admitted as the fifteenth state of the union and the first west of the Alleghenies (June 1)

First Kentucky Legislature meets at Lexington--Frankfort selected as capitol (04 June)

1793

Clark County formed from Bourbon and Fayette Counties Kentucky

City of Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky incorporated; named for Winchester Virginia, the former home of its founder, John Baker

1795

First pure-bred shorthorn cattle west of the Alleghenies brought to the Matthew Patton farm in now Clark County, Kentucky

1797

Montgomery County formed from Clark County Kentucky

1798

"Kentucky resolutions" passed in favor of nullifying alien and sedition laws. 1798 draft compared with 1799 resolution

Henry Clay advocates gradual emancipation of slaves

Stage route established from Lexington through Winchester and Mount Sterling to Olympian Springs in Bath County

1808

Estill County formed from Clark and Madison Counties

1810

Renowned sculptor Joel Tanner Hart (1810-1877) born in Winchester

1811

Henry Clay is speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

1812-1814

War of 1812

Henry Clay is a presidential candidate

1825

Henry Clay appointed U.S. Secretary of State

1836

James A. Clark, Clark County native, elected Kentucky's twelfth governor

1837

national economic crash affects local businesses

1846-1848

Mexican-American War

1851

Emancipated slaves required to leave state (March)

1852

Henry Clay dies in Washington DC (June 29) H. Clay manuscript, archival collections

1852

Powell County Kentucky formed from Clark, Estill and Montgomery Counties

1856

John Cabell Breckinridge of Lexington elected United States Vice President

1861-1865

United States Civil War

1861

Legislature adjourns rather than call a convention that could result in Kentucky's secession from the union (February 11)

Governor Magoffin refuses to furnish militia for the Union (April 15); President Lincoln says that he will not attack Kentucky as long as it remains neutral

A "Sovereignty Convention" at Russellville declares Kentucky a Confederate state with Bowling Green as the capitol (November 18)

Kentucky delegates are seated in the Confederate Congress (December 10-12

1862

Legislature rules that anyone in the Confederate Army or service who gives voluntary aid against the United States or Kenticky is expatriated, unless specifically exempted (March 11)

U.S. Military Commandant of Kentucky appointed (June 1)

Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, (1825-1864) a Lexington native, conducts first raids in Kentucky (July)

Provisional (Confederate) Government holds inaugural ceremonies in Frankfort, but flees the city four hours later (October 4)

1862

Company C, 11th Kentucky "Chenault's Cavalry", CSA recruited from Clark County KY men

1863

President Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation (January 1)

1864

President Lincoln places Kentucky under martial law (July)

1865

Kentucky legislature rejects Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution (February 24)

College of Agriculture, to be part of the Kentucky University and located at or near Lexington, established by legislature (1865)

President Johnson restores privilege of writ of habeus corpus to all border states except Kentucky (November 30)

1866

Kentucky Wesleyan College founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church and located in Winchester (later relocated to Owensboro)

1867

Kentucky legislature rejects Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution (January 8)

Kentucky legislature passes amnesty bill (February)

1868

Morgan's Men Association, Inc. founded at Lexington

1869

Kentucky legislature rejects Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution (March 12)

1880

The Iroquois Hunt established. Continues in old Grimes Mill

Laura Clay, daughter of Madison County abolitionist Cassius Clay, begins the Kentucky Equal Rights Association in Lexington

1898-1899

Spanish American War

1899-1902

Phillipine- American War

1914-1918

World War I

1918

Influenza Pandemic

1929

stock market crash result in increased growing of tobacco as a cash crop; prices fell as a result of over-production

1939-1945

World War II

1950-1953

Korean War

1961-1975

Vietnam War

1976

Kentucky ratifies Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution (March 18)

Kentucky ratifies Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution (March 18)

Kentucky ratifies Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution (March 18)